Choosing an Online Occupational Health and Safety Training Provider

At $23.7 Billion and a market growth approaching 35%, it is difficult to deny the compelling attributes associated with online training.   Occupational health and safety training delivered online is especially compelling because of the level of compliance-assurance that can be attained, as well as the significant ROI that so many companies have experienced.   In pursuing these benefits however, many organizations have unfortunately, experienced less than what was expected.   The problem is that along with the growth of demand, the number of providers of online occupational health and safety training has increased as well.  To ensure your organization realizes the potential benefits it’s important to ask the right questions that identify online occupational health and safety providers that provide the training content that will meet expectations.    

 

How expert are the subject matter experts?

What are the credentials of the authors of your online safety training?  Make sure the subject matter experts, are in fact, experts in the occupational health and safety subject.   Not only should they have significant experience in the subject, they should be board certified, and hold advanced degrees in a field relevant to that subject matter.   Look for individual credentials, but also, look at the level of complexity and scope of the provider company’s project history.  The subject matter experts must be involved in the safety training development process from defining the required competencies to final quality assurance.

 

What is the instructional design approach?

Just because they know the material, doesn’t mean they can teach it.   The body of instructional systems design and adult learning theory has evolved over the years and you want to be sure that the safety training content you deploy takes full advantage of the design strategies available

 

What is the content’s interactivity and media-complexity level?

Probably the most conspicuous differentiator in quality and cost between online occupational health and safety providers is level of interactivity and media complexity.  Some online occupational health and safety training providers offer content that is little more than web-based PowerPoint slides, or aging safety training videos streamed online.  Look for online safety training providers who leverage the technologies available in the web 2.0 of today, such as dynamic, variable, non-linear navigation based on learner input and intensive action scripting.  Also look for content that is engaging by making full use of non-static avatars; 3-D animations and simulations; and studio-produced audio.   

 

Can the occupational safety content be customized?

How customizable is the content?  To be effective, it is critical that the online occupational health and safety training you’ve assigned an employee be relevant to the employee.  Many occupational safety training providers promote supposedly “easy to use” customization tools which are in fact neither easy to use, nor allow for any substantive customization.  Look for a provider who will offer content that is editable in common off the shelf courseware development software, such as Adobe’s Captivate™ or Trivantis’ Lectora™.   Furthermore, make sure the safety training provider developed the content themselves, in-house.  Some providers rely on outsourcing content development, and thus will have limited capability for customizing the content.

Common Holiday Accidents

Research shows that more accidents occur during the holiday season than any other time of the year. The best way to prevent an injury is to learn what the most common reasons are that bring a person into the ER.

Car Accidents

Car accidents this time of year are extremely dangerous due to weather conditions and a higher-percentage of intoxicated drivers on the road than usual. Avoid driving in hazardous weather conditions when possible and winterize your vehicle before traveling. Above all else, never drink and drive.

Holiday Decorating

When it comes to holiday decorating a variety of accidents can happen. Over 5,000 each year involve falling off of a ladder hanging Christmas lights and decorations. The month of December is responsible for 25 percent of all home decorating fires. Fires caused by Christmas trees and decorative lights claim an average of 500 homes annually.

Winter Sports

Many people do not realize how dangerous winter sports can be and end up with extreme consequences. Skiing and snowboarding accidents cause hundreds of physical injuries, as well as frostbite, hypothermia and severe sun burns. 35,000 sledding injuries occur each year. In 2004, 11,000 children sought medical attention from ice skating injuries.

Kitchen Fires

Fire departments across the country plead with the public to be careful in the kitchen during the holidays to avoid kitchen fires. Three out of ten home fires began in the kitchen. To reduce the risk of a kitchen fire, do not leave cooking food unattended and keeping flammable materials away from heat sources.

Cuts

From cooking to wrapping presents, if it’s sharp it can cut the skin. Hundreds of people cut themselves every year working hard to create the perfect holiday mood. Be careful with sharp objects and keep out of the reach of children. Make sure that first aid kits are available when needed.

Poisonous Christmas Plants

The many holiday plants are poisonous and can cause severe reactions if ingested. Keeping poinsettias, mistletoe, holly, Jerusalem cherry and amaryllis out of the reach of small children and pets is the best way to ensure that there will be no need to call poison control.

Electrical Shock

Electrical decoration mishaps bring an average of 5,000 people to the emergency room each year. Only use extension cords that are in good condition (not frayed) and never run them underneath any kind of fabric, including rugs. Be careful to overload electrical sockets and unplug devices when they are no longer in use.

Shoveling Snow and Snow Blowers

Removing snow and ice from walkways and driveways provides protection from potential lawsuits, but each year 100,000 injuries are result of this chore. When shoveling snow, lift with knees bent and a straight back to prevent back injury. Permission from a physician is necessary for those with heart conditions and should stop immediately if chest pains occur. When using a snow blower, the fourth leading cause of finger amputation, always wear protective eye wear and keep hands away from the auger. Make sure that all safety devices are in working condition and read safety instructions before operating.

To learn more about SafetySkills, visit SafetySkills.com.

SafetySkills™ Celebrates Marie Curie's 144th Birthday

Today marks the 144^th Birthday of Nobel Prize winning scientist Marie Curie. Curie was the only woman to win the Nobel Prize in two separate fields – Physics in 1903 and Chemistry in 1911. Curie is known as one of the most famous scientists of all time mostly because of her pioneering research on radioactivity. Curie’s theory of radioactivity, the isolation of radioactive isotopes, and the discovery of Polonium and Radium led her to win two Nobel Prizes. She is still the only woman to ever win the prize in two distinct fields.

Marie Curie died in 1934 from exposure to the radium that made her famous. In 1995, she was entombed in the Pantheon, Paris, the first woman to receive the honor.  One of her most famous quotations is: "Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood." Thanks to Curie’s discoveries in radioactivity, we are more aware of the exposures and dangers of radioactive materials. 

In continuing with Marie Curie’s tradition of combating fear with knowledge, SafetySkills™ offers a Radiation Safety Course.  This course will discuss ways to reduce exposure to radiation hazards that may exist at your workplace. This course will also provide general baseline knowledge about radiation hazards. SafetySkills™ also offers over 200 OSHA, DOT and EPA compliant courses. Visit us today at http://safetyskills.com/.

Free Safety Course of the Month - Slips, Trips and Falls

I don’t know about you, but I always love a good deal, what’s even better is something for free. SafetySkills™ knows how to make a good deal even better by offering some of their online safety training courses for free. SafetySkills™ is an online training solution that provides interactive and content rich occupational health and safety courses for any size company or individuals.  We know that training is important and sometimes budgets are tight, which is why we offer 15 free online safety training courses. Sign-up for a free basic account to have access to our free courses and over 200 OSHA compliant courses. In this month’s Free Course Safety Spotlight we are featuring Slips, Trips and Falls. 

Slips, Trips and Falls can occur in any type of workplace setting and even off the job.  OSHA states that incidents cause by slips, trips or falls constitute for the majority of general industry accidents. Slips, trips and falls cause 15% of all accidental deaths, and are second only to motor vehicles as a cause of fatalities. OSHA standards for walking/working surfaces apply to all permanent places of employment, except where only domestic, mining or agricultural work is performed.

The SafetySkills™ free Slips, Trips and Falls course will provide the learner with general awareness tips that will apply to any industry or individual. In this course, employees will learn to identify general OSHA safety requirements, guarding for floor and wall openings, issues with stairways, ladder, scaffolds, loading docks and how personal behavior affects safety. This course can help employers to fulfill 29 CFR 1926.1060 OSHA requirement for the safe use of ladders, but should be used in conjunction with conventional training over company specific policy and specific workplace hazards. 

Keep yourself and your workplace safe by knowing basic safety tips. For information on all of our OSHA compliant courses, please visit us at http://safetyskills.com

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Free Safety Course of the Month - Electrical Safety

If you haven't yet visited the SafetySkills website, then you are missing out on our free online safety training courses. Once you sign up for a free basic account with us, you then have access to 15 free safety courses focused on general industry safety topics. After completion of the course, you will be able to print out a free certificate of completion that includes your name, date and title of the course. The free account is perfect for individuals or small companies looking to train a few employees. In this month's Free Course Safety Spotlight, we are featuring Electrical Safety.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) states that electrical currents exposes workers to a serious, widespread occupational hazard; practically all members of the workforce are exposed to electrical energy during the performance of their daily duties, and electrocutions occur to workers in various job categories. Many workers are unaware of the potential electrical hazards present in their work environment, which makes them more vulnerable to the danger of electrocution.

With the free Electrical Safety online safety course, the learner will demonstrate knowledge of potential hazards associated with electrical equipment in the workplace and how to minimize or eliminate those hazards. Employees will learn how to recognize the dangers of electricity, possible electrical injuries, and how to use standard hazard controls. This course covers topics related to basic electric safety as outlined in OSHA standards 1926.403, 1926.404, 1926.416, and 1926.417.

There is no need for people to be injured at the workplace because of improper training. To take the free Electrical Safety online course or to view our other free courses, please visit us at SafetySkills.com

SafetySkills™ Welcomes J. Boyd Nolan as Chief Operating Officer

SafetySkills™, developed by noodleStream.com welcomes J. Boyd Nolan as its new Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Nolan brings with him executive leadership experience in engineering, software development and project management. Mr. Noland is a certified Professional Engineer with a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma. In addition to Mr. Nolan's expansive work experience with companies such as RiskMetrics Group Inc., NetIQ, PentaSafe and Boeing, he also contributes at a professional, college and pre-college levels as a State Board member and officer for the Oklahoma Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE), National Delegate for the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), and Chair of the Board of Advisors for the School of Computer Science at the University of Oklahoma.

SafetySkills™ anticipates the combination of Mr. Nolan's corporate knowledge and noodleStream.com's innovative e-learning approach to be a great asset in the growth and success of the SafetySkills™ product. Maximizing team performance and strategic planning will launch SafetySkills™ on a global scale while continuing to help companies save time and money and reach their safety training goals. To learn more about SafetySkills, visit us at www.safetyskills.com

Bloodborne Pathogens Training Protects Against Devious Diseases

Bloodborne pathogens are mysterious, sneaky, slimy little monstrosities that can cause nasty and potentially life threatening diseases in humans. These evil little cretins can cause Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV.  If you work in a place that you may be exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials, don’t be caught unprepared for an invasion.  The brave souls in the medical field or the tattoo artists who craft art on the skin of willing victims know that bloodborne pathogens are no match for proper training. The OSHA standard requires that all workers exposed to bloodborne pathogens as part of their job duties must be trained in combat of the elusive criminals.

The OSHA standards include:

·         Exposure control plan

·         Plan must be updated annually

·         Use of labels to communicate hazards

·         Provision of training

·         Implement the use of universal precautions

·         Identify the use of engineering controls

·         Identity and ensure the use of work practice controls

·         Provide PPE

·         Make available hepatitis B vaccinations

·         Make available post exposure evaluation and follow up to any exposure incident

 Bloodborne pathogens are a serious offender to the protection of the human immune system. SafetySkills offers a bloodborne pathogens course that will comply with OSHA’s standards and regulations and can help in the defense of infectious microorganisms.

Lick with Caution - Delicious Facts about Ice Cream

July is National Ice Cream Month and what better way to pay tribute to my favorite treat of choice, is to look back in history to see how this creamy cool delicious treat came to be. Although  this is a safety blog, relax because I will also throw in some tips on how to avoid a brain freeze from downing your banana split way too fast. According to Wikipedia (yes, I am aware on how accurate this may be, but this research is all in the name of fun) In the Persian Empire, people would pour grape juice concentrate over snow, in a bowl, and eat this as a treat in hot weather. The Roman Emperor Nero (37-68) had ice brought from the mountains and combined with fruit toppings. Arabs were the first to use milk as a major ingredient and sweetened the ice cream with sugar rather than fruit juices. Ice cream was introduced to the United States by Quaker colonists who brought their ice cream recipes with them. Confectioners sold ice cream at their shops in New York and other cities during the colonial era. Ben Franklin, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson were known to have regularly eaten and served ice cream.

With all that ice cream and delicious fruit toppings crossing the globe, it’s easy to imagine that Ben Franklin may have suffered a brain freeze or two. Brain freeze happens when something cold touches the nerves in the roof of the mouth, triggering the blood vessels in the front of your head to constrict, which causes an unforgettable mind numbing experience. So here is where the safety part comes in, the next time you feel a brain freeze coming, press your tongue to the roof of your mouth to warm it up or you can eat your ice cream slowly. My favorite tip is pour some hot fudge on top of your sundae. The warm gooey goodness could definitely tone down the chill factor.  The real challenge is how to safely eat an ice cream cone without it ending up all over your shirt and pants. It’s all about the timing and maintaining a balanced shape. Licking in a circular motion at the base of the ice cream helps to maintain a stable shape but you can’t take your time. Your licking must beat the dripping. Come to think about it, it seems like a lot of pressure.  If you can’t handle it, feel free to put it in a cup instead. Now that I’ve provided you with the history of ice cream and how to safely avoid a brain freeze and not wear the creamy frozen goodness, go, eat and enjoy the safe way!

Lockout/Tagout Done Right Keeps The Danger Out

Proper Lockout/Tagout procedures ensure that all workers are aware of maintenance being done on machines that will harm the repairer if turned on. That being said, it is so important that your company follows the guidelines to insist that everyone is working safely and no accidents, or worse may occur. Unfortunately neglectful or untrained employees on the lockout/tagout procedures are a danger to the workplace and training must be treated as paramount.


Recently OSHA has cited T&D Metal Products LLC with 4 safety violations after two workers suffered amputation injuries. Read the new release at here.

SafetySkills™ offers Lockout/Tagout courses at for the general industry as well as Oil and Gas. Simulation courses are also available featuring impressive 3D renderings to make the learner feel as if the they are performing the tasks first hand.

Loud Workplace Noises Can Cause Permanent Damage

     According to OSHA, every year approximately 30 million people in the United States are occupationally exposed to hazardous noise. Noise and vibrations can harm workers when they occur at a high level or continue for a long time. Loud noise can also create physical and psychological stress, reduce productivity, interfere with communication and concentration, and contribute to workplace accidents and injuries by making it difficult to hear warning signals. Noise-induced hearing loss limits your ability to hear high frequency sounds, understand speech, and seriously impairs your ability to communicate. (Source: osha.gov)

     OSHA has implemented limits on the noise exposure in the workplace to protect workers from hearing damage.  The limits are based on a weighted average of an 8 hour day with a 5 dBA exchange rate. The maximum exposure limit is 90 dBA for all workers in an 8 hour day. There are several warning signs that you workplace may be too noisy such as hearing ringing or humming in your ears when you leave work, you have to shout to be heard by a coworker arm’s length away or you experience temporary hearing loss when leaving work.

     SafetySkills™ addresses the OSHA standards of hearing conservation, the cause of hearing loss in the workplace and the different options of personal hearing protection. To view the course on hearing conservation, visit us at http://www.safetyskills.com/occupational-health-and-safety-series/hearing-conservation.The course is intended for general industry employees who may come in contact with noise levels high enough to cause hearing impairment. For more information on all the courses in the SafetySkills™ library, go to www.safetyskills.com.