Standards-related training

Different standards govern the work of production employees. A number of companies organize short refresher courses and updating sessions on an ongoing basis to reflect the frequent changes in the standards imposed by government agencies, among others. Moreover, some of the companies studied by Bélanger et al. (2004) put in place systems (training records for each employee, registration, control and review of new procedures, etc.) to show that staff members have been trained and are applying the new standards.

The businesses operating in sectors like food processing and biopharmaceutical production must strictly observe standards governing the quality of the process and the product, including control of the manufacturing process of sterile products or control of hygiene and microbial contamination. In the food-processing sector, there is HACCP certification, ^{Footnote 52} especially important for companies wishing to export their products, which imposes hygiene and food safety requirements. The rules contained in Good Manufacturing Practices are the source of many training courses in these types of businesses. Given the consequences of the slightest breach of these rules, such as mishandling of hazardous products, companies require their employees to engage in short specialized training activities, which often take the form of mentoring.

To prevent accidents at work and in order to adopt safe practices and to know how to react in emergencies, occupational health and safety becomes an important dimension of ALT activities provided to production staff. Thus, many short specific training courses are given to staff to help them master the new techniques introduced into the company or to prevent accidents at work. Some of these courses in health and safety are required by the Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CSST), including first-aid training.

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