This blog delves into the aspects that you need to consider when you plan to deliver safety training online.
According to the 2013 Work Place Safety Index, released by the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety, organizations paid about 55.4 billion dollars as compensation to the employees who were down with injuries and illnesses at the workplace, in the year 2011. So, how can you ensure the safety of your staff members? Well, training your people on safety norms and procedures goes a long way in reducing accidents at work and ensures their well-being.
Several organizations use eLearning to impart safety training to their workforces because this training medium enables them to provide the necessary knowledge and skills very quickly, in an efficient and cost-effective manner. But, how can you make the best use of the digital training format?
You can impart highly effective safety training by following a 5 step process. Here are the steps.
- Create an effective training plan
- Design and develop online courses
- Make the staff aware of the importance of safety training
- Deliver the courses
- Evaluate the efficacy of the courses
In this blog, we will look at the first step – creating a comprehensive plan to impart safety training online.
You need to consider 3 major aspects when you create a safety training plain – training needs, learning objectives of the courses, methodology used to deliver the online training.
Training Needs
It is very important to analyze your safety training needs before embarking on the use of eLearning. You need to identify the potential risks or hazards that need to be addressed by the training. You also need to find the right answers to the questions listed below.
- What are the mandatory safety training programs that your people need to take?
- Who is target audience? Is it the front-line personnel, supervisors or managerial staff?
- Why is the training imparted? Do staff members need to be educated on the correct use of equipment, understand the safety practices or regulatory requirements?
Learning Objectives of the Courses
The next step is to frame well-defined learning objectives for your safety training course. You need to clearly identify the current skills and knowledge of your people and match them with the expected skills and knowledge. You will need to assess if there are any skill/knowledge gaps. Bridging these gaps is the ultimate objective of the safety training program and based on this, the learning objectives of the training program can be defined.
The learning objectives need to be defined in terms of performance on the job. For example, workers need to:
- Operate a piece of machinery without violating the safety parameters
- Understand the dangers of improper usage of hazardous substances
- Follow safety regulations to prevent a fire at the workplace
Clarity in the learning objectives is vital and guides the development of courses that can meet your safety training needs in an effective manner.
Methodology Used to Deliver the Online Training
You need to evolve a proper strategy to deliver the safety training program to your target audience efficiently. It is essential to consider 3 major aspects in this regard.
- Age and comfort levels of learners using computers and mobile devices
- Location of the learners. Can training be imparted to them at one place or are they scattered across various regions?
- Frequency of the training
Keeping these factors in mind, you need to determine whether the courses can be delivered completely online or a blend of the classroom training and eLearning formats. You also need to decide on the devices through which your course will be delivered.
Thus, you can develop a comprehensive plan to impart first-rate safety training to your employees. How do you plan your training programs? We’d love to hear your views.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in December 2014 and has appeared in learning design category whereas now it is updated in Training solutions category.
