Expert on-the-Job Training and the Aging Workforce

Approximately seven years ago, the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati-Wastewater Treatment Division realized there was no standardized training system in place and there was no gauge to measure the success of the training being performed. It also realized it had an aging workforce that is now nearing retirement and the knowledge that could potentially be lost with each retired employee was a major concern. A program known as Expert OJT was investigated and later implemented within the Wastewater Treatment Division, to address this problem. As of today, job aids can be seen posted in the field and in the control room. Experienced personnel are using them to refresh their memory when performing infrequent or unfamiliar tasks, while new employees will use them as one of the tools to learn new tasks.