Online Health and Safety Training and its Benefits

Online Health and Safety training offers a strong return on investment for employers and a quick way to get employees up to date with workplace safety. Online courses are also tailored to specific areas of workplace safety. They can ensure employees are getting the exact information they need to do their job safely. In this article, we take a closer look at the benefits of online training for workplace safety.

 

The Importance of Online Training for Workplace Safety

Studies show online education is growing by 5-10% each year as more and more employers move their training methods online. According to the Irish Central Statistics Office (CSO) there was a sharp increase in the use of education portals/websites during COVID-19 with over one fifth (21%) Communicating with instructors or students using educational websites/portals, an increase of seven percentage points in 2019. These numbers remain high even after the COVID-19 pandemic. With the rise of digital technology in all areas of our lives this trend is far from declining.

Online Health and Safety training is a convenient way for staff to learn about their safety in the workplace. It removes many constraints which often hinder classroom training. This type of training is also very specific. It usually focuses on the precise lessons needed to stay safe in the workplace. From food handling and fire safety to workplace stress and working at heights, such online courses are always relevant to the workplace and ensure employers are abiding by certain laws and regulations.

Let’s take a look at some of the main benefits of online training.

 

7 Key Benefits of Online Training for Workplace Safety

1. Online Training Draws from High Quality Resources

Online training usually draws inspiration from the best interactive experiences online and incorporate these learnings into an online course. As a result, online training can sometimes include video conferencing or webinars and other opportunities which enable staff to engage remotely. Simply put, this consistent high quality and extent of resources is rarely guaranteed in the classroom.

2. Learning Practical Skills for Real World Experience

Employees develop soft skills through online training and practical lessons which they can put into practice at work. These lessons often come from real experience which can feel more relevant than the theory which you might hear about in a classroom. Online courses also use simulations, scenarios and multiple choice questions to ensure these lessons are always relevant to real world scenarios. This also highlights the objective of online training – to give employee the exact education they need to know to do their job safely.

3. Employees Often Retain More through Online Training

Research shows how many employees are likely to forget what they learn in the classroom. It makes sense when you think back to school days and just how little algebra or poetry you might remember! Memory retention is boosted by relevant experiences which can be applied straight away. With this in mind, online training is often split into areas of knowledge and structured to increase relevancy. This increased relevancy means employees will more likely learn and recall the contents of an online course than they might in a classroom.

4. Online Courses Can Be Scheduled for Any Time/Place

Standard classroom training is always set at a specific time but co-ordinating this time is near impossible in such a fast-moving world. There is also a time loss for going to and from a classroom. Many employees are likely to feel restricted in a classroom environment. Online training can take place at any time and enables employees to undergo the training at their own pace. It’s a win-win situation for both employers and employees. In addition, it also removes the requirement for having a classroom to facilitate the training.

5. Immediate Access to Support and Resources

Online training provides immediate access to a large number of resources which allows them to find answers at the time of learning. Classroom training takes place in a specific location where employees are most often unable to access training resources in real time. This means employees don’t need to wait until the next class to ask questions and can address any immediate challenges or concerns before moving on with the training. Online training can use forums or social media groups to provide extra support and provide employees with a place whether they can share tips or ask questions.

6. Online Training is Designed for Different Learning Preferences

Every audience consists of different people with varying abilities and backgrounds. However, more recent generations have become accustomed to smart technology and the online world. These employees are also likely to have acquired skills through Google, YouTube and apps in the past and appreciate this method of learning. This is why the rate of attention and engagement with online training is often said to be higher than a classroom. Online training is designed to cater to all learning preferences.

7. High Levels of Engagement and Responsibility

Some online training courses are gamified which means they feature levels, rewards and certain mechanics which encourage progress. These courses seek to encourage the learner to progress and keep going until they complete each lesson. They can also monitor performance along the way and feel more invested or responsible for participating in the course. It is this high engagement which should be attractive to employers and the fact they can outsource this time consuming process to a trusted online training platform.

 

Working with a training company

Working with an online training platform can help employers lighten the load and allow the experts to take care of the training. However, it’s important to choose a platform which abides by laws and regulations and incorporates these requirements into the online training. For instance, MyElearnSafety offer courses online health and safety training for Food Safety which adhere to the principles of the internationally recognised Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP). It also offers Fire Safety Awareness, Manual Handling Awareness, Paediatric First Aid just to name a few.

Check out MyElearnSafety today and we can get everyone up to speed on their workplace safety!

Food Safety Training Delivered Online

Studies show a recent increase in the number of risk assessments and enforcement orders by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. It is perhaps a sign of the times with the statutory body protecting the health of consumers. This is done by calling for better hygiene, safety and standards across the food industry. With this in mind, the demand for appropriate safe food handling training is also on the rise. An online delivery businesses in particular are encouraged to ”get up to speed”.

In this article, we take a closer look at food safety requirements. We also look at why businesses need to take a more proactive approach to food safety training.

 

The Rise of Online Delivery and Food Safety Training

The online delivery market in Ireland is projected to reach more than €1.5 billion in the next five years. While the pandemic exacerbated the need for online deliveries, this figure has been rising for quite some time. This puts a pressure on food businesses to significantly improve the way they do business.

But what is causing this exponential rise?

We live in an increasingly busy world. Most people are therefore drawn to anything that saves them time, money and energy. As a result, customers continue to demand more choice and convenience. An online delivery was simply the next step in this evolution. However, this trend has also required businesses to consistently improve their ordering systems. Yet food safety, quality and standards had to be maintained if not improved.

Unfortunately, as evidenced with the enforcement orders, not all businesses are in compliance with food safety regulations. Online delivery businesses might also be struggling to keep up with the increased demand and the general requirement for improved quality and service in the food industry.

Moral of the story: safe food handling training is needed to ensure online delivery businesses are meeting and exceeding the required food industry standards.

 

Why Online Delivery Businesses Need Food Safety Training

Food safety is not just something you do. It is rather a key ingredient that must be ingrained into the mindset of a food business. When you place a strong emphasis on food safety, you demonstrate a commitment to quality. This helps nurture a sense of trust with customers. Food safety is also a way to uphold standards over time and make sure the business is abiding by the law.

Simply put, food handlers and managers are required to undergo training to adhere to regulations. This is to ensure they do things the right way. The same risks which apply to these roles are just as present in the everyday operations of an online delivery business.

 

Preventing Foodborne Illness

Parasites, viruses and bacteria are common causes of foodborne illness. Online delivery exposes food to pathogens and safety issues such as temperature abuse and cross-contamination. Online training in safe food handling helps staff learn how to store and handle food properly. This will prevent customers from falling ill as a result of the above!

 

Promoting Cleanliness & Hygiene

Personal hygiene is an extremely important part of online delivery. This is, unfortunately, often ignored by businesses. Quite often, this is a rather awkward topic to approach with staff. However, the food safety training covers everything from cleaning and sanitisation to hand-washing and other aspects of personal hygiene.

 

Improving the Customer Experience

The objective of online food safety training is to provide the best possible experience to customers in the food industry. Proper training can ensure staff is ready to deliver safer, faster and better service. This will in turn improve the customer experience.

However, food safety training is not only a means of improving a business. It is also the core of food safety management which helps you comply with the law.

 

What Food Safety Training is Required?

The Food Safety Authority is tasked with ensuring food is properly produced, marketed and distributed, while adhering to certain legal requirements and practices. One such requirement is that food businesses in Ireland must employ a food management system which fully adheres to the principles of the HACCP.

In fact, the responsibility for training staff on food safety lies with the business. You must also keep all food safety training certificates on file. All certificates must be available and ready to be verified in the event of an inspection. In other words, you are expected to take a proactive approach to online food safety training and there are consequences if you fail to comply with these requirements – including criminal prosecution!

Now, we emphasise these laws in order to highlight the competence of the Food Safety Authority as opposed to scaring you into taking action. At the same time, you cannot simply ignore them and food safety training is something which every food business in Ireland needs to provide for their staff.

In case you might be asking yourself, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) refers to an internationally recognised tool which enables individuals to identify, analyse and address food-related hazards. For instance, Level 1 food safety training provides the education needed to begin working with food and a typical course equips the individual with skills and knowledge related to hygiene, cleaning, food contamination and many more food safety topics.

 

Choosing the Right Platform for Food Safety Training (HACCP)

Most food agencies including the FSA in Ireland recognise HACCP and these principles help guide the manner in which food is handled and transported. Online food safety training should therefore abide by HACCP principles and provide sufficient education for learners to put these principles into practice.

While you get to choose in terms of the platform, it’s important to invest in food safety training courses which adhere to the principles of HACCP. These certifications ensure the business is compliant with FSA regulations and help establish practices which promote food safety and quality at every turn.

Are you an employer that requires food safety training for staff? Perhaps you need to undergo this training yourself? MyElearnSafety provides online food safety training courses (HACCP) to keep you and your staff up to speed!

Fire Safety

To comply with the Fire Safety Regulations 1981-2003, every building must have a Fire Register in place to record all matters relating to fire safety within each  building

The following documentation should be maintained in the fire register:

 

• Names of Fire Marshals
• Certificates of fire safety training completed by
• Records of fire safety
• Fire alarm deactivation log
• Fire Extinguisher Inventory
• Emergency evacuation records and any other supporting
• Dockets and certificates relating to the maintenance of fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, fire hydrants and fire
• Plans of the building, fire alarm and emergency lighting

 

Safe Working Guidelines – Fire Prevention

 

All occupants and employees are required to maintain a high standard of housekeeping. All materials and equipment should be maintained within their designated storage area / location, waste must be removed regularly, and dust should be removed from the vents of equipment to prevent overheating.

 

• Never block a fire exit, escape route, fire extinguisher or fire alarm call
• Always report any fire hazards to the Facilities Manager, for example, visible signs of overheating on plugs.
• Never overload sockets or use damaged electrical
• Personal electrical equipment should not be used unless it has been PAT
• Minimum amounts of flammable materials should be stored. Highly flammable materials should not be purchased unless absolutely
• Follow all emergency
• All hot-works must be controlled by the Permit to Work

 

If you need assistance with Fire Safety Training We’d be glad to help.

 

Bullying at Work

Bullying and it’s affects on employees is a recognised workplace hazard

IN 2014, IRELAND was named the 7th worst country in Europe for workplace bullying, while in 2018, a study found that two in five people experienced bullying in their work environment.

The Health & Safety Authority have published a new code of practice (replacing the 2007 publication) entitled Code of Practice for Employers and Employees on the Prevention and Resolution of Bullying at Work

The purpose of the Code is to provide guidance for employers, employees and their representatives on good practice and procedures for identifying, preventing, addressing and resolving issues around workplace bullying.

Bullying activities involve actions and behavioral patterns, directly or indirectly, spoken and/or written and could include the use of cyber or digital means for the goal of bullying. Such bullying events, delivered through cyber means, may also be covered by the requirements of the 2005 Act. Behaviour which makes for a bullying pattern will likely include not just one but a range of the following behaviours

• Exclusion with negative consequences
• Verbal abuse/insults in being treated less favourably than colleagues in similar roles
• Belittling a person’s opinion
• Disseminating malicious rumours, gossip or innuendo
• Socially excluding or isolating a person within the work sphere
• Intrusion – pestering, spying or stalking n Intimidation/aggressive interactions
• Excessive monitoring of work
• Withholding information necessary for proper performance of a person’s job
• Repeatedly manipulating a person’s job content and targets
• Blaming a person for things beyond their control
• Use of aggressive and obscene language
• Other menacing behaviour

What is harassment at work?

The interchangeable use of the words harassment and bullying can lead to a misunderstanding of what each one relates to. They are legally distinct concepts and so a behaviour can be deemed either bullying or harassment, not both.

The effects of bullying on the business can include:

• high turnover of staff, high absenteeism and/or poor morale,
• mismanagement or poor management of relationships in the workplace

bullying is more likely to be a factor in workplaces that do not have an effective management system based on respect and awareness or sensitivity to the impact of behaviour on others,

• gender/age/status imbalance,
• other factors – composition of the workforce, interface with the public, history of tolerance of unacceptable behaviour, lack of/inadequate procedures or no adherence to procedures, and
• absence of clear reporting structures and clear job/role descriptions.

What should employers do?

• Ensure there is an Ant- Bullying Policy in place and it is communicated effectively to all
• Ensure there is a number of points of contacts available for people to communicate instances of potential bullying
• Provide the appropriate training to staff in management roles so they are aware of what is acceptable behaviour and what is not

Working from home, Tips for workstation set up.

Working from home can have some challenges, but there are things you can do to minimise risks and improve your comfort and productivity.

Even though many people are working from home unexpectedly, we must make sure that your home workspace meets legal requirements

Organising your workspace

You should try to have your workspace set-up at home similar to your set-up at work, so that it’s comfortable and user-friendly.

Setting up your work desk correctly will help you to have good posture. This reduces musculoskeletal disorders, including upper limb disorders and repetitive strain injuries.

See Getting ready to work from home

Improving your workspace

Even though many people are working from home unexpectedly because of the coronavirus outbreak, we must make sure that your workspace meets legal requirements

Position your screen correctly

Reduce eyestrain by positioning your screen at arm’s length from your face and at the correct height to allow a comfortable neck position. You should aim to have your eyes roughly level with the top of your screen.

Avoid glare

To reduce eyestrain, you should avoid having a glare on your screen. It’s best to position your screen away from direct window light and close curtains when necessary.

Keyboard

Having awkward wrist, arm and shoulder positions may lead to discomfort and injury. Adjust the height of your keyboard so that your wrists are in line with your forearms.

Change positions

Change your position from sitting to standing regularly to avoid awkward, static postures.

Give your eyes a break

To allow your eye muscles to rest, focus on an object 20 feet away every 20 minutes for 20 seconds.

Chair

Adjust your chair so your feet are flat on the floor, without uncomfortable pressure on your thighs. You can use a foot rest. Your lower back should be fully supported by the lumbar support in your chair. Ideally, you should have an office chair, otherwise you could use a cushion for lumbar support.

Get up and move

Break up long spells of screen work with rest breaks or changes in activity (for at least 5 minutes every hour).

Regular stretching

These stretches should be done slowly. If you feel any discomfort or pain, do not push beyond the intended stretch.

Here are some simple examples of muscle stretches that you can do at home

Improve your laptop set-up (laptop stand, keyboard and mouse)

Laptops are not intended for long term use as a workstation. If you are using it a lot at home then your workstation should meet the principles of workstation set-up, with a separate mouse, screen and keyboard.

Viewing angle, head and neck position

Use a laptop stand as it helps your head to stay up, straightening your neck, shoulders and back. If you do not have a laptop stand, try using books to improve your viewing angle.

Back position and support

You should use a purpose designed office chair where possible. If you’re using a kitchen chair then use a cushion to support a more upright posture.

Forearm and wrist position

Your hand, wrist and forearm should form a level line from your keyboard to your elbow. Your wrist should not be bent and should float above your keyboard.

Move your mouse through a combination of elbow and shoulder movements – your wrist should not be involved.

You can use cushions to elevate your seating position, helping to keep your forearm, wrist and hand level.

Leg and foot position

You should use a footrest to ensure your thighs remain almost parallel to the floor, with your hips slightly higher than your knees. Keep space between the back of your knees and the edge of the chair. If you do not have a footrest, you can use a plastic box.

Covid-19 Applying the Principles of Prevention (Part 2)

Continuing on from my post on the 28th of October

Covid-19 Applying the Principles of Prevention (Part 1)

Part 2

5. The adaptation of the place of work to technical progress.

The use of virtual conferencing and meeting technology is nothing new but it has seen a massive increase in uptake and implementation across many sectors in Ireland. The apparent short-term benefits are, the removal of the risk of physical contact and elimination of commuting to and from meetings.

It’s important to remember that when we introduce a control measure that it, in itself, should be risk assessed.  Articles such as “Tips to avoid Zoom Burnout” indicate that there may be a need for more investigation before virtual meetings are accepted as a long term approach to conferencing.

6. The replacement of dangerous articles, substances or systems of work by safe or less dangerous articles, substances or systems of work.

We’ve seen examples of new systems being implemented in every type of workplace in the country. Supermarkets have one-way systems and limits on capacity. Food outlets have become take away only.  Multiple storey buildings will reserve lifts for limited use. There are a myriad of systems being implemented all over the country which attempt to interpret government guidance to some degree. Washing your hands before entering a premises and maintain a distance of 2 meters while at work, a common theme throughout.

7. The giving of priority to collective protective measures over individual protective measures.

Priority opening times for vulnerable persons is a good example of a collective preventative measure. Any measure that aims to protect a larger group of people without the need for the individual to have to remember to comply with a particular measure will be more effective. If we put a guardrail on a roof then we don’t need to issue each individual with a personal fall arrest system. With such high responsibility on each individual person this will remain a difficult challenge.

8. The development of an adequate prevention policy in relation to safety, health and welfare at work, which takes account of technology, organisation of work, working conditions, social factors and the influence of factors related to the working environment.

This may include use of personal protective equipment (PPE).  Where PPE is to be used it should be noted that this is a “Last resort” control measure. PPE is not a catch all solution and, in many cases, it can provide a false sense of security.

The face coverings we see people wearing now are not a form of personal protective equipment. Face coverings are there primarily to reduce the spread of airborne water droplets that might carry the virus. The source of these are the nose and mouth.

By wearing a mask you are not protecting yourself but you are potentially protecting the people around you.

9. The giving of appropriate training and instructions to employees.

People need to understand the reason why they are being asked to act in a certain way. This is important to achieve full compliance. Training may need to be preceded by a consultation process.  Information needs to come from a reputable source, be concise and be credible.

Whichever approach you decide to take for your workplace you should measure the effectiveness and not be afraid to try a new approach if something is not working.

Thanks for taking the time to read this blog. Feel free to get in touch if you have comments or suggestions for any future articles.

Shane Lynam

 

 

(Shane Lynam has been a safety practitioner in Ireland for 15 Years. Shane holds a Masters Degree in Environmental Health & Safety Management, a Post Graduate Diploma in Occupational Safety, Health & Hygiene and a Bachelor’s Degree in Science (Microbiology and Human Physiology)    

 

Covid-19 Applying the Principles of Prevention (Part 1)

Applying the Principles to the controlling the spread of Covid-19 (Part 1 – Principle 1-4)

      1. Avoid the risk: -If you can get rid of the hazard then people are not exposed to the risks. You should apply this principle first. With regards to Covid-19 it is virtually impossible to “get rid” of the hazard without there being a large scale, global vaccination and public health program. It took over 100 years to get rid of smallpox and the motivation to eliminate that disease was much higher…

We cannot avoid the risk when it comes to Covid-19.

     2.  Evaluate unavoidable risks -: This requires you to undertake risk assessments. If you can’t get rid of a hazard, you must assess it. This is where we need to apply logic and common sense and determine the level of risk presented by the hazard.  A risk assessment is done by calculating the chances of something bad occurring multiplied by the level of harm that may be caused.

In simplest terms Risk = Likelihood x Consequence

How likely is it that someone is going to catch Covid-19 at an event of 5, 50 or 500 people or at a location that is frequented by larger numbers of people? Increasing likely depending on the increasing numbers of people and possibly their attitudes towards personal hygiene.

What is the consequence? Covid-19 has been proven to be fatal. There are a range of consequences depending on individual and community vulnerability factors.

In summary. The more people we encounter, the higher the risk.

    3. Combat the risks at source: – Here you are trying to deal with the hazard at its root.

The source of this particular hazard has been identified as coming from Wuhan, China. It’s gone beyond being able to combat the risk at source so what can we do? In order to combat the risk at course locally we have to do our best to identify positive cases or individuals who may be infectious.

In theory, if an infectious person is prevented from coming in contact with your workforce or your community you have combated the risk at source and prevented the hazard coming in contact with the people you are trying to protect.

Visitor and worker screening go some of the way towards combating the risk at source but’s not an airtight solution.

     4.  Adapt the work to the individual-: This is the principle of arranging the workplace and tasks to take into account your employees and to reduce the effect of work on health.

Not everyone can work from home but where it has proven to be practical, this measure has been adopted by many workplaces.

(Principles 5-9 will be covered in Part 2)

Infection Prevention and Control: Breaking the Chain of Infection

What is infection control and prevention?

Traditionally this means preventing and controlling illnesses that can be spread in the health-care setting. Of course with the current situation regarding the COVID-19 Coronavirus, this now means preventing and controlling illnesses that can be spread in any setting.

The purpose of infection prevention and control is to identify and reduce the risk of infections among patients, employees, medical staff members, contract service workers, volunteers, students, vendor representatives and visitors. Again this has now expanded to include anyone.

This is accomplished through many types of activities, for example, • monitoring infection occurrences in patients and employees • developing and implementing infection control policies and procedures • Infection Control and Prevention education • Safety programs, e.g. hand hygiene, blood borne pathogen prevention • quality improvement activities, e.g. reduction in infection rates, such as catheter related bloodstream infections • monitoring compliance with regulatory requirements • evaluating the environment • provide consultation on Infection Control and Prevention.

Breaking the chain of Infection

Jonathon Corum (April 2020) accessed from ‘The New York Times’ April 2nd 2020.

The main ways the public can help prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are at the personal level.

This includes:

● Hand washing
● Avoid touching your face (especially your eyes, nose and mouth)
● Social distancing
● Self-quarantining
● Preparing your home for possible COVID-19 exposure

While much has been written concerning hand washing, social distancing, and the now enforced quarantining, not much has been said about preparing our homes regarding Infection Protection and Control. It’s really quite simple. According to Armando Meza, M.D., chief of infectious diseases and associate academic dean of graduate medical education at the TTUHSC El Paso Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, it’s a case of keeping your home clean, ‘especially your kitchen and bathroom. Use of commercially available antimicrobial towels and sprays is appropriate.’

According to epidemiologist Bill Hanage, of Harvard, we’ve got to think like the virus – to ‘see it from the point of view of the pathogens and their evolution. What is going to be most helpful to them? What is going to enable them to leave the most descendants?’

At Myelearnsafety we want to do our bit to combat the COVID-19 Coronavirus through Infection Prevention and Control. To this effect we have launched our Infection Prevention and Control course.

You can also view our COVID-19 explainer  video here.

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