Testimonial "Edison Automation has always been a safe company, but with the implementation of PureSafety, I’ve noticed employees taking safety much more seriously. I can feel confident in our safety program knowing that my employees are receiving the content OSHA says they need. I really don’t see a better vehicle for safety training. PureSafety has proven that a small company can take safety seriously and protect their employees without spending a lot of money." Karla Diehl President

Edison Automation, Inc. was established with the express purpose of being the premiere automation solutions provider in the Southeast, offering a wide array of high quality automation products and electrical control components. Edison represents the most comprehensive knowledge base of industrial automation technologies and products in its market. The company currently employs 60 employees in the states of Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, New York, Texas and Louisiana.

When Edison Automation was in its early years, newly hired employees were highly experienced professionals who had received formal safety training from their previous employers. As a result, safety training was not a key focus.

However, the company grew rapidly and soon it had over 20 employees with varying levels of safety knowledge. Safety education and training became an issue that had to be addressed. In fact, Edison Automation’s insurance company recommended that safety become a formal program. Karla Diehl, Edison Automation’s President, took on this important initiative and quickly established a safety committee. The initial objectives were to define the role of the safety committee and to find a safety training vendor that would provide the necessary courses. The training solution needed to provide organizational efficiencies, flexibility and ensure the company would be fully OSHA compliant.

Initially, Karla and her safety committee discussed having a safety trainer come in once or twice a month to provide onsite training. It became apparent that this approach had far too many inherent problems:

• Edison Automation has approximately 30 engineers and technicians and 10 sales people in the field. Bringing them in for training would mean taking them away from servicing the customers (not appreciated by the customers) and the sales people away from potential sales (not good for revenue).
• Hiring outside trainers can be expensive.
• Every employee needed general safety training. However, there were many employees who required much more specific training, due to the nature of their jobs and potential risk factors. Finding the trainers and the time to present all of the necessary subjects would have been time consuming and inefficient.
• Karla was adamant that every new employee received safety training within the first few months of employment. However, due to schedules and production needs, this was going to be very difficult to accomplish without a safety training solution that provided for immediate, 24/7 access.

With instructor-led training off the table, Karla began researching alternative safety training options – including Internet-based offerings. One of Karla’s business acquaintances recommended PureSafety. Karla went to the PureSafety website and took that month’s Featured Course. She was impressed with the clarity and content of the course and quickly contacted PureSafety to learn more.

PureSafety understood that Edison Automation intended to create a visible safety culture that would be supported by all employees and stand up to any OSHA scrutiny. Along with the Edison Automation safety committee, they analyzed the safety needs of all employees and defined a series of courses that targeted specific groups. Every employee, regardless of his/her job, is required to take certain basic safety courses while employees, such as the field personnel, are required to take several additional courses such as Lockout/Tagout and Hand and Power Tool Safety.

The PureSafety solution has delivered everything that Edison Automation had hoped. Employees appreciate the flexibility of taking their safety training any time and on any computer. Karla and the safety committee like knowing that they are providing accurate and consistent safety information to all employees. Some of the many benefits realized include:

• Training content is consistent. All employees are receiving the same consistent safety message.
• Training occurs at each employee’s individual pace. This is a very important feature for many employees, especially new employees with no previous formal safety training. They can easily backup and repeat sections without feeling intimidated by others, which could occur in a classroom setting.
• Experienced employees can test-out of a safety class. Those employees who have had ample training in a particular subject are able to test out of the course if they desire.
• Reassurance knowing PureSafety has the right safety and risk management experts. Karla and her team can concentrate on their jobs and not worry about the content of any safety course or whether it meets the intent of the OSHA standards.
• No onsite trainers and no time away from customers = tremendous cost savings. Karla estimates that contracting with a trainer to come to the facility once or twice a month would have cost over $20,000 a year. This is only a small part of the total cost if you consider the financial implications from pulling field technicians, engineers and sales people out of the field for training.
• Tracking is automatic and reports are always available. Having easy access to full documentation is key – Karla needs to know that she can generate the necessary training reports anytime.
• Safety training for new employees occurs quickly. New employees are immediately assigned the appropriate courses. They have a specified period of time to complete their training and there is no exception.

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