Advocating for workforce education

I recently attended the 2019 National Safety & Trainer’s Conference, hosted by the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), in San Antonio.

Lyndon Rickards of Eastern Propane & Oil, center, participates in a panel discussion at the National Safety & Trainer’s Conference in San Antonio. Randy Warner is second from left. Photo by Joelle Harms

Over 125 propane safety and training professionals gathered to learn about upcoming programs and training aids others are using; discuss incidents and accidents for prevention opportunities; and learn how to improve their communication skills.

As with most industry events, the networking opportunities and the ability to have discussions with industry peers is invaluable. Stuart Flatow, vice president of safety & training at PERC, says, “These gatherings set the environment for propane professionals to learn from speakers and one another. It is very gratifying to witness this. We are doing it in the best interest for the industry and we don’t compete against one another as it relates to safety.”

In these discussions, I heard once again about the need for the industry to find employees, fill classrooms or develop additional training programs on subjects like commercial drivers and service technicians. Another common topic of discussion is the need for additional or improved safety communications and education with consumers and employees.

Part of these discussions involved the need to make training and safety topics quick, to the point and to ensure the efficient use of time, all while improving the effectiveness of these programs, which is no small task. This all points to the importance of education as a critical component of workforce development in the industry. It also reinforces why we need to continue to keep an open mind on ways we can adapt to the changing needs of the incoming workforce as well as leverage technologies that can adapt and deliver education in different ways.

What do I mean?

We need to reorganize our materials into smaller manageable courses, allowing learning through building blocks starting with a solid foundation, progressing through the core skills that are needed for the tasks or functions employees are performing and continuing this progression as job tasks and responsibilities continue to evolve and change.

The National Propane Gas Association and PERC have already invested in a learning management system, which will give us options with how this information is delivered and maintained while ensuring compliance and providing information on how programs are being used while evaluating these programs’ effectiveness.

It is an exciting time in the area of safety and training for the propane industry. A critical component of successful change is for industry members to provide thoughts, concerns and feedback to industry leaders, including state and national organizations. There is no better way to make this type of communication happen than through events that bring together all industry stakeholders.

Randy Warner is the owner of Warner C3H8 Consulting LLC.

NOTE: The opinions and viewpoints expressed herein are solely the author’s and should in no way be interpreted as those of LP Gas magazine or any of its staff members.