While every organisation has a legal and moral obligation to prioritise Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) for employees, not every organisation achieves this goal – often due to common – yet rectifiable – gaps that can otherwise compromise worker safety.
Here, we unpack the common gaps that often catch organisations short.
A tick box exercise
Some organisations view compliance with OHS and OHS training as a mere checkbox exercise to meet regulatory requirements – but this view results in a lacklustre approach. Employees are often sent irregular, infrequent messages about safety, that are usually generic, with a one-size-fits-all approach. Or, employees are bombarded with broad information, leading to knowledge overload and a disconnect between training and daily tasks, but also messaging that fails to address the specific hazards and risks unique to each workplace.
OHS and relevant training need to be tailored to your organisation. Conduct a thorough assessment to identify specific hazards and risks present in your workplace. Tailor the training content to address these specific issues.
Flat communication
Sitting in a classroom setting has its advantages, but the OHS training field has evolved with the change in technology, moving away from lectures and presentations towards webinars, e-learning and virtual reality channels. The traditional approach may lead to employees forgetting key safety protocols by the time they return to their workplace, rendering the training ineffective in preventing accidents.
Consider implementing interactive learning that moves away from passive lectures and embraces interactive learning methods like simulations, role-playing, and case studies. This will help employees engage with the material and improve knowledge retention.
To encourage message absorption, consider microlearning courses. These courses break down complex topics into bite-sized modules that can be delivered in short bursts. This approach is more engaging and effective in today’s fast-paced work environment.
Language diversity
If you have a diverse workforce, communicating safety messages to all employees using only one language can be challenging. Translate key safety information into commonly spoken languages at your organisation.
Ensure OHS training materials are available in the languages spoken by your workforce. Consider offering training sessions in different languages.
Soft Skills
We may consider OHS and training as technical procedures, however the most effective OHS training should also address soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and situational awareness. Encouraging conversation between staff and awareness of their roles and encouraging them to approach one another supports an effective overall safety strategy. These skills are crucial for identifying hazards, raising concerns, and intervening when unsafe practices are observed.
Host workshops where staff get to meet each other and adopt scenario-based training where they can roleplay situations they may encounter. This will help them practice applying safety protocols in a realistic setting.
Overall, continuously improve your OHS and training needs by regularly evaluating the effectiveness of your OHS training programme and making adjustments as needed. Seek feedback from employees and incorporate their insights into the training process.