We’ve had several calls lately from clients for whom we do Right to Know training, but who do not have maintenance contracts with us. “OSHA’s here, and I can’t find the roster from the training you did, or my written Right to Know program.” Fortunately, we nearly always keep a copy of rosters and outlines, as well as of the original slide presentation used. And we keep copies of the programs we develop for clients.
But wouldn’t it be better to have the records at hand? For our maintenance clients, we set aside a file drawer specifically for safety. We have color-coded files in there: blue for safety training, green for programs, etc. That way, it’s easy to find the training records for a given year right away.
For those who prefer electronic records, do the same thing: set up a file folder on your computer specifically for those safety records and programs. Then scan in the important paper records, such as training rosters.
One final thing: remember to review and update your programs periodically. If you haven’t looked at your written Right to Know program in ten years, take a few minutes to do so. Does it mention people who left the company nine years ago? Time for an update. Have processes changed? Update the program. Updating it is a good chance to remember where it is and what it contains.