Making Use of Safety Shorts, Insights, and Safety Stories to Enhance Your Environmental, Safety, and Health Program at Work

By recognizing the importance of health and safety in fast-paced work environments, organizations are not only able to protect their most valuable asset – their employees – but also to position themselves for long-term success and sustainability in an increasingly competitive business landscape. 

But employees don’t always need to take full-length courses and the appetite for bite-sized training is growing. Shorter-length training materials allow organizations to deliver critical safety information in a concise, time-efficient manner. This is especially beneficial for:

• New hire orientation, where employees need to quickly get up-to-speed on safety protocols
• Refresher training to reinforce key safety concepts
• Just-in-time training when employees need to review procedures before a specific task

One way that Skillsoft’s customers are promoting safety awareness and education at their own organizations is through the use of Safety Shorts, Insights, and Safety Stories as part of the Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Compliance Shorts series. 

These resources are versatile and can be integrated into various aspects of workplace safety programs. Their brevity makes them convenient to fit into busy work schedules without major disruptions. And research shows that shorter, focused training content tends to improve information retention compared to longer formats because they hold employees’ attention more effectively and focus on core safety concepts without extraneous details. 

Skillsoft’s EHS Compliance Shorts do not take the place of full-length courses, but they do facilitate safety culture by addressing a topic or topics within a larger knowledge base. Here’s a breakdown of what they are:

• Skillsoft’s Safety Shorts are condensed versions of our existing U.S. English courses, covering one or two topics. Each short includes content, interactive exercises, and two to four test questions.
• Our Insights include a video of a subject matter expert sharing their knowledge and experience related to a specific EHS, transportation, or security topic. In addition to the video, each course includes content that complements the information shared by the expert, an interactive exercise, and a test question.
• And finally, Safety Stories are short EHS stories told by real people about workplace incidents. The intent of the stories is to enhance interest and promote an emotional response while also educating learners about workplace risks and controls. They also include some additional content, at least one interactive exercise and test question.

Let’s explore when – and how – they can be utilized most effectively.

Following are some ways that we’re seeing EHS compliance shorts being integrated into our customers’ workplace safety programs. Would any of these use cases for micro-learning work for your organization?

Safety Committee Meetings

Safety committee meetings are essential for discussing and addressing workplace safety concerns. Incorporating Safety Shorts, Insights, and Safety Stories into these meetings can make them more engaging and informative, as they offer: 

• Targeted learning on specific EHS topics and best practices
• Quick refreshers on critical protocols
• Immediate application of knowledge to current tasks

Because they are able to quickly illustrate real-life scenarios and lessons learned, the information becomes more relatable and memorable.

Check out the following:

Lockout/Tagout Short: Control Hazardous Energy – Mike's Insights

Uncontrolled Energy Short: Electric Shock – Brandon's Story

Pre-Job Briefings, Toolbox, and Tailgate Talks

Pre-job briefings, toolbox, and tailgate talks are brief, informal safety meetings held at the beginning of a work shift, typically in construction or other hazardous work environments. They are crucial for preparing employees for the tasks ahead – often covering job-specific hazards, controls, and procedures.

Regular toolbox talks help retain safety concepts and improve workers’ awareness of potential hazards. Examples of common topics include:

• Use, care, and importance of PPE
• Proper use of heavy equipment and safety devices
• Dangers of working at heights and proper use of fall protection equipment
• Hazards and proper use of electrical equipment
• Identification and mitigation of common workplace hazards such as slippery floors, sharp objects, and uneven surfaces

Check out the following:  

• Forklift Safety Short: Traveling with a Forklift

Refreshing Previous Learning

Continuous learning and reinforcement of safety knowledge are vital for maintaining a safe work environment. Employees may forget a significant portion of newly learned information within a short time after initial exposure. By providing brief, focused review sessions, micro-learning helps counteract this natural tendency.

Skillsoft’s EHS Compliance Shorts allow for the strategic spacing of content review over time, which is crucial for long-term retention. By breaking down complex topics into smaller, more digestible chunks, they make it easier for learners to revisit and reinforce specific concepts.

Check out the following:

• Heat Stress Short: Preventing, Recognizing, and Treating Heat Illness

Supplementing Orientation Training

Orientation training is often the first step in introducing new employees to an organization’s safety culture. Micro-learning can cover specific safety topics in more detail, ensuring that new employees have a thorough understanding of the hazards they may encounter. 

It can also help to accelerate the onboarding process for new employees. Short, targeted modules allow new hires to ramp up faster and start contributing sooner. It also enables employees to access specific safety information when they need it most, improving their ability to apply knowledge on the job. And finally, because it is so flexible, it allows new employees to fit training into their busy schedules without disrupting their work.

Check out the following:

• Culture of Safety Short: Building a Safety Culture – Keith's Insights
• Active Shooter Short: Planning and Response – Brink's Insights

Addressing Specific Hazards, Near-Misses, or Incidents

When specific hazards, near-misses, or incidents occur, it’s crucial to address them promptly and effectively. Our EHS Compliance Shorts are often used to provide targeted information on specific hazards or incidents, helping employees understand what went wrong and how to prevent it in the future. 

This targeted approach allows for:

• Detailed exploration of the hazard or incident
• Clear demonstration of proper safety procedures
• Visual representation of potential consequences

Check out the following: 

• Incident Investigation Short: Investigation Procedures and Fact Finding

Upskilling Employees Assigned New EHS Responsibilities

As employees take on new EHS responsibilities, they need to be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills. By providing quick, focused training on specific EHS topics, our EHS Compliance Shorts ensure that employees are well-prepared for their new roles. 

Organizations have used this training to:

• Target specific skill gaps identified in the workforce
• Provide just-in-time training for emerging EHS issues
• Quickly disseminate information about new regulations or procedures

Check out the following:

• Psychological Safety Short: The Basic Principles – Keith's Insights
• Behavior-Based Safety Short: Role of Supervisors and Employees

Supporting Safety Goals or Initiatives

Safety goals and initiatives are essential for driving continuous improvement in workplace safety. Shorts can be used to communicate these goals and initiatives to employees, ensuring that everyone is on the same page. 

In fact, our EHS Compliance Shorts play a crucial role in fostering a strong safety culture. They ensure all employees receive standardized safety information, promoting a unified approach to safety across the organization. Using relatable scenarios and storytelling techniques helps embed safety principles into the organizational culture. And, they provide constant safety reminders throughout the workday.

Check out the following:

• Driving Safety Short: Avoiding Distracted Driving
• Driving Safety Short: Keys to Safe Driving – Gary's Insights

Training for Site Visitors, Contractors, Interns, etc.

Ensuring the safety of site visitors, contractors, interns, and other temporary personnel is just as important as protecting full-time employees. Our EHS Compliance Shorts can provide quick, essential information on site-specific hazards and safety protocols, even for those who are only on-site temporarily, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to safety. They are particularly effective for audiences with limited time or varying schedules.

Here are some of the benefits of using the training in this way:

• Highlight key hazards unique to the facility or work environment
• Demonstrate evacuation routes, assembly points, and emergency response protocols
• Show proper use of required personal protective equipment
• Contractors or visitors can watch relevant safety videos immediately before starting work in a new area
• Training can be made available on mobile devices, allowing personnel to quickly review safety procedures on-site

Check out the following:

• Safety Rules Short: Basic Safety Rules and Incident Response
• Forklift Safety Short: Pedestrian Safety from Forklift Traffic

Incorporating Safety Shorts, Insights, and Safety Stories into your workplace safety program can enhance safety awareness, reinforce learning, and promote a culture of safety. By using these tools in various settings, from safety meetings to orientation training, you can ensure that safety remains a top priority for all employees. 

And remember, while EHS Compliance Shorts are valuable, they should complement, not replace, comprehensive EHS training. Together, these tools can help create a safer, more informed workplace.