Safety Captain Apprentice Program

[MrsDitt]

Originally Posted by Sperkowsky

I'm sorry to sound condescending but what could you possibly teach a "inexperienced" safety captain. How much is there really to it...

Actually, it's not a matter of being condescending, but of not understanding how deep and wide the job of Safety Captain can be when you decide you want to do more than just the minimum in the Safety Manual. Each team has unique equipment, circumstances, and build facilities that call for observation, planning, and implementation of custom safety programs. Those take time and effort, and the more you can learn from those who went before you, the easier it is to maintain and continue to improve your culture of safety.

In addition, representing your team as Safety Captain at a regional is more than just doing the minimums in the manual. The Safety Advisors talk one-on-one with each Safety Captain, review their programs, give advice on areas that can be improved, etc. It's really helpful to have someone who has gone through this tell you all about it so you are more prepared. Plus, you want to benefit from the advice last year's Safety Captain was given by the Safety Advisors.

And, straight from the Safety Manual, here is what they are looking for when they consider who the UL Industrial Safety Award is going to: "This award celebrates the team that progresses beyond safety fundamentals by using innovative ways to eliminate or protect against hazards." This is what they want from all of us. Kudos to those teams who actively pursue improved safety programs!

[robochick1319]

Originally Posted by MrsDitt

Actually, it's not a matter of being condescending, but of not understanding how deep and wide the job of Safety Captain can be when you decide you want to do more than just the minimum in the Safety Manual. Each team has unique equipment, circumstances, and build facilities that call for observation, planning, and implementation of custom safety programs. Those take time and effort, and the more you can learn from those who went before you, the easier it is to maintain and continue to improve your culture of safety.

Absolutely agreed. Understanding the safety manual and following the guidelines is something every member should be responsible for. The safety captain must be a subject matter expert with safety guidelines AND be a leader who understands how to motivate and communicate with their team and other teams. It's not something that happens over night.

And as Mrs.Ditt mentioned, if you are at all interested in being competitive for a safety award you must expand your efforts well beyond reading the FIRST safety manual.

Flash 1319 has a long history of former safety captains training the students who follow in their footsteps. Having seniors work closely with underclassman has been a big part of making the transition work year to year. An apprentice program of any kind is critical for a sustainable safety program. And having a mentor who leads safety is important too to organize these efforts and support the students who make it all happen.

The last thing you want is to start from scratch every time a safety captain graduates. A strong safety program builds and builds on itself year after year.

[littlemissLish]

Originally Posted by robochick1319

The last thing you want is to start from scratch every time a safety captain graduates. A strong safety program builds and builds on itself year after year.

I'm not sure I'm completely understanding what you're saying here sorry.

[robochick1319]

Originally Posted by littlemissLish

I'm not sure I'm completely understanding what you're saying here sorry.

Sorry for being unclear. Let's say a team has a great safety captain who writes a custom team manual, conducts training, makes pit improvements, etc. When that safety captain graduates and leaves the team, who takes over that responsibility? If you assign a freshman/rookie member as the safety captain can they do what the previous captain did? Do they have the knowledge and leadership experience? Or is your team starting a safety program from scratch (new manual, new training style, etc.)?

If you have a veteran/senior safety captain training an underclassman/rookie DURING their final season, then the next safety captain can take over the next year with the experience and knowledge to do it well. Having a mentor to support this process is also helpful since they can bring years of knowledge and ideas to maintain the current safety program and make suggestions on how to improve.

[littlemissLish]

Originally Posted by robochick1319

Do they have the knowledge and leadership experience? Or is your team starting a safety program from scratch (new manual, new training style, etc.)?

If you have a veteran/senior safety captain training an underclassman/rookie DURING their final season, then the next safety captain can take over the next year with the experience and knowledge to do it well. Having a mentor to support this process is also helpful since they can bring years of knowledge and ideas to maintain the current safety program and make suggestions on how to improve.

We don't start from scratch, that new,*trained* member is trained with what er have, what they need to learn, and all that stuff. the apprentice has experience from being trained as one, we currently do not have a mentor for safety because we are low on mentors. However i will come back and mentor after i graduate.