WHY LOCAL COMPLIANCE TRAINING IS ESSENTIAL

08 August 2019

Management | Human Resources

Local compliance training is essential for worker and organisational health and safety.

Localisation is about creating training in line with the training region’s legislation and terminologies.

Despite many similarities, workplace training is rarely one-size-fits-all and practices and procedures often differ between regions. Therefore, it’s vital for training to reflect those differences, as generic global training can create serious compliance and safety issues.

That’s why local compliance training is essential.

To Illustrate…

The Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, or GHS, is a perfect example. The purpose of the system was to harmonise hazardous substance classification around the world. In other words, making one set of guidelines for everyone.

So, most major countries have adopted the system. And everyone’s working from the same blueprint. You can safely assume that one global training course will work for everyone, right?

Not So Fast…

Yes, many regions have implemented the GHS. However, each of those regions still has its own regulations, standards, and local guidelines to uphold. And as a result, each region interprets the system very differently. This is because each region puts the GHS into effect via their own unique policies.

Furthermore, the GHS is not the be all and end all. Regions can add to their interpretation at any time, in turn affecting even greater variety to the system. So, something that seems like it should be the same across the board is actually dramatically different.

This really highlights why local compliance training is essential.

Because…

Local training helps to combat local issues. The last thing any organisation wants is for compliance issues to arise and incidents to occur.

But generic global training greatly increases the risk of that happening.

Training is about preventing incidents, injuries, and risks. Incorrect or generic training may actually do the opposite, as significant regional differences could carry potentially serious consequences.

For Example…

Say an Australian organisation provides a worker with a generic global fire extinguisher training course. And that course, unbeknownst to the worker, is based on US standards.

Then in a fire emergency the Australian worker uses the wrong fire extinguisher for the fire type. Or they waste valuable time searching for a fire extinguisher type that isn’t present in Australia.

US fire extinguisher colour bands, symbols, and pictograms represent completely different extinguisher types and fire classes in Australia. Furthermore, some are absent altogether.

This situation could cause serious injury and greater damage as the wrong extinguisher may actually exacerbate certain fire types.

All In All…

Providing appropriate, relevant, local compliance training is essential to help prevent risks, incidents, and compliance issues before they arise.

Not only will local compliance training further workers’ skills, it will help create a safe and responsible working culture.

Discover Business Training-TV’s powerful local workplace compliance training courses. Learn more about our documentation, reporting, and audit trail features for proof of training. And find out how you can incorporate our platform into your workplace or training environment.

 

 

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This content was created by Vocam and is intended to be used only as a guide and should not be relied on as formal training or legal advice.
As standards and regulations frequently change, all information should be considered by relevant local experts and authorities.

 

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