Safety Shorts: Promoting a Safer Workplace, a Few Minutes at a Time

What does safety training look like at your organization?

For many workplaces, it follows a familiar pattern:

1. New employees receive safety training as part of their initial orientation to ensure they understand potential hazards, emergency procedures, and how to use any safety equipment required in their roles. 
2. After the initial deep dive, they might take a regular cadence of mandatory safety training sessions (e.g., yearly or every six months) to stay up-to-date on safety protocols and reinforce safe practices. 
3. Emergency drills like fire or active shooter are then conducted on a set schedule (e.g., quarterly or biannually) to ensure everyone knows what to do in an actual emergency.

Some organizations offer additional workplace safety training to address specific risks when new equipment, chemicals, or processes are introduced. Others offer training following an accident or near-miss so they can prevent future incidents and discuss lessons learned. 

And while these are all effective ways to ensure workplace safety, forward-thinking organizations understand that – to build a safety culture – workers need more. Here’s why:

• Full-length training classes, online courses, or videos are packed with information, often covering multiple topics at once. This can lead to cognitive overload, making it difficult for employees to absorb and retain all the details. 
• Without opportunities to apply what they're learning, workers may feel like passive viewers rather than active participants. 
• Workers have busy schedules and are expected to stay productive while also meeting their training requirements. 

Finally, today's workforce includes a variety of generations, many of whom prefer shorter, interactive learning formats. Millennials and Gen Z, in particular, tend to favor quick, to-the-point content that mirrors their experiences with digital learning and online content. 

By breaking down workplace safety training into bite-sized, interactive segments, organizations can help employees stay engaged, retain more information, and ultimately practice safer habits on the job . . . often between their regularly scheduled training sessions.

For all these reasons, and more, Skillsoft has introduced Safety Shorts. These are condensed, easily digestible versions of our full-length safety courses that focus on one or two specific topics. These bite-sized modules have become an essential tool for organizations aiming to foster a robust culture of safety while respecting employees' time and diverse learning needs. 

Our Safety Shorts include content, interactive exercises, and two to four test questions. Let's explore the impact they have been able to make on workplace training.

1. Easy to Digest and Highly Focused

Safety Shorts are designed to cover specific safety topics quickly and concisely, which allows employees to learn and retain critical information without feeling overwhelmed. Instead of navigating an entire course, learners can access a 5- to 10-minute module that dives into one targeted topic—ideal for quick breaks or on-the-job learning. 

This streamlined approach helps learners stay engaged, making it easier to absorb essential safety information.

2. Interactive Learning Reinforces Retention

Each Safety Short incorporates interactive exercises and test questions, creating a dynamic learning experience. Interactive elements not only keep employees engaged but also help reinforce the material by applying what they've learned immediately. 

This practical approach helps cement knowledge, making it more likely that employees will retain and apply it on the job. Regularly using Safety Shorts can lead to better long-term retention of safety practices and procedures, ultimately making the workplace safer for everyone.

3. Building a Safety Culture

Safety Shorts contribute to a strong safety culture by regularly bringing focused safety topics to the forefront. By addressing specific issues within the broader context of workplace safety, these modules serve as valuable reminders of the company's commitment to employee well-being. 

Regular exposure to these shorts fosters a sense of personal responsibility for safety and helps employees stay informed about best practices.

4. Convenient and Flexible

One of the main benefits of Safety Shorts is their flexibility. With limited time in the workday, it can be challenging for employees to complete lengthy training sessions. 

Safety shorts allow for training to be integrated seamlessly into daily routines. Employees can fit in quick, targeted lessons between tasks, or managers can schedule them during team meetings to ensure everyone stays up-to-date.

Here at Skillsoft, we’re developing new content all the time. Below, please find just some of the Safety Shorts we have available now. And feel free to suggest some that may be useful to your organization.

• Behavior-Based Safety Short: Role of Supervisors and Employees
• Hazard Communication Short: Safety Data Sheet Basics
• Incident Investigation Short: Investigation Procedures and Fact Finding
• Heat Stress Short: Preventing, Recognizing, and Treating Heat Illness
• Forklift Safety Short: Pedestrian Safety from Forklift Traffic
• Mental Health Short: First Aid for Mental Health Issues
• Fire Safety Short: Using a Fire Extinguisher
• Driving Safety Short: Avoiding Distracted Driving
• Outdoor Hazards Short: Physical and Biological Hazards for Outdoor Workers
• Driving Safety Short: Accident Prevention Techniques for Driving Safely at Work
• Natural Disasters Short: Floods, Tornadoes, and Earthquakes – Actions to Take
• Forklift Safety Short: Traveling with a Forklift
• Safety Rules Short: Basic Safety Rules and Incident Response
• Environmental Short: Environmental Awareness

TLDR: Safety Shorts are an innovative way to deliver essential safety information in a format that meets the needs of today's workforce. By offering short, interactive, and flexible training sessions, companies can more effectively foster a culture of safety. In turn, employees are better equipped to uphold safety practices, reducing the risk of accidents and enhancing overall workplace well-being.

Interested in learning about Skillsoft's full collection of EHS Compliance Shorts? Read about them here.