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.

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