Page 10 - OHS, January/February 2021

TRAINING: SOFTWARE
vasiveness of always-connected mobile devices means learning should always be available and accessible from anywhere.
Having the ability to complete training on mobile devices also makes it easier for your entire workforce to be compliant. No matter if you have office employees now working from home or oil workers needing to train while on a rig, online courses make both required and optional training fully accessible by employees at any location.
Multiple Language Options. Most Americans have probably heard the old phrase that says the United States is a melting pot of different cultures. In fact, in 2013, the Census Bureau found that more than 350 languages are spoken in U.S. homes, with Spanish being spoken by roughly 1 in 6 Americans.7
A study conducted by the Center to Protect Workers’ Rights found that workers with limited English proficiency either did not understand a large amount of the provided English-language safety training, or they did not have the language skills to ask questions. Unsurprisingly, when training is offered in an employee’s native language, it is far more likely they will understand and retain the important information.8
It makes sense, then, that any training service would need to have courses available in more than just English. Spanish might be the obvious first thought, but don’t forget languages like German, French, Portuguese or even Mandarin.
Flexible Pricing Models. As with any software, pricing for LMS platforms can be somewhat confusing.9 You want to find a system that not only offers a package that works for your needs, but one that is transparent in their pricing and does not carry a lot of hid- den fees for unneeded extras.
Typically, high-quality learning management systems will offer pricing levels per user, per course or for course licensing. You may also find additional costs for things like implementation and sup- port, but be sure to do your research so you’re aware of every part of the service you will be paying for.
Unmatched Customer Service. One aspect that is often over- looked—until you need it—is quality customer service. Most, if not all, of us have had an issue that we needed resolved and can ap- preciate the importance of a quick, effective customer service team.
Now, this isn’t something that every company will talk about on their website or in their sales pitch, but it may be something you want to ask about. Do they have quick response times? Are agents available at all hours? Will you be added to a long service queue every time you call? This may not be the most important aspect of an LMS, but it just might tip the scales toward one competitor over the other.
The Best Thing You Can Do: Take a Test Drive
For any purchase we make in our lives, from buying a pair of jeans to picking out a new car, no one prefers to buy things based on one view. We want to try on those pants and make sure they fit, and we take the car for a test drive to make sure we like all the features. Choosing a training software for your business should be no different.
Any reputable company should be more than happy to let you “test drive” their product, ideally with no limitations. It is in both of your best interests. After all, if you buy and implement an LMS
only to discover it’s missing features you wanted or it isn’t very user- friendly, you are unlikely to renew your service. No company wants to lose a customer like that.
Once you have your software choices narrowed down, chat with a sales team member from each company and ask about a demo op- tion. Make sure you can complete a few training courses and try to get all decision-making parties involved in the demo process. You want to be sure everyone is comfortable with the choice you make.
Conclusion
Taking training online is convenient and can save your compa- ny time and money, as online training does not require a physi- cal classroom or bringing an in-person trainer to your jobsite. Employees can complete virtual training from anywhere with internet access.
However, it is important to remember that some in-person training may also be required for certain roles or specific safety regulations. For instance, anyone can take online forklift safety, but until an employee has gotten in a forklift and demonstrated how to safely operate the machinery, they could be considered a liability.
Another benefit to utilizing online training is how easy it is to go through training as often as it is needed, or as often as you’d like to. Repetitive learning opportunities increase the likelihood of retaining the information, which makes for a more effective em- ployee in a working environment.10
In the end, it simply comes down to which training software can provide everything you and your team needs in a way that is easy and affordable. Take the time to decide what is important for you, consider some of the features discussed above and do your research on the highest-rated and most-common LMS platforms available today.
As Lead Content Contributor for SafetySkills, Leah Brown is respon- sible for the development of informational articles covering numerous OSHA, EHS and HR topics and training industry trends.
REFERENCES
1. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brandonbusteed/2020/05/16/ corporate-education-will-never-return-to-the-classroom
2. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/ different-types-of-workplace-training
3. https://trainingindustry.com/articles/content-development/ knowledge-retention-tactics-for-more-effective-learning/
4. https://blog.commlabindia.com/elearning-development/ what-are-scorm-and-aicc
5. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/09/09/us-generations- technology-use/
6. https://review42.com/gen-z-statistics/
7. https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2015/
cb15-185.html
8. https://safetyskills.com/training-effective-native-language/
9. https://www.betterbuys.com/lms/lms-pricing-guide/ #:~:text=lms%20pricing%20models
10. https://www.encyclopedia.com/psychology/encyclopedias- almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/repetition-and-learning
10 Occupational Health & Safety | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021
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