ANSI Z490.1-2009 Training Evaluation Guidelines As outlined in detail in ANSI Z490.1, Section 3.4, the employer should design evaluation strategies to measure the performance of the safety training program. To do this, one or more evaluation techniques may be used to evaluate training. The evaluation strategy mentioned in the ANSI standard mirror those developed by Donald Kirkpatrick, author of Evaluating Training Programs: The Four Levels. As the title of the book implies, he developed a four-level model for evaluating training. The first three levels of evaluation, those that you'll be involved with most of the time, measure the impact of training on the leaner. The fourth level measures the impact on the organization. Let's take a look at these four levels of evaluation.

Purpose of Training Evaluation

Evaluation will help determine two things:

1. the amount of learning achieved by training, and
2. whether an employee's performance has improved on the job as result of training.

Here are some methods commonly used to evaluate the effectiveness of training:

1. Employee opinion. Questionnaires or informal discussions with employees can help employers determine the relevance and appropriateness of the training program.
2. Supervisor observations. Supervisors are in good positions to observe an employee performance both before and after the training and note improvements or changes.
3. Workplace improvements. The ultimate success of a training program may be best evaluated by looking at changes throughout the workplace that result in reduced injury or accident rates.

However you conduct the training evaluation, it can give employers the information necessary to decide whether employees achieved the desired results, and whether the training session should be offered again at some future date.

Evaluate Reaction, Knowledge, Skills, Application, and Impact (RKSAI)

To make sure the training program is conforming to ANSI/ASSE Z490.1-2009, an evaluation strategy to measure results of training on the employee and the organization is required. Training should include methods to evaluate:

• REACTION - does the learner like the training?
• LEARNING - did the training improve the learner's knowledge and skills?
• APPLICATION - can the learner apply what was learned to the job?
• RESULTS - how does the impact the organization

Notice that the first three levels focus on the learner.

It's important that a strategy for evaluating the training be developed when the course objectives and content are developed. It should not be delayed until the training has been completed.

ANSI Z490.1 Guidelines for evaluating training programs, process, and results ANSI Z490.1-2009, Section 3.4.2, recommends evaluating three important elements of a safety training program. How the training program is managed The quality of the training process The results of training Let's look at each of these three important elements more closely.

Evaluating the training program

Training works best when it's designed and performs as part of an integrated system management system rather than a series of unrelated training sessions. Elements to evaluate include:

• Responsibility and accountability
• Quality of facilities and equipment
• Adequacy of program development
• Quality of delivery
• Completeness of documentation and records
• Adequacy of the safety training program evaluation process

Evaluating the training process In an effective training program the training should be conducted using a systematic process that includes a needs assessment, objectives, course materials, lesson plans, evaluation strategies, and criteria for successful completion. Areas of emphasis include: Training goals Learning environment Learning objectives Training effectiveness

Evaluating the training results

By evaluating the results of training, it's possible to make improvements to existing plans and gain awareness of the need for new training. Items to evaluate include:

• Quality of the training action-plan
• Adequacy of long-term planning
• Use of needs assessment
• Appropriateness of prioritizing training
• Adequacy of support and funding

REVIEW QUIZ

This is an open book review quiz. It's important to complete this quiz as some of the final exam questions are derived directly from the questions within this module quiz. Immediately after submitting the quiz, you will receive a web page containing your answers and the correct "book" answers.