Depending upon your interpretation of the recent employment numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), it looks like the economy is adding jobs. If that’s the case, then one of the first thing those new employees are going to need is training — especially on how to do their jobs safely.Safety training is especially important for new hires given the kind of unemployment the United States has experienced. Many workers have been sitting on the sidelines for many months to over a year, and it may take them some time to get re-adjusted to the workplace, even if they are returning to jobs that are similar to the ones they lost.
Additionally, safety training is not just the right thing for employers to do, according to experts, it’s good business. One 2001 *survey found returns on investment (ROI) for safety to be over 3 to 1. In other words, every dollar spent on safety netted three dollars in return. In a more recent survey, the expected return was closer to 2:1. Both surveys demonstrate what safety professionals have known for some time: safety in the long run is an investment, not an expense.
Speaking of expense, technology is helping to bring the costs related to training down. Now thanks to online training, safety managers have terrific options for getting employees up to speed on a wide variety of topics at comparatively low costs. For instance, MSDSonline’s on-demand training packages include access to over 80 EH&S related courses on everything from Hazard Communication and Fall Protection to Ergonomics and Winter Driving. However, for new employees, a good place to start might be the Workplace Safety Orientation course.
Course Coverage
Ideal for new hires and workers needing an awareness-level orientation to basic industrial safety fundamentals, Workplace Safety Orientation provides an overview of general safety concepts and techniques used to protect workers. Topics covered include: Hazard Communication, Bloodborne Pathogens, Lockout-Tagout, Confined Space Entry, PPE, Emergency Response Planning, and Respiratory Protection.
Training Options
Visit Workplace Safety Training for information about our on-demand training offering, including a list of available courses. Whether you’re interested in an option that does not require all employees to be present at the same time, or for a blended learning experience you can in integrate into your current training regiment, now is a good time to consider an online solution.
*2001 Liberty Mutual Executive Survey of Workplace Safety
