This issue’s idea comes from Sheila Sotherlund, a management representative for Americhem Inc.’s plant in Mansfield, Texas. Americhem makes color and specialty additive concentrates for the plastics industry. Sotherland writes:

"I have a hard time keeping people awake during monthly safety training. For personal protective equipment, I decided last year to try a different approach.

"I gathered an example of each type of PPE used in our facility — gloves, respirators, shoes, aprons, face protection, hearing protection, gauntlets, etc. For gloves alone, I had cloth, medium heat, high heat, leather, neoprene and latex.

"Participants entered the classroom to find a stack of PPE in front of each seat. Each trainee had to show how to put on, take off and adjust each piece of PPE in their stack. They also had to answer these questions: Where is this PPE required in this facility? How do I know when this is worn out? Where would I get a replacement? What are the limitations of this piece of PPE?

"Most employees were amazed at the variety and complexity of PPE used in the plant. The majority of the class passed the test and were able to answer the questions. Just about everyone learned something they didn’t know or relearned something they had forgotten. And, they stayed awake for the entire class."

Back to top

Back to Case studies/Ideas that make sense archives