Best practices book - Flipbook - Page 273
Program Description
Please provide a brief description of the program, i.e., Commercial Plan Review; Residential Inspection; How-To
Guides; etc.
We group our inspectors by disciplines which consist of building, mechanical/plumbing and
electrical. Each group is made up of 5 inspectors. One of our best training tools is the In-House
Inspector Training Program. We assign each inspector a chapter in various code books and they
are tasked with finding a section in the chapter to teach the group. Inspectors are required to
research the topic, teach it and use on-line videos if available to share with the group in an
informal classroom setting.
Costs / Benefit
Please provide a paragraph or two elaborating on the program, its estimated costs in human or financial resources,
and the program benefits. Benefits may include public safety, cost-recovery, legal protection, etc.
We have found that our inspectors are more receptive to this type of training. The video
presentations are better structured to maintain attention spans versus listening to a peer recite
code sections. The setting enhances learning and has been met with excellent feedback and
acceptance from our team. Training with this method allows us to stop a video and discuss the
section. This is an important detail in our program because the material has to be tempered with
an understanding, that the subject matter is a code interpretation from another area of the country
which may not align with our jurisdiction. It becomes a good discussion point in itself among
inspectors. Code books are then tabbed and highlighted with these discussion points which are
based on examples of projects in our city.
Inspectors benefit from learning. They engage in discussions among each other and a synergy
is created in each group with this shared experience. Individual growth has also occurred when
inspectors are required to present a code section, speak in front of a group, and explore their
ability to practice communication skills. We enlarge our knowledge base and through this
program have seen personal self-growth and self-worth among our employees. It creates
department confidence.
Training sessions can be 30 minutes to an hour with the members of each group rotating
weekly. If a presentation is used, we show it on a 45” TV connected to our city computer. Our
schedule rotates but is usually, Mondays – Building group, Tuesday - Plumbing/Mechanical
group and on Wednesdays - Electrical group.
Attachments
None.
BPN002-C-T
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