Is this Classed as training?

She bangs She bangs

Howdy,

In my workplace (medical device manufacturing contractor), we have been asked to read some SOP's (standard operation procedures) tailored to our specific jobs. This is not a problem as for the most part, they are procedures we should be familiar with.

But...

HR have asked us to sign off a "training" sheet to say we have been "trained" in these procedures.

Is this standard practice? Is the company looking for a cheap/easy option to say that their workforce is all trained up..

Also, if someone makes a mistake, the company now have the come-back to say "well you signed off to say that you have been trained"

There is serious pressure to have our "training" record sheet returned, signed off. There are 20 procedures that I need to be "trained in". Who do I ask if I do not understand something, or believe that the procedure is incorrect???

This may be standard practice, if so, I may just train myself, but to me, training consists of more than just telling someone to read an SOP.

Any comments are much appreciated.

Slasher

I don't see anything wrong with this. I have done this kind of training in the past and didn't see a problem.

The only thing i would like to see is someone to ask in the case you are not clear or do not fully understand what you have read.

She bangs She bangs

I suppose where I am coming from is that this came as a result of an audit which showed up our lack of training in our in-company standard procedures.

Seems like a quick fix to me to just give us a training sheet with the SOP's on it, tell us to read them, then sign off we have been trained.

Just to give you an idea of what procedures I have been asked to train myself in.

• process inspections
• Change control polocy
• non conforming product
• New product process planning.

Due to the wide variety of customers we deal with, (not just med device) these can be quite complicates as different industries require different standards.

Ray Palmer

It doesn't sound much different to stuff you do in insurance companies except they throw in a test and tend to do it electronically.

garhjw

i've been given similar training to what you have described. If you are concerned that it is not adequate, make a list of questions and highlight areas where you would like additional clarification..

Mrs OBumble

Self-directed study, in which you read materials and devise your own approaches to making sure you understand and remember them, is a standard part of many training and educational programmes.

TBH, I far prefer it than attending many courses run by professional "trainers" who only half-understand the material and who tend to use group learning processes which I loathe.

donkey balls

Hi op,
If I was you and speaking from experience If you have not received the training do not sign off to say you have,The reason for this is if something happens you while at work and a process you carry out goes wrong.
The company can simply pull out your training record and say you signed off on the training,As we say in the Aviation & Transport business CYA(Cover your arse) many a time I have seen companies let people carry out work with equipment or process they are not signed off to do.
And when something goes wrong the same company who turned a blind eye usually come down on the employee like a ton of bricks,And as they say in court if it is not writing it has not been done.

She bangs She bangs

donkey balls wrote: »

Hi op,
If I was you and speaking from experience If you have not received the training do not sign off to say you have,The reason for this is if something happens you while at work and a process you carry out goes wrong.
The company can simply pull out your training record and say you signed off on the training,As we say in the Aviation & Transport business CYA(Cover your arse) many a time I have seen companies let people carry out work with equipment or process they are not signed off to do.
And when something goes wrong the same company who turned a blind eye usually come down on the employee like a ton of bricks,And as they say in court if it is not writing it has not been done.

See this is what i am thinking. I suppose what I didnt mention before is as well as doing work for the medical device industry, we do work for Aerospace, automotive and oil & Gas.
If I sign off on a procedure to say I'm trained, and a plane drops out of the sky, or an oil rig explodes, or a surgical instrument fails, all because I trained myself on a procedure, thinking I fully understood, but obviously didnt, its me it falls back on as I received the training.