Safety Starts With You: School of Lead Trainers

From Consulting to Internal Expertise: Why Create Your Own Trainer Academy

In modern industrial safety management, many companies are gradually moving away from full external consulting. As Oksana Zalevskaya, Head of the Integrated HSE System at Severstal, notes, external experts bring a comprehensive approach, but after their departure, there is often a decline in engagement and so-called "creeping leadership." To ensure the sustainable development of a safety culture and support strategic projects, the company formed its own team of internal trainers.

Internal trainers are company employees who transmit corporate values and knowledge in key areas: risk management, safety culture development, and leadership. Initially, the team was formed for the "Five Elements of Safety Transformation" project, but over time it proved its effectiveness and became a permanent tool for supporting changes.

Who is Selected as Internal Trainers and How They Are Developed

When selecting candidates for the team, the key factor was not the current position (among the trainers are former workers and foremen), but a commitment to safety issues and a desire to develop. It is important that safety is "in the blood."

To ensure a high level of expertise, the company developed a target profile for a manager-trainer, which includes:

• External certification: trainers undergo training according to NEBOSH, ISO 45001, and ISO 31000 standards, which confirms their competence in risk management and safety culture.
• Personal effectiveness assessment: independent organizations regularly observe the work of trainers in the "gemba" (on the shop floor) and during training sessions, providing detailed feedback for drawing up individual development plans.
• Participation in external events: trainers actively participate in industry competitions and forums (for example, events by Nornickel and the Kuzbass Forum), which promotes the exchange of experience and increases motivation.

Integration into Production: How Trainers Work on Site

A trainer's authority is built on a deep understanding of production specifics. At Severstal, each internal trainer is assigned to a specific business unit or structural division. This allows them to:

• Immerse themselves in technological processes and study equipment specifics.
• Participate in steering committees and shift-meeting gatherings.
• Interact with production managers and risk coordinators.

This approach ensures that the trainers' recommendations are not theoretical, but purely applied.

From Training Workers to Coaching Top Management

The functionality of internal trainers is constantly expanding. While initially they focused on corporate training for workers and middle managers, they are now implementing a coaching program for top management (business unit directors and production heads).

The speaker emphasizes that top management coaching is a process of mutual exchange of experience. Trainers help managers master the methodology of safety tools (for example, conducting behavioral audits and leadership walkarounds), while they themselves learn management practices from top managers.

Working with Contractors

Special attention is paid to contractor employees. Training programs for them are identical to those for full-time employees. Thanks to trusting relationships, trainers receive direct feedback from the field ("red spots" or blockers), which is promptly escalated to the director level for a quick response.

Effectiveness Assessment: Metrics and Feedback

The work of the internal trainer academy is strictly measured. As part of the annual "Severstal Pulse" survey, the quality of corporate training is assessed. According to the latest data, 87% of respondents consider the training to be of high quality and informative. The NPS (Net Promoter Score) of the training sessions is 84%, and the safe behavior coefficient is 89%. These metrics serve as a guide for further improvement of the programs.

What You Will Learn from This Webinar:

• How to form a team of internal trainers from among the enterprise's employees?
• What competencies and certifications are necessary for the successful work of an internal trainer?
• How to build a trainer's authority with production personnel and top management?
• How to use internal trainers to improve the safety culture of contractors?
• What metrics should be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the internal trainer academy?