Part 4

A Call for Greater Education and Training – PO#4

When it comes to matters of OHS, effective communication is paramount. Equally important is the need to ensure that lines of communication are open and used by personas at all levels of an organization. The research contained in this section will discuss how education and training are very productive tools that can be used to ensure effective communication is taking place within an organization. Furthermore, the research will scrutinize current OSHA efforts to deliver wide-range education and training to the American workforce.

The Shift in Communication

Communication is essentially the ability for two or more persons to convey thoughts or information from on to another. While the first evidence of communication appears to be the hieroglyphics of the ancient Egyptian civilization, relatively modern forms of communication did not appear until much later (Ager, 2013). Some may argue that the advancements of communication have taken an exponential path as information sharing has become so readily available. From the printing press, telegraph, telephone, radio, television, and now computers and the internet, mankind has unlocked the ability to relay information faster and more accurate than anyone would have ever thought possible. However, despite the amazing technological advancement of today’s modern achievements, effective communication appears to be digressing.

Perhaps this anomaly can be blamed on the abundant access of “real-time” communication options which people now how at their disposal. Some studies suggest that the reduction in actual human interaction afforded by new technology is directly impacting the trust people once had for one another (Adler, 2013). The once a...

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...enerating reports, taking corrective actions, etc. must also be considered (Brazzell, 2009).

Likewise, safety meetings should also be appropriately developed and carried out in order to maximize effective communication with respect to OSH. Safety meetings will allow employees the chance to not only discuss concerns important to them but also stay informed of any changes taking place. Examples of changes that should be covered in a formal safety meeting include, regulation/standards change, equipment change, personal protective equipment change, facility layout or design change, personnel change, etc. An OSHA standard for conducting safety meetings would be relatively low cost and easy to comply with for the vast majority of all businesses. Additionally, the standard would be expected to significantly improve communication and subsequently OSH throughout the nation.