NTT Blog

Benefits of Scenario Based Training?

In conjunction with the National Fire Protection Association’s release of the 2018 “NFPA 70E: Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace”, NTT Training is revamping its traditional 2-day lecture-based Electrical Safety course to provide a more practical application of the standard by adding scenario-based training exercises. These exercises range from table-top tasks to hands-on activities that are present throughout the course. Let’s dig into what a Scenario Based Training approach is, how it differs from a standard lecture, and what the benefits for your employees and business are.

What is Scenario Based Training?

Scenario-based training is an approach that is designed to align the material being taught in the classroom with the everyday situations an employee might see in the field. The additional context provided in the classroom accelerates the attendee through the learning curve so that he or she is ready to hit the ground running when they return to the workplace.

Examples of the scenario-based training exercises in NTT’s Electrical Safety class include:

Job Safety Analysis: Students will get time to fill out their own Job Safety Analysis. This can be done using a generic template that would be provided by the instructor or students can bring a Job Safety Analysis that they would normally fill out in the workplace. The completed Job Safety Analysis can be reviewed by an instructor to help identify any hazards or elements that may have been missed.

Normal Operation of Equipment: Not only will students be trained on the normal operation of equipment, they also have the opportunity to use various pieces of equipment during the class to assess equipment to see if it meets “normal operation” criteria. From new technologies like infrared cameras (used to identify hot spots) to more common equipment such as a multimeter, students will leave the class knowing when and how to use the right equipment that make their jobs safer.

Emergency Response Drills:  While the risk assessment and proper safe work practices are all designed to keep workers safe, unintentional injuries do occur. NFPA 70E requires training in emergency response, methods of release, CPR and AEDs. In this exercise trainees must develop an emergency response plan for an electrical accident. Trainees then implement the plan following the scenario given by the instructor.

Scenario Based Training vs. Lecture Training

While 2-day lecture based training for Electrical Safety has been the norm for years, with familiarity sometimes comes complacency. This is the last thing you want with something as critical as Electrical Safety in the workplace.  But just how different is the new structure?

The course has been broken down into 7 different lab-modules, covering topics ranging from electrical safety programs to selecting, donning, and doffing the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to developing an emergency response plan. While each module has a PowerPoint presentation associated with it, the emphasis has shifted from hour after hour of lecture to instead provide the student with enough information and guidance to perform a given task assigned to each lab-model. This means that students are digesting the information quickly and, while it is still fresh, putting that knowledge to work in a scenario-based exercise.

Benefits of Scenario-Based Training

A Scenario-Based Training approach offers both students and employers several benefits over a standard lecture.

• A Change of Pace – Scenario-Based Training is a breath of fresh air for electrical safety. After years of drawn-out lectures for Electrical Safety, NTT’s hands-on class will capture the attention of experienced veterans and the recently hired employee. Your employees will be excited for the new approach and thank you for it!
• Additional Context – Students can go beyond the safety theory when they engage in hands-on exercises and complete tasks. This real-time practice and application of the safety knowledge answers a lot of the “how” questions that come up when only safety theory is taught.
• Improved Adoption – By providing a learning environment that caters to various learning preferences and creating a link between theory and practical application, students can expect to retain information for a longer period of time and adopt it in the field.

The net result of these benefits is a workforce that is not only more safe, but is efficient and knowledgeable enough to keep your operation going. As you continue to develop your workforce, remember that electrical safety is the foundation on which all those skills grow. Investing in the next level of electrical safety training is a win-win situation for both you and your employees.

NTT Training offers the only two day, “Hands-On” scenario-based seminar that covers everything you and your staff need to know about the significant changes being made to the 2018 NFPA 70E while also providing hands on demonstrations and workshops to workers. For more information about a training session, either on-site or at a public course, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

For more information about National Technology Transfer or any of our programs click here: http://www.nttinc.com or http://www.nttinc.com/seminar-list-catalog/.