Ten reasons why businesses will choose health and safety distance learning.

 

Even before Covid-19, distance learning and training was on the rise, and this was certainly the case in health and safety. But now, in the midst of a pandemic, distance learning with technologies such as video conferencing and VR, is coming into its own.

 

And over the next few years, we predict a rise in demand by businesses for distance learning or virtual classroom training to help prepare workplaces that choose hybrid working or working from home as ‘the new normal’.

Why is this?

 

We all hope that the mass vaccination programme and ongoing measures to limit transmission of Covid-19 will edge us a little closer to normality in the first half of 2021.

 

It’s likely that we’ll be living with this virus for some time, but with some necessary controls in place we can tentatively look forward to a post-lockdown situation in which people can socialise and return to workplaces.

 

And planning for this brighter future is now focusing the minds of business owners. Many of the companies we’re working with are facing the dual challenges of

 

a) safely managing remote workers who will continue to work from home

 

b) preparing those employees who are returning to the workplace

 

I spoke in my last blog about the pressure the pandemic has had on the mental health of people at work, and what you can do to spot the signs and symptoms of mental illness in co-workers.

 

Alongside this, businesses will now also be thinking about how to prepare for returning staff back to physical work environments, such as factories and offices. For many people, it may have been months since they last stepped through the doors of their workplace.

 

This is why it’s vital, in my view, that these businesses invest in preparing their teams for the return with refresher training for managing risks such as fire, mental illness and working at height. And my advice is that they follow an increasing number of businesses who are doing this by investing in distance learning.

Why distance learning?

 

Here’s a list of 10 reasons why health and safety distance learning, or virtual classrooms with the use of video conferencing, are becoming more popular this year

 

1 Safety

Distance learning is a safer way to deliver training during the pandemic because it removes the risk of transmission between trainer and trainees.

 

2 Convenience

As you long as you have a computer or phone with a camera and a Wi-Fi connection, you can join a virtual classroom from the comfort and safety of your home or office.

 

3 Affordability

There can be expenses associated with traditional training sessions, such as travel for the trainer and catering for attendees. Distance learning is an extremely cost-effective way of training large numbers of employees.

 

4 Employee engagement

In these days of lockdown, don’t underestimate the value of training in bringing people together and also making them feel cared for.

 

5 Duty of care

All employers have a moral and legal duty of care to the people who work with them. Most business leaders I talk to want to train their staff because it’s the right thing to do. Distance learning is an easy way to fulfil this duty during lockdown.

 

6 Eco-friendly

In short, without the commute to work for socially distanced, face-to-face training, you are reducing your company’s carbon footprint.

 

7 Corporate social responsibility

More and more, those groups so important to business success – customers, investors, regulators and suppliers to name a few – want to see businesses that behave responsibly. And this includes how they look after their people.

 

8 Productivity

Distance learning courses that promote positive physical and mental wellbeing can boost the productivity of your workforce. According to the International Social Security Association, there is a 120% return on investment in health and safety at work.

 

9 Fewer lost working hours

By preparing your team for a safe return to the workplace, you are minimising the risks of absenteeism due to work-related illness and injury.

 

10 Transition to new technologies

And finally, investing in health and safety distance learning will hone your organisation’s approach to operating as a business online. 1st Choice Safety will show you how you can deliver training courses remotely.

 

So these are my 10 reasons why more businesses will choose health and safety distance learning in 2021. To find out more about 1st Choice Safety’s distance learning programmes, call us on 0800 009 6876 or email at [email protected].