What’s Your Take?
Meet veteran boiler operator Joe. He’s been in the boiler house for 30 years. He makes his job look easy. Consequently, nobody really knows what he does.
You know if there’s no Joe it means big consequences to operations. So, you transfer Bob into the boiler room for Joe to train. You don’t really know how long the training should last or if they will discuss all the things that will prepare Bob. You don’t have any resources to give Joe or a plan on how to get someone up to his speed.
You also don’t realize that Joe’s forgotten more than he’ll ever tell Bob. Joe will assume Bob will just “know” things and will do as he’s told. This means Joe will unintentionally fail to share essential information. Joe himself doesn’t always understand the core reason for many of the things he does. He didn’t get clear guidance from his “trainer”. Now, training has turned into a very long “telephone game.”
It’s Not Joe’s Fault
It’s not Joe’s fault. He’s not a trainer. He’s a boiler operator. You might be thinking, what’s the big deal? As long as Bob does what Joe says, everything will be ok. Right? Wrong.
Boiler operators are the frontline defenders of safety and reliability in the facilities in which they serve. Their constant vigilance and adherence to best practices are critical. If Joe doesn’t communicate an important detail in a clear and concise manner, it can perpetuate a problem leading to an undesirable outcome.
A good example… Joe sometimes receives contamination in the condensate. It’s irregular, unplanned, and when it happens, it can create a mess that makes the boiler house unusable. If Joe doesn’t inform Bob about the signs to catch it early, it can lead to unplanned downtime, and drainage of the entire boiler house.
Bad Training Devalues the Work
When training isn’t implemented properly for this and the many important tasks in the boiler house, they get devalued. This forms a culture of conflicting practices, creating a disconnected group of operators – and – an unreliable, unsafe steam system.
Bottom line. Joe needs support and resources to avoid passing on misinformation or failing to tell Bob what he really needs to know. Proper training can help.
Let us help you with your training program.
STEAMWORKS offer standard and custom training. Contact us today!
