Developing an Internal Trainer Institute. How Can a Trainer Become a Heard Voice of Safety?
Internal Trainer Institute: From Idea to Large-Scale System
Developing a safety culture at large industrial enterprises requires new approaches. Traditional training methods based on reading instructions and rules are losing their effectiveness. In modern production environments, it is necessary to work with people's beliefs and change their attitude towards safety through interactive formats and practical skill development. In this context, creating an institute of internal trainers becomes a natural step for companies striving for real changes in employee behavior.
The presentation details Nornickel's experience in creating and developing an internal trainer institute. Using their organization as an example, the speaker shows how a system that started with a small group of specialists grew into a large-scale structure covering dozens of enterprises and training tens of thousands of employees annually. This journey demonstrates that transforming safety culture is not a one-time event, but systematic, painstaking work.
Evolution of the Trainer Team: From First Steps to Professional Mastery
The process of forming the trainer institute at Nornickel took place in stages. In 2022, the first intake of candidates was conducted; they underwent basic training and began conducting dynamic risk assessment trainings. At this stage, trainers faced significant challenges, primarily resistance and objections from workers. This highlighted the need for deeper specialist training.
In 2023, the focus shifted to developing audience engagement skills: trainers were taught how to handle objections, provide feedback, and other key competencies. New programs emerged, including those for managers, as well as targeted projects to develop safety culture. The speaker analyzes how the introduction of supervision — regular assessment of trainer performance quality — helped raise the level of training provided.
Innovative Approaches to Trainer Assessment and Development
Developing a trainer institute requires a constant search for new tools. In 2024, trainers began actively participating in the development of training programs, which allowed them to incorporate participant feedback and make the training more practical. An important milestone was participating in all-Russian trainer mastery competitions, providing an opportunity to exchange experiences with colleagues from other companies.
Special attention in the presentation is given to the implementation of modern technologies in the trainer assessment process. The use of artificial intelligence (electronic badges analyzing the trainer's speech) made supervision more objective and reduced the emotional burden on specialists. In addition, introducing on-site internships helps trainers better understand the specific work of the employees being trained and speak the same language as them.
The Trainer's Role: A Guide for Change and the Voice of Safety
An internal trainer is not just a lecturer, but a specialist who shapes the right attitude towards safety. Their task is to help workers realize the value of safe behavior and independently come to understand the need to follow the rules. The trainer acts as a guide for change, helping employees adapt to new HSE systems and projects.
The speaker emphasizes that the trainer also serves as a link between management and workers, creating a platform for open dialogue about safety. Joint trainings for managers and subordinates help identify hidden problems and find ways to solve them.
What you will learn from this webinar:
- How to build a selection and training system for internal safety culture trainers?
- Which tools for assessing trainer effectiveness (including AI) show the best results?
- How to overcome worker resistance when implementing new HSE projects?
- How do on-site internships help trainers improve training quality?
- How to organize the process of developing and updating training programs taking into account the specifics of the enterprise?