Dynamic Insights

Finding the perfect workplace safety course for you

BY JULIA GILBERT

17 JANUARY 22

There can’t be many more important things in a working environment than everyone’s welfare, so by definition, finding the perfect workplace safety course for your organisation is a key priority. Of course, there are off-the-shelf elearning options, but does your organisation have specific needs, peculiar to your organisation, its processes or even its culture? Julia Gilbert explores …

Checklist of considerations

If you’ve ever considered a workplace safety course for your organisation, you’ve probably used a checklist of considerations.

This list is certainly not exhaustive. And given that the last point is probably the most important, it’s definitely not in order. But it gives a good indication of where to start.

Who needs it?

What should the content be?

Where and when should we hold it?

At what kind of level should we pitch it?

Why are we doing this in the first place?

What are we hoping to achieve?

What are you hoping to achieve through your workplace safety course?

Well, first of all, the clue is in the title. We are looking to keep our employees, our customers, partners and suppliers safe, happy and in a good state of wellbeing.

But, once you get past that initial goal, it’s very much worth considering the financial benefits of work safety training, too.

Workplace accidents are costly

For instance, in the UK alone, the annual cost of workplace accidents and ill health stood at £16.2 billion, according to the HSE. Those costs will be attributed to all manner of things, including:

Loss of productivity.

Claims made by individuals or groups against your organisation.

The cost of recruiting temporary or permanent staff.

The cost of retraining new staff.

It’s easy to see why organisations are realising the importance of getting work safety courses absolutely right. Especially when considering that the health and wellbeing of our people is paramount.

But how do you know which is the right workplace safety course for your team?

Obviously, every organisation is different, with different needs. The good news is you can choose from a wide range of ready-made safety training out there. And indeed, you can choose from a wealth of off-the-shelf safety elearning courses from us here, at Dynamic.

Some of our more popular off-the-shelf workplace safety courses include:

1. HEALTH AND SAFETY COURSES

Whatever sort of organisation you work in, there is always the possibility of an accident or damage to someone’s health.

And by and large, all work exposes people to hazards. This can include loads which have to be manually handled; dangerous machinery; toxic substances; electricity; working with display screen equipment. It can even include psychological hazards, such as stress.

A Health and Safety module helps you identify the main hazards and risks you are likely to encounter within the workplace.

2. STRESS MANAGEMENT COURSES

Research shows that work-related stress is widespread. And it’s not confined to particular sectors, jobs or industries.

Stress Management modules can be pitched at those experiencing stress or their colleagues and managers. They usually provide content on how to recognise stress in the workplace and guidance on what can be done to alleviate it.

3. MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING AT WORK COURSES

Thousands of work days are missed every year due to poor mental health.

Whether work is the cause of the health issue or intensifying it, employers have an increasing legal responsibility to support their employees.

4. FOOD SAFETY COURSES

Most of us will have suffered from food poisoning at some point in our lives and know how poorly it can make us feel.

Food poisoning can be much more serious than just an upset tummy and frequent visits to the bathroom. For some people it could mean hospital treatment and could even be life threatening.

If you work in the food industry, or in another job role that involves the production, distribution, handling, serving or selling of food, you have an important part to play in making sure that the food is safe and fit for human consumption.

5. MANUAL HANDLING COURSES

RoSPA estimates that 21% of all non-fatal workplace injuries can be attributed to mishandling incidents and that a third of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are also caused through manual handling activities.

Basically, you have a responsibility to take reasonable care of your own health and safety as well as that of your colleagues. A manual handling course can help to reduce the risk of injury as much as possible.

6. FIRE SAFETY COURSES

Employers, business owners and in many cases, leaders of HR departments, have a responsibility to make sure that adequate fire safety training is in place for staff.

If you’re interested in off-the-shelf elearning courses, topics would include the fire triangle, common ignition causes, signage and safety equipment.

Is off-the-shelf learning right for you?

The above list is certainly not exhaustive. But it gives you a good indication of not just what’s available as an off-the-shelf e-learning course, but also the range of what you, as an employer, need to consider.

Bespoke versus off-the-shelf learning

However, you may be right in thinking that an off-the-shelf elearning course isn’t right for your team in every situation. After all, your organisation is unique. And it comes with a unique blend of individuals. So that might suggest a workplace safety course, tailored to your particular needs. The good news is that companies, such as Dynamic, are very experienced in creating bespoke elearning courses. Even better news is that tailored elearning courses can be far more effective in ensuring the information sticks and is adhered to by staff.

Great - but what level do you pitch the perfect workplace safety course?

Undoubtedly a great question. And one we get asked at Dynamic quite often. The best answer is that you don’t really have to worry about what level you pitch a bespoke elearning course on workplace safety.

Why? Well, quite simply, we can set any elearning course at any level you require. Or we can provide you with a sliding scale of levels, which your team can either work through sequentially or start at the level they select. In fact, research shows that when courses are pitched at the right level for individuals, the group collectively learns more and retains more information.

Customised elearning could be the answer

Moreover, with a bespoke elearning course from Dynamic, we can customise it, not only to your needs but also to the people within your organisation. We get under the skin of what your brand is all about. And because we use digital platforms to inspire, we can inject far more creative ways of communicating your message than you may get from an off-the-shelf route. Of course, let’s not forget that individuals consume information in the ways they are most comfortable with. Which is why we can create your bespoke elearning modules to work across multiple devices, languages and for different accessibility needs.

Why Dynamic?

At Dynamic, we’ll work around your schedule to create the best elearning platform that your team can use in a way that works around their diaries, too. And as well as creating elearning courses that staff can access from any device, we can create them so they work through them at their own pace – or to different deadlines, should you require.

Not only that, we also make sure your team is fully supported, with helpdesk staff available to answer any of your technical questions. Of course, when it comes to custom elearning and keeping your staff happy, healthy and safe in the workplace, it’s all about what works best for you and the team. But it all starts with a chat to find out what you’re trying to achieve, so why not get in touch with us today.

FEATURED CASE STUDY

Keeping millions safe and happy

Merlin Entertainments create and deliver memorable, immersive brand experiences for over 60 million guests a year. Dynamic created gamified elearning to ensure that individual engineers’ and ride operators’ expertise was transferred to new colleagues around the globe.

“Working with Dynamic has been a great partnership.”

Nicola Maisuria | Health, Safety, Security Director

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CASE STUDY >