Safety Training Support Resources To Invest In
L&D managers are forced to pick and choose which resources to develop thanks to limited funds and tight timelines. Which activities will improve employee engagement and benefit your bottom line? That’s the question they must consider for every idea that runs past them in pitch meetings. It’s not an easy job, but someone has to do it. Luckily, there are some go-to activities that are always worth the investment regardless of your online safety training goals or gaps. These 7 safety training support resources and knowledge refreshers allow employees to learn from mistakes and apply practical skills from afar, which is crucial in these turbulent times of social distancing and self-isolation.
1. Compliance Task Tutorials
Give employees a play-by-play for how to perform safety compliance tasks and avoid common pitfalls. Be sure to include the necessary tools, skills, and workplace resources they need to complete the process. For instance, they must use this disinfectant and cleaning materials to sanitize the workspace daily. Or wear this safety gear to prevent injuries. It’s also best to explain why this is the best task approach and associated risks. If staffers don’t follow these steps, there are negative repercussions.
2. Video Demos That Highlight Dos And Don’ts
Employees aren’t usually inherent rule breakers. Compliance breaches typically start with the best intentions that are derailed by ineffective training. Staffers aren’t aware of new regulations or simply don’t know how to apply them on the job. There are also safety training topics that fall into the gray area. This makes it challenging to tell the difference between right and wrong because there’s no clear-cut answer. Video demos that highlight dos and don’ts give employees a visual example to follow. They can see the correct way to store an item or maintain social distancing in a crowded office as well as mistakes they should avoid to stay safe in the workplace.
3. Quick Knowledge Checks
Pop quizzes and bite-sized serious games serve as a great knowledge check for compliance safety training. This allows employees to gauge their level of experience, identify gaps, and refresh their memory. Then follow up with JIT safety training support resources to address personal areas for improvement before they become full-fledged violations. This also gives them the opportunity to pre-assess their knowledge when moving up the corporate ladder. Use the assessment results to adjust their online training path and recommend certification courses based on new job roles. Bonus tip: pair knowledge checks with gamification leaderboards for some friendly competition. This also boosts employee motivation and helps them track their own progress.
4. Problem-Solving Scenarios
Many safety training topics involve practical problem-solving. Employees have to try to find the best way to minimize risk and abide by the rules while maximizing workplace performance. So, give them safety training scenarios that test their decision-making and lateral thinking skills. Can they navigate the situation and achieve the desired outcomes in a contextual setting? This activity is ideal for risk assessment safety training topics because employees must quickly evaluate the circumstances and determine the right course of action.
5. Mistake-Driven Simulations
Everyone is allowed to make mistakes from time to time. It’s part of being human. However, employees must be able to gather valuable life experience from these mistakes to avoid repeating them. Simulations allow them to explore task missteps and ineffective performance behaviors that jeopardize workplace safety. Employees receive immediate feedback so that they can correct these errors and reflect on their habits or cognitions. Is there a better way to perform the task that might reduce muscle strain? Do they need to develop certain skills or competencies to prevent compliance breaches? In fact, you can sum up their simulation performance with prompts or questions that encourage self-reflection. This way, they pinpoint their own gaps discreetly and don’t feel "judged" by the system.
6. Troubleshooting Guides
These convenient troubleshooting guides are ideal for moment-of-need support. They might consist of targeted FAQs or pointers to help staffers prevent workplace catastrophes. You can even add interactive hot spots or links that tie into related concepts, such as online training tutorials, demos, and simulations that show them every step in the process. Just make sure the guide is easy to digest and job-specific. For example, the call center employee knows where to find information about data collection or privacy laws.
7. Real-World Examples
Real-world examples may take the shape of stories, anecdotes, case studies, or interactive games. The goal is to form an emotional connection and make the experience more relatable. Staffers can see how safety training topics pertain to them and their work duties, instead of simply reading about policies and processes and trying to memorize as much as possible. This improves practical application and knowledge retention. Another option is to invite employee contributions. Ask them to recount the safety training obstacles they faced on the job and how they handled the situation. What was the outcome, and would they do anything differently? Launch an employee anecdote online training library that humanizes your compliance training and improves staffer participation.
Many companies outsource safety training courses to reduce development time and stretch their budget. However, you should still have a list of deliverables on-hand to prevent overspending. In fact, training managers must include a list of JIT resources in the RFP so that vendors provide accurate estimates. Another way to cut costs is to repurpose existing online training materials. For example, reuse visuals, audio clips, and other assets from outdated webinars and modules. Finally, encourage employees to contribute resources to the library based on their personal expertise and experience.
Health and safety training should be high on your list of L&D priorities, now more than ever. If you want to find everything you need in order to launch an effective safety training strategy for your organization, download the eBook Safety Training Success For SMBs: How To Prep Your Team For A Post-Pandemic Workplace and benefit from its valuable insights and best practices.
