On-site safety training and support turns theory into practical understanding and implementation
Barrie Construction Report special feature
RMG Consulting Group Inc. applies its expertise in safety training and consulting to support both large and smaller clients in the Barrie area.
President Rob Gill said RMG works mainly at clients’ offices or job-sites, rather than from its Concord headquarters or Barrie satellite office. “It makes more sense for companies not to have to worry about the cost and extra time in traveling to us and being on-site puts us in front of some of the specific work hazards they may deal with.”
Gill says it is important to provide practical, rather than just theoretical safety practice. And, in cases where workers may be conducting non-routine tasks, RMG trainers can support clients in conducting job hazard analyses and developing safe operating procedures.
RMG works with its clients to ensure safety training is painless. “We can train part of a crew so the work keeps going and then train the rest at a later date.”
He says while the training itself has value, the most important challenge is in transferring the knowledge to the job-site. This is where the on-site coverage is a critical part of RMG’s service.
He says where companies are larger or ahead of the curve with their own staff safety representative, RMG can assist with individual projects or specific needs that person may not have the time or resources to complete in a timely manner.
“Where companies do not yet have safety programs in place we can conduct safety audits or site inspections and then help them develop, implement and maintain safety policies,” he said.
Gill says RMG deals with all aspect of a safety program, using its experience and knowledge to take the burden of the work away from clients so they can focus on what they need to be doing.
In addition to safety training and program development, RMG also provides site management to ensure safety policies are being followed. These can be weekly or even more frequently for large and busy sites, or monthly for smaller companies or less active projects. The company, he says, co-ordinates with each client to determine specific needs and concerns.
While he sometimes hears from smaller companies that they do not have the time or cannot afford safety training, Gill says the cost of an injury – in lives at risk, in what an injury can cost a company in terms of recruiting, training and WSIB-related costs – is huge by comparison.
Pleading ignorance is also not an option. “When it comes to safety it isn’t something you can claim you didn’t know. What is important and the only thing that counts if what you do or don’t do.”
Gill says the best time to take safety seriously and to put practices in place is before you are forced to and before you have a reason to pay attention.
“Working at heights training for instance we are hearing a lot about, (with new legislation) and yet this year there have still been injuries and fatalities involving heights.”
For more information, or a for a no-obligation consultation, visit http://www.rmgconsulting.ca.
