Aug 20, 2019
How can Inadequate Workplace Training Cause Injury?
Nate Hansford
Poorly trained employees are an unintentional danger to themselves and co-workers. Training (which typically consists of onsite classes and training on pieces of equipment) not only increases the likelihood of employee productivity, but also decreases the chance of workplace injury.
Many employers view in-depth training as an unneeded expense and opt for informal, new-hire trainings conducted by supervisors and seasoned employees. This approach is often inadequate and almost always creates problems for the company.
Unsafe Work Environment
If an employee isn’t properly trained, they will be more likely to injure themselves or others. This may be because the employee was hired under false pretenses. For example, they could have lied about a specific skill in order to land the job. Or, perhaps, they were trained by an older employee who used shortcuts rather than the recommended way to operate machinery, thus learning unsafe methods of operation from the start. New employees are more likely to make simple mistakes; if they do so while operating equipment in an unintended way, it could result in someone getting hurt.
Lower Rate of Production
If employees don’t know enough about how to perform their jobs effectively and confidently, they will work slower. In addition, if they haven’t been properly trained, they will seek guidance from employees who have been there longer.
This will slow down the rate of production for both employees, as the established employee will need to stop what they are doing in order to assist the new employee. When the older employee returns to their own work, they will likely quicken their pace to make up for lost time. This could cause the employee to make a mistake that results in a minor to severe injury.
Lack of Detailed Information
Perhaps a new employee is aware of how to operate machinery correctly but is unaware of other workplace hazards. For example, an employee new to construction may know how to operate tools; however, they could be unaware of ladder safety or how to avoid electrocution while installing wires. A job site is required to list potential hazards and how to avoid them.
Representation for Workers’ Compensation Claims
If you have been injured due to inadequate on-the-job training, Hansford McDaniel – Workers’ Compensation Attorneys is here for you. Our team of passionate attorneys is on your side and will do everything we can to help you gain full compensation for your injuries.
Call our firm today at 770-922-3660 or contact us online for a case evaluation.