The purpose of this project was for a team of Safety, Health & Environment (SH&E) professionals from across AECOM divisions to conduct research on industry best practices in training, to develop company-wide training matrices and to describe methods of tracking compliance that will optimize SH&E training and employee development across global AECOM.
To benchmark industry best practices for SH&E training, a survey was administered to two separate consortiums of high-performing companies. The survey was developed to understand both the typical levels of effort expended in SH&E training and the best practices in training for high performing organizations. The survey assessed how many SH&E training hours per year an average worker receives (office vs. field); the duration of new hire SH&E orientation; the duration and frequency of driver training; training delivery methods (live vs. computer-based); and the metrics that drive SH&E training practices. Results of this survey are contained below.
The following is a summary of recommendations from the team's research. These recommendations are detailed further below.
As a professional consulting/construction services firm, we need to offer our clients talent and expertise. It is critical that we invest in the development of our professionals to integrate safety in every aspect of our work. The key to a solid return in SH&E training investment is to focus on skills, behaviors, and desired competencies that will give AECOM professionals the ability to perform any and all client work injury free. A heavy emphasis should be placed on nurturing future SH&E leaders within operations and strategically focusing SH&E training on appropriate personnel.
Based upon the team's experience, research, and interviews, AECOM will be able to positively influence the overall safety culture of the company through the recommendations summarized above and contained in the body of the paper below. The desired state of the AECOM safety culture is one where leaders effectively promote their commitment to the wellbeing of their people. In return, the people put forth maximum efforts to protect and advance the well-being of one another and the organization.
