Safety Trainers Workshop

First row (left to right): Ken Kruse, Sheryl Corey, Jennifer Ferdinand, Elizabeth Scott-Denton, Jerry Dzugan, Mike Tork;

Second row: Paula Cullenberg, Kit Van Meter, Margaret Toner, Teresa Turk, Cheryl Brown, Lewis Van Fossen, Don Petersen, Dan Decker;

Third row: Kyle Hogrefe, Lisa Thompson, Lyle Enriquez and Joe Arceneaux (not shown here)

Eleven observer trainers including myself, from all regions of the United States met in Seattle from March 12 through 17, 2001 to complete a Marine Safety Instructor Course. All of the participants came away with better resources, techniques and materials for observer safety training from this course.

I learned the importance of using teaching methods that stimulate as many of the senses as possible. In my program we currently utilize handouts, lecture and videos during safety training. Given the fact we retain only 10% of what we read, 20% of what we hear and 30% of what we see, I plan to add more effective methods-- demonstrations, class involvement (games & stories) and role playing- to our training curriculum.

The course reinforced educational theory by having us give presentations on assigned safety topics. I learned to write a lesson plan with clear objectives, utilize a variety of teaching methods and to include a way to evaluate whether my objectives were met. I also received valuable feedback on my presentation skills from the instructors, my trainer peer group and from a video taken of my presentation. Additional "hands on" training included a pool session, a USCG damage control trailer, a vessel stability model tank, a dewatering pump and signal flares. We also spent a half day at Fisherman's Terminal to conduct safety drills aboard the F/V ALRITA and toured several vessel types while focusing on fishery specific safety concerns for observers.

Each trainer received an Alaska Marine Safety Education Association Instructor Manual, which is an excellent resource that contains current information on marine safety equipment and teaching aids. However, we realized that our best resource will be each other. The Alaska Center has subsequently offered to provide some retired immersion suits to be used for training by smaller programs. I will be helping the National Observer Program create a website for posting electronic training materials and sources for other training resources.

On the final day of the workshop, we created an inventory of safety training elements currently taught in each of the observer programs and identified common elements. A summary of safety training recommendations from this workshop will be presented to the National Observer Program Advisory Team.

I want to thank the National Observer Program for the opportunity to organize and benefit from the Train the Trainer's Workshop. My gratitude extends to the Alaska Fisheries Science Center and staff, Alaska Marine Safety Education Association, USCG Marine Safety Office Puget Sound, and all the participants for making the train the trainer's safety workshop a complete success. There was support and positive feedback for the train the trainers format and we hope to expand this type of regional exchange into other areas of observer training in coming years.

Cheryl J. Brown    April, 2001
SEFSC, Miami, Florida
(on detail to the National Observer Program February 1 to June 1)