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Dakota Software's Blog for EHS and Sustainability Professionals

OSHA reminds employers digital training can supplement, not replace, in-person education

November 26th, 2019 by Dakota Software Staff

OSHA reminds employers digital training can supplement, not replace, in-person education

Training is a critical component of strong workplace safety compliance for businesses across the country. Offering a variety of educational options, from online training and testing to printed material and hands-on experiences, can help reach the broadest range of people and engage with their varied learning styles.

A recent reminder from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is a clear indication that digital education efforts have a valuable role in training employees, but cannot supplant in-person work. Businesses can't shift their entire training protocol to a computer or digital based strategy — they must also interact with the equipment they will use and demonstrate knowledge of rules and protocols beyond a computer screen.

OSHA makes supplementary role of screen-based training clear

"In OSHA's view, screen-based learning isn't enough for safety education."

EHS Today highlighted OSHA's position on digital training, noting that the agency believes an online or computer-based educational process lacks a few key elements necessary for total mastery of the material covered in a safety context. A few key issues to consider in terms of online training's limitations include:

  • A lack of direct, immediate connection between a knowledgeable trainer and the employees receiving instruction. OSHA believes that employees suffer and outcomes worsen when there isn't an avenue for providing personalized guidance, answering questions and correcting potential issues without delay.
  • Employees engaging in online training can't physically engage with the personal protective equipment or the machinery they must safely use and operate on a regular basis. Screen-based education can only offer guidance as opposed to helping employees develop a practical confidence in or mastery of using safety equipment and tools.

"Equally important is the provision of sufficient hands-on training because it allows an employee to interact with equipment and tools in the presence of a qualified trainer, allows the employee to learn or refresh their skills through experience, and allows the trainer to assess whether the trainees have mastered the proper techniques," OSHA wrote in response to an employer question, according to EHS Today.

OHS Online pointed out that online or screen-based education can meaningfully supplement overall training efforts. But in the eyes of OSHA, there needs to be a physical learning component that offers key qualities such as tactile interaction with equipment and context-dependent feedback from a knowledgeable trainer.

Making sure your own safety training efforts are in line with OSHA rules and regulations is a foundational element of every EHS program. To learn how the experts at Dakota Software can help, get in touch with us today.

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