OJT Program Development

DOE-HDBK-1206-98

OJT is designed to prepare employees for job performance through training and performance

testing that is conducted by qualified OJT instructors in the work environment. It provides

practical hands-on experience, and has the advantage of providing training on tasks that are of

immediate need to the employee. OJT is limited to those situations where it is administratively

and physically possible to conduct the training (i.e., where facilities are adequate, where OJT

can be conducted without significant interference to facility operations, and where qualified

personnel are available to conduct and manage the OJT program). Instructors and training

material designers/developers should be aware of the potential advantages and disadvantages

of OJT when selecting training settings.

The advantages of OJT are:

Training takes place in the actual work environment. The trainee is surrounded

with the sights, sounds, smells, etc., of the job, so little is left to the trainee's

imagination.

The instructor demonstrates the task at the job site using the same tools and/or

equipment the trainee will use to perform the task.

The instructor can tailor the training to meet the needs of each trainee because

the instructor has the option to change the pace, order, depth, and the length of

instruction to allow the trainee to learn the task.

The trainee is able to practice the task and gain hands-on experience.

There are also disadvantages to OJT that should be considered.

The actual job site may not be the best place for training. The equipment at the

job site may not be available for the length of time required to conduct OJT.

Training may have to take a "back seat" to the requirements for operation. That

is, the equipment may simply not be available for training due to operational

goals or commitments.

The cost of OJT can be high. OJT is usually conducted one-on-one, and this

method of training and performance testing takes a great deal of time. In some

cases, an instructor can train more than one trainee; however, performance

tests should always be done one-on-one.

Certain equipment may be dangerous in the hands of a trainee even under

close supervision. (A simulator training setting would be a more desirable