Custodial safety training works best when it happens regularly. Here are some benefits of keeping a consistent schedule.
It’s easy to think that just because someone has been trained on something once that they’ll remember it forever. In reality, though, custodial safety training requires refreshers even for the most experienced veterans. Not only are there a lot of things to remember and be reminded of, but safety practices are constantly updated, especially in the post-pandemic world.
Because there’s nothing more important than custodial safety, training programs should be conducted regularly to help ensure that everyone is aware of the hazards posed by their jobs and help make sure that your teams remain safe at all times.
If you’re still not sold on the benefits of a custodial safety training schedule, we’ve got some reasons why you might want to invest the time and money into these essential programs.
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8 Reasons you need to update your custodial safety training schedule today
1. Training helps keep everyone safe
The most obvious and important benefit of a custodial safety training schedule is that it helps reduce the risks involved in janitorial duties. Employees will understand the different kinds of chemicals they’re using and the hazards they pose. They’ll learn about the maintenance and operation of cleaning equipment and how to avoid accidents. They’ll even find out how to help prevent slip and fall accidents, ventilation problems, and improper use of equipment.
You can’t run a cleaning operation without employees, and employees need to be as safe as possible on the job to keep everything running smoothly. Requiring regular training for your teams is almost certainly the most effective way to achieve this. After all, in the janitorial industry, what you don’t know actually can hurt you.
2. Stay compliant
Maintaining a custodial safety training program also keeps you compliant with regulatory agencies like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Agencies like this provide regular guidance and standards for the safe operation of a worksite, and they expect businesses to remain compliant with these standards. Generally speaking, OSHA and other agency training requirements should be met when someone starts working for you, and it’s a good idea to have refresher training at least once a year or whenever new policies are issued. This can be a challenge to stay on top of, but it’ll be worth it not only because it will help keep employees safe, but also because you’ll avoid hefty fines that could cost you.
3. Reduces liability
Another benefit to a custodial safety training schedule is that it will help reduce liability in the event of an accident. Ensuring that employees are equipped with all of the knowledge they need for a safe working environment puts much of the onus on them to be responsible and take care of themselves and their work sites. That doesn’t mean your organization bears no responsibility—it depends on the situation—but it does mean you’ve made a good-faith effort to do all you can to keep your employees and your clients safe, and that goes a long way in the event of anything unfortunate happening.
4. Trend and technology updates
When new trends and technologies emerge in the custodial industry, you’ll want to take advantage of as many of them as possible. However, this won’t be easy to do if you don’t update your team on new tools and practices. Conducting regular custodial safety training on these issues means that your organization will stay ahead of the curve and outpace others who are also adapting to the newest ways of working in the industry.
5. Customer satisfaction
Conducting regular training isn’t only good for your employees, but it’s good for your customers, too. By letting your customers know that you keep your teams up-to-date on all best practices, trends, and technologies, they’ll rest easier knowing that they’re in good hands. Not only that, but they’ll likely feel safer themselves, especially in a world still wrestling with a pandemic. Don’t be afraid to include your custodial safety training schedule in your marketing materials so that clients can see for themselves how important safety is to you and your business.
6. More efficient teams
When your janitorial staff knows what to do and what not to do on the job, it can help make them more efficient. When a potentially dangerous situation arises, they won’t have to stop and think or call a manager or otherwise improvise a solution. Instead, they’ll already be equipped with the knowledge for handling said situation, which means they can handle it quickly and move on to the next thing on the list without impeding the work they’re trying to get done.
7. Better health for everyone
Custodial safety training doesn’t just mean that job sites will be safe from danger, but it also means that your employees—and your customers—can feel more comfortable about their health. Training employees on eco-friendly cleaning products and practices means less exposure to potentially harmful chemicals, thereby reducing the risk of contracting some kind of illness. By training employees on proper hand-washing techniques, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and air ventilation, they’ll be able to keep themselves healthy while simultaneously passing that health on to your customers. Not only will everyone be happier, but this will also contribute to more productivity as it will likely result in fewer sick days.
8. Emergency management
Regular training on emergency procedures means that if an emergency does arise, your employees will be prepared to handle them in a calm and collected fashion. Hopefully, emergencies don’t happen often, but when they do, it will be incredibly helpful for everyone on the job site to be ready and know how to react to keep themselves and your customers safe without creating unnecessary panic.
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