Author: Ruslan Abdulmanov, Lead Safety Culture Specialist — Tatneft
Functional coaching in HSE is an approach where safety training is conducted by internal company employees who are experts in the field.
Enough with theories from "guest stars"! The world is shifting to functional coaching — and here is why it works for us at Tatneft:
- It's not theorists teaching, but your own people. Imagine: the training is led by a colleague who faces the same risks as you every day. Their experience doesn't come from textbooks, but from the industry, the workshop, or the site. It’s not a lecture, but a live conversation in the same language. The result? Practical knowledge, real-world examples, and sky-high trust. Employees develop faster and more deeply. Currently, HSE department heads and leading specialists have joined the process.
- An honest mirror for the trainer (and their process). When the trainer is one of your own, colleagues don't hesitate to point out "flaws" in procedures, instructions, or orders. This is powerful feedback! Right during the training, it becomes clear what works in the safety system and what is pure formalism. The opportunity to receive information to adjust one's work is invaluable. For example, I often ask why the Company's safety tools are faltering and what prevents their effective application?
- Growing together. Being a trainer is a challenge and a growth opportunity for the employee. They gain a deeper understanding of the topic, learn to communicate ideas, and become opinion leaders. By investing in such people, we develop both the Company and each individual! Since I started conducting trainings, I have significantly improved my public speaking skills, training mastery, and oratory.
Organizational and methodological support is essential, and the Corporate University (CU) helps us in this process. This is our resource!
The CU provides the HSE department with key tools: organization (preparing rooms, equipment, gathering participants), methodology (structuring reports, systematic approach), and handouts (flip charts, paper, pens). This makes training accessible to everyone.
Functional coaching is a global trend where trainers are our own colleagues (from HSE, production, and other departments). It develops both the participants and the trainers themselves, creating a network of on-site safety experts. The CU is an ideal platform for developing both trainers and production participants, exchanging experience, and supporting ongoing work to develop a safety culture.
Conclusion: Functional coaching is not just a trend, but a tool to make training truly live, useful, and a driver for safety progress. The Corporate University is a powerful resource we leverage to develop a safety culture!