Enhancing Workplace Safety With Insights

“Straight from the horse’s mouth” is an idiom that means to hear something from someone who has personal knowledge of a topic. You could also call this getting information straight from the source.

When you hear something directly from the person who is most knowledgeable about it, you can trust that the details are correct and not distorted by some of the miscommunications that occur when information is passed through multiple people. This helps in making informed decisions and reduces the risk of relying on incorrect or incomplete information. 

Typically, a full-length workplace safety course features a narrator who introduces learners to critical topics, discusses why they are important, and provides relevant safety guidelines. (Skillsoft’s training is more dynamic than that, but that’s another blog post.)

Imagine if there was a new way to reinforce full-length training – a way that your organization could deliver critical information that supports safety, compliance, and skill-building within the workplace that is effective, flexible, and engaging. And comes straight from the horse’s mouth.

Spoiler alert: There is! Skillsoft Insights begin with short-form videos where a subject matter expert shares their knowledge and experience on a specific Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS), Transportation, or Security topic. Each course also includes one to three pages of content that complements the expert's insights, an interactive exercise, and a test question to reinforce learning.

We've seen that featuring subject matter experts (SMEs) can be highly effective in a workplace setting. Here’s why our Insights format works:

• Bite-Sized Learning: Short videos fit well into employees' busy schedules. They allow employees to absorb key points quickly without the commitment of a lengthy training module.
• Expert Insight: When a recognized expert shares their knowledge, it enhances credibility and trust. Employees are more likely to value the content and see it as relevant and actionable since it’s based on real-world experience.
• Engagement and Retention: Short, focused videos maintain viewer interest more effectively than longer formats – crucial for critical topics like safety, compliance, or regulatory updates.
• Clear, Specific Guidance: With experts addressing specific topics, the information is usually concise and relevant to particular needs, helping employees focus on what’s essential and immediately applicable in their roles.
• Reinforcement of Best Practices: SMEs can emphasize industry best practices, ensuring that employees are aligned with up-to-date and compliant approaches. 
• Flexible Access: Short videos can be easily accessed from various devices and locations, allowing employees to engage with training content when it’s most convenient for them.

Gary Williamson, Senior Training Specialist at StrataG, is a subject matter expert (SME) on driving safely. We recently interviewed him for, “Driving Safety Short: Keys to Safe Driving – Gary's Insights,” which is available now.

Gary began the conversation by explaining why transportation is a leading cause of occupational fatalities and injuries. He noted, “We drive to and from work, and many of us work in vehicles all day.” This extensive involvement in transportation increases the likelihood of accidents.

He shared examples of accidents and injuries associated with driving at work. For example, road accidents on long hauls are common, but accidents also occur on plant sites due to factors like forgetting speed limits and distracted driving. On a more personal note, two of Gary’s friends were involved in a horseplay-related accident on a gravel road, which resulted in one truck swerving and clipping the other, with one vehicle ultimately sliding into a ditch.

Incorporating these types of real-world examples in the Insights training demonstrates to learners that safe driving is an issue that impacts real people in very real ways. Not only that, but Gary’s expertise helps to reinforce critical pieces of information that organizations want employees to retain from full-length training courses, including:

• Avoid distractions. Understanding distractions is critical because distractions are a major factor contributing to hazardous driving. According to Gary, those distractions could come from cell phones, radios, or even just trying to keep up with a schedule. He recounted multiple instances where workers were distracted by their phones, leading to severe accidents and even fatalities.
• Drive safely. Safe driving techniques to avoid collisions, drive safely in various weather conditions, and respond to specific driving emergency situations are essential. Gary noted that more accidents tend to happen on clear, warm days because people are less cautious and more distracted. However, he acknowledged that fog, rain, snow, and ice also pose significant risks.
• Wear a seatbelt. Always wearing a seatbelt is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to protect yourself in the event of an accident. Gary emphasized the importance of wearing seatbelts, stating that “seatbelts do save lives” and are crucial in the event of an accident.

Insights can play a critical role in short-form workplace safety training. By learning from experts, employees can better understand the risks and best practices associated with a variety of topics, including driving safely, ultimately reducing the likelihood of accidents and injuries.

See how Insights fit into Skillsoft’s full collection of EHS Compliance Shorts. Read about them here.