The safety lesson plans in this manual are intended to aid in training workers about safety. You can present safety lessons by simply reading these plans, but lessons will be much more effective if you spend some time preparing for the lesson. Add your own ideas. Use examples from your operation, and emphasize areas which are important in your situation. These plans are designed for 5 to 10 minute lessons. They can be longer if you get questions or discussion.

Always remind your employees that safety procedures are only effective if properly implemented. Workplace safety is dependent in large measure upon the employees’ attitudes and work habits. Without employee cooperation, the use of safety measures is no guarantee of workplace safety. Proper direction from management can greatly affect worker cooperation and attitude. The Texas Association of Nurserymen does not warrant or guarantee the suggested safety practices contained in the lesson plans but offers them as a helpful guide.

The following suggestions can make lessons more effective:

• Safety meetings should be held at regular intervals during the season. Safety is a state of mind and regular reminders can make workers more conscious of dangers.
• Meetings should be held at a time which is convenient for all workers.
• Each lesson should be conducted in the area of the operation that is most applicable.
• Select a place near the equipment being discussed where people can be comfortable and are free of distractions.
• If you are talking about portable equipment such as ladders and hand-tools, have them with you so you may refer to them as you are discussing them.
• Don’t let anything interrupt the meeting. Before you start, make arrangements for someone to answer your phone and take messages.
• Let your employees know in the beginning that you are limiting the meeting to between 5 and 10 minutes. If discussion gets hot and heavy, continue it at the next meeting.
• You may want to read the lesson or present it in your own words; or you may state the subject of the discussion and ask questions to develop the discussion.
• After your presentation, encourage discussion among employees about the subject. Review recent on-the-job accidents. Then ask for suggestions about how the accident could have been prevented or the violation corrected. Be sure not to criticize anyone by name in front of the group.
• Encourage employees to recall “near misses” – situations when they came close to having an accident. Try to get the group to learn from these experiences.
• Keeping a record of the lesson could be the most important part. The job is not done until you fill out the back of the lesson plan and put it on file. This record could be critical in the future.
• Remember, accidents are costly. Talk is cheap. Invest a little talk and time in safety programs.

Safety Meeting Lesson Plans

The following section includes 10 prepared 5-10 minute safety meeting lesson plans. The Trainer’s outlines are first, followed by a sample roster to be signed and filed after each session. Last are handouts which may be duplicated as is.

Sample Safety Meeting Lesson Plans

• Lifting Techniques
• Using Ladders
• Machine Guards and Safety Devices
• Shut It Off and Lock It Out
• Housekeeping
• Compressed Air Precautions
• Production Area Safety
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Dress for Safety
• Eye Protection

NOTE: Lessons for specific equipment or tasks (i.e. potting machines, power tools, sprayers, etc.) can and should be developed to supplement this general list. All training sessions should follow the same format.