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Some businesses have found workarounds to engage staff , like the manufacturers which ‘ operate a pointsbased training system ’, enabling employees to track their progression . But these programs can be short-lived and lose momentum .
So , how can you create a positive training culture , reducing safety risks and driving incremental improvements ? For me , the answer starts with technology .
Training through tech
Training ’ s big problem isn ’ t in the content – what your staff are trying to learn – but in the format – how the learning is presented . It ’ s 2024 , and the existence of yawn-filled , eighthour training days should have been retired long ago . Today , most of us take a mobilefirst approach to life : if we need directions we use the map on our smartphone ; if we need a grocery or food delivery we order through an app ; and if we need to get organized , we use our online to-do lists and files . What if manufacturers , which need to continuously upskill workers and help them avoid workplace hazards , did the same ?
Training powered by technology creates real impact , with many solutions offering mobile-first courses that are bitesize , accessible , and useful . Here , we can tap into the psychological tools built into smartphones to keep people ’ s attention on-screen and divert it towards workplace learning and reducing risk . Frontline workers can be notified of a new piece of microtraining on their device and complete it right then as a quiz , poll , video , and so on ; either it will confirm their knowledge is right , or they ’ ll learn something new . The point of this gamification is that when training is accessible then people want to do it – I ’ ve heard that some people enjoy it ! With increased engagement comes improved health and safety .
If mobile-first training is good for frontline
workers , it ’ s even better for senior leaders and health and safety professionals . Using collated device data , managers can spot trends across the wider workforce that wouldn ’ t be visible otherwise or identify the skills gap or blindspot of individuals . Done right , a techled approach to training helps you track your team ’ s knowledge to pinpoint areas for improvement and ensure they perform tasks correctly and safely . This isn ’ t about micromanagement ; it ’ s risk management .
A question of content
But it ’ s no use identifying your people ’ s skills needs in real-time , if it then takes you weeks to produce relevant training to give people the knowledge they need . Again , technology has the solution . One of the most exciting areas within training is the use of artificial intelligence ( AI ) to scan and convert any piece of content – like a manual or procedure , even in PDF or physical format – into an online training package within minutes . Clearly , it takes an expert human eye to perform the
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