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TRAINING: FACILITIES SAFETY Technology-Driven Safety Training The next wave of workplace instruction innovations is reshaping safety training. BY CLARE EPSTEIN Any accidental or preventable loss of life is a tragedy. Ac- cording to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics1, there were over 5,000 fatal work injuries in the United States in 2021, an 8.9 percent increase from 2020. This illustrates a growing need for robust safety training in workplace settings. A lack of time, resources and availability of training are major drivers of insufficient safety education. Issues with communica- tion, engagement and employee turnover also contribute. Com- panies then often turn to technology for accessible, continuous safety training for employees completing safety-critical activities. Here are six technology trends for workplace safety training: Leveraging Learning Management Systems Online safety training and learning management systems de- signed to deliver digital safety content are essential across multi- ple verticals and within different types of organizations. Custom- ers continue to purchase online safety training courses focusing on OSHA compliance topics, including Hazardous Communica- tion, Bloodborne Pathogens, Hearing Conservation and PPE. The pandemic and OSHA’s continued recognition of online safety have contributed to the increased reliance on online safety training. As OSHA requires organizations to maintain records of their safety training, learning management systems that deliver and track this training are just as important as the training con- tent itself. Businesses realized using technology to maintain and update employees’ training safety records is key to compliance. The Power of Microlearning Humans forget 70 percent of new information within 24 hours2 of ingesting it. As employers continue to embrace learning man- agement technology, lengthy, monotonous training sessions are not as resonant or effective with employees long term. Microle- arning—or the method of providing employees with short, 2- to 3-minute bursts of refresher training—is growing in popularity. Surveys show that consumers consider short-form videos 2.5 times more engaging3 than long-form videos. Two-thirds of con- sumers report short-form video is the most engaging type of so- cial media content3 in 2022. Refresher training in microlearning keeps safety information top of mind and digestible for all. Bespoke Learning Paths LinkedIn’s 2023 Workplace Learning Report4 found that skill sets for jobs changed by about 25 percent since 2015, and the change of skills set for jobs will increase to 50 percent by 2027. As the amount of information required by employees to conduct safety- critical tasks increases, employers should consider creating learn- ing paths tailored to individual employees and/or smaller groups to ensure every employee has the continuous training they need. Due to this need for individualization, employers are de- ploying technology for safety training that allows them to map and store individual learning paths and courses for each of their employees. When it’s time for upskilling and re-training, these learning paths ensure employees receive the training they need to protect themselves and others and advance their careers. A Multi-channel Approach On a similar note, the 2023 State of the Frontline Worker Survey5 revealed that for younger generations, email and text are among the most preferred ways to receive information. Workplace safety technology should therefore allow the de- livery of safety training notifications and microlearning classes via mobile applications and email to address younger generations’ preferred learning style. Workplaces must continually provide safety training and communications over multiple channels to meet the preferences of their workforces and the ever-changing ways in which we communicate with each other. 3-D Technology: Closing the Skills Gap According to Deloitte, manufacturing faces an unprecedented skilled labor shortage6, with up to 2.4 million jobs projected to be unfilled by 2028. One contributing factor within employers’ control is innovating onboarding, upskilling and cross-training. The most powerful learning management systems have incor- porated 3-D graphics technology into their training modules for visual learning. These graphics provide detailed training on Small objects (chemical reactions, mold); Large facilities (buildings, sites, large machines); Fast equipment (high-speed manufactur- ing lines); and Areas workers can’t see (guarding/walls/floors). 3-D graphics illustrate critical points without additional safe- ty risks, as virtual 3-D characters cannot suffer real-life injuries. This method also eliminates the need for shutting down or disas- sembling expensive equipment for training purposes. What Role Does AI Play? Artificial intelligence (AI) could dirupt the creation of safety training, but it still requires human intervention to provide com- pliant, engaging and accurate content. For example, AI can be used to translate training content into multiple languages but re- quires human review so no details get lost in translation. As technology and workplaces evolve, employers and workers will need to adapt their safety training. The pace of change and the amount of information required by employees and stakehold- REFERENCES 1. tinyurl.com/jvy2ntxj 2. tinyurl.com/3bfcpp95 3. tinyurl.com/yeeshk3n 4. tinyurl.com/5n7fpady 5. tinyurl.com/mnfznxj7 6. tinyurl.com/232dacwy ers to conduct critical tasks safely will also increase. Clare Epstein serves as General Manager, Commercial at Vec- tor Solutions, bringing more than 20 years of leadership experience working with safety training and technology solutions. 26 Occupational Health & Safety | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 www.ohsonline.com