Challenge
Roughly 700 employees across the National Park Service served as Collateral Duty Safety Coordinators (CDSCs), but only about 20% of them had been trained within the mandatory 6 months from appointment, and most were located in the SouthEast region, where a week-long regional training was held.
My Role
Risk Management leadership assembled a Regional Safety Manager Working Group and requested that Visitor and Resource Protection support the group in developing the regional training into a national training.
Action(s)
As project manager and instructional designer, I attended/evaluated the Southeast regional training, analyzing how it may scale to a national level. Led extensive ongoing collaboration with a working group of very busy professionals to establish national-level competencies (allowing for regional variability), assess and scope “right fit” training and delivery needs, and shift mindsets from single event “knowledge dump” to a scaffolded pathway of training and application that built skills in the flow of work. Change management with clear communication, onboarding, and documentation to drive adoption of evidenced-based perspective on training development to ensure application post-training. Drove accountability and application of skills by incorporating supervisory support, action planning, and continuous evaluation throughout the pathway.
Result(s)
National CDSC Training Pathway that lets CDSCs agencywide be fully trained within 6 months as they learn and apply knowledge/skills, at a pace that fits their limited schedules. Three phased hybrid approach: Introductory (custom e-learning, NPS systems, virtual inspection practice); Foundational (key off-the-shelf OSHA e-learning and NPS Risk Management training); and Focused (NPS-specific, regional 1-day in-person) training.
Reduced overall “time in training” by 20 hours and reduced in-person training from 4 days to 1 day (held regionally with mock inspection and networking), AND reduced travel/per diem costs by 80%. Built a Virtual Safety Inspection (Storyline with 360 images) for Phase 1 training to enable CDSCs to practice in context with job aids, so they can support inspections and risk mitigation throughout their training experience.
CDSC Pathway is being discussed as the “first step” to guiding employees towards an NPS safety role.
Project Link(s)