4 Reasons Your Front-line Needs Microlearning

Elevating workplace safety and protecting the front-line is always top of mind for any safety professional. This is why it’s crucial to ensure your workforce has the proper training necessary to be fully equipped to perform tasks with confidence, allowing them to come home safely at the end of each and every day.

According to a study conducted at the University of Tennessee, it has been found that one of the root causes, or underlying factors, as to why certain incidents (including the Fatal Four) occur is due to a “lack of appropriate training”.

Here is your chance to protect your team with the help of eLearning and microlearning courses which will enhance your safety culture and boost your organization’s credibility in the market.

1. Greater Convenience

First and foremost, eLearning and microlearning courses will grant your front-line a greater sense of convenience. By having a range of courses accessible at their fingertips with a mobile friendly system, they will have the ability to take a course whether they are on or off-site.

Furthermore, workers will be able to learn at their own pace, relieving any sense of classroom anxiety or fear. By putting your workers in control, they will be able to learn in a comfortable environment where they can understand information with ease and retain it for longer. With eLearning, you are not only giving your team the tools they need to stay safe, but you are ultimately empowering them to take matters into their own hands.

2. Knowledge Retention

Microlearning entails short, engaging videos which offer training on a particular topic. As highlighted by Dupont Sustainable Solution’s Global Director for Instructional Systems, Dr. George Haber in his article Microlearning’s Big Impact on Safety Training, what makes these digital “bursts” of learning so effective is they are displayed in a format which is not only engaging, but is also shown to enhance the retention of knowledge.

Microlearning helps workers retain information because it aligns with workers’ jobs on-site and reinforces the idea that when information is spread out, it is remembered. A study conducted by the US National Library of Medicine discovered that people acquire information better when it is not learned all at once, but over a period of time. So, when workers receive formal training and demonstrations from their EHS managers, coupled with these microlearning videos sometime later, they will be fully equipped and prepared to carry out their jobs safely.

According to statistics revealed by Shift Learning in their piece Facts and Stats That Reveal the Power of eLearning [Infographic], eLearning in general shows an increase in retention rates by nearly 25-60%, with people learning five times as much without spending more time training. It also states that 40-60% less time is required to learn the same amount of material as you would in a regular classroom.

To be clear, we are not suggesting that microlearning fully replace traditional on/off-site training, but rather that it should be used as a method to reinforce this knowledge, so that it is retained by team members for maximum protection on-site.

3. The Impact on Safety Culture 

Not only is microlearning beneficial on a cognitive level, but it is especially effective when it comes to the affective domain. The affective domain is an area of the learning process which involves our feelings, attitudes, and values. Microlearning is quite effective when individuals acquire information, as safety managers ultimately want to enhance their safety culture. This method of conveying information can do just that, as these videos can also highlight your organization’s values and goals, further instilling them in your front-line workforce. This helps boost your safety culture and overall engagement levels from your team members.

What’s more, is microlearning is an easily accessible and flexible tool for safety managers to use in a variety of ways, as mentioned by Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Online’s article Choosing Microlearning for Safety. Not only can they be used after specific on-site training, but they can be used regularly in your toolbox talks or when you notice certain inconsistencies concerning safety protocols by your front-line. These videos can also be used for specific team members who work in remote areas or have unique on-site tasks.

4. The Correlation Between Microlearning and Injuries

Microlearning has been shown to be incredibly effective in the reduction of daily task injuries while on the job. EHS Today’s article Microlearning’s Big Impact on Safety Training, states when Walmart employees were shown microlearning videos concerning on the job tasks, the number of injuries was reduced by nearly half in the span of six months.

In terms of affective learning, the article also mentions its effect with employees at Norfolk Southern Railroad. Staff were shown a risk awareness microlearning video which delivered safety messages and highlighted their “I am Coming Home” brand, using a microlearning video. This resulted in a boost in their safety culture as well as a reinforcement of the skills needed to ensure front-line safety.

How can you access microlearning and eLearning courses?

eCompliance is proud to offer over 200 eLearning courses, offered in mobile or desktop format, on a variety of topics as well as 50 microlearning courses supplied by the leading consulting giants themselves, Dupont Sustainable Solutions, Vubiz, and Atlantic.

The eCompliance team is committed to helping protect your team with eLearning, so browse our new eLearning page to learn more.