The Reality of the “Price-First” Market in Thailand
- Compliance vs. Competence: Many companies purchase the cheapest available 6-12-hour “Safety Officer” courses just to meet the legal requirements set by the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare (DLPW). This fulfills a paperwork requirement but often fails to build real competence in employees. (signatures on attendant sheet only)
- Low-Cost Providers: Competitive pricing for public training is common, with some providers offering discounts up to 40% for bulk or in-house sessions. However, these sessions often lack the hands-on practice (ideally 70% of the course) necessary for effective skill retention. You cannot expect hands-on practices from a trainer who has never work as safety at management level. Low-Cost Providers use brand-new, graduated trainers who has no working experiences. That is why they can offer the safety training courses cheaper than a piece of hamburger.
While choosing the cheapest safety training provider might fulfill immediate administrative budget goals, it often leads to higher long-term costs and significant operational risks. The focus for many organizations has shifted toward value-based procurement to avoid the hidden expenses of “budget-only” decisions.
Risks of Price-Only Selection
- Subpar Compliance: The cheapest providers may lack proper accreditation or fail to stay updated on the latest regulatory standards, leaving your company vulnerable to fines.
- Hidden “Failure” Costs: Ineffective training can lead to higher accident rates, resulting in expensive medical claims, legal fees, and increased insurance premiums.
- Poor Knowledge Retention: Low-cost programs often rely on generic, non-interactive “death by PowerPoint” methods that employees find boring and forget quickly, failing to change actual workplace behavior.
- Reputational Damage: Serious accidents caused by inadequate training can damage a company’s brand, making it harder to attract top talent or win new bids.
The Business Case for Quality Training (ROI)
- Direct Savings: Every $1 invested in effective safety training can save an average of $4 to $6 in injury-related costs.
- Productivity Boost: When employees feel safe, they are more focused and engaged, leading to higher productivity and less downtime due to accidents.
- Competitive Advantage: A strong safety record can be a differentiator when bidding for contracts, as many clients now require evidence of high-quality workforce competence.
Recommended Selection Criteria
To move beyond just “the cheapest,” admin staff can use these criteria to evaluate value:
Accreditation & Certification: Verify that the provider is authorized by relevant bodies (e.g., OSHA-authorized).
Customization: Check if the training can be tailored to your specific industry and site-specific hazards rather than being a “one-size-fits-all” product.
Trainer Expertise: Ensure trainers have real-world experience and professional qualifications beyond just reading from a script.
Delivery Methods: Prioritize interactive or blended learning (online + hands-on) which has been proven to improve retention compared to traditional lectures.
Analytics & Tracking: Choose providers that offer tools to track progress and verifiable completion, which is essential for audit readiness.
It is as hard as changing safety culture from A to E. Safety training is a lot cheaper than Monkey Training Schools.
