Keeping employees interested in workplace safety and compliance training can be a challenge. After all, most workers would rather get back to their tasks and focus on the projects that truly pique their interest. However, workplace safety is fundamental to keeping all employees safe and the business compliant. So, how can employers make their training content grab everyone’s attention? There are plenty of ways to achieve this goal — employers just need to use different methods to keep it engaging for all.
1. Utilize Storytelling
While workplace safety and compliance may be dry topics, storytelling can make training more immersive for employees. Stories work in training because they tap into a human’s love for narratives.
Humans have always been hardwired to remember stories better than facts. Tales establish emotional connections to the lesson a trainer teaches. By weaving important lessons into a story, employers invite listeners to experience a journey. As such, this has the power to influence their thoughts and actions.
An easy way to incorporate storytelling into workplace safety and compliance is to collect life-like incidents related to safety breaches and compliance issues. These can be issues from within the organization or a made-up scenario.
The next step is to turn these incidents into narrative form, focusing on the characters involved and the consequences they experience from their decisions. Then, the trainer can share the story in various formats or in person to make the session more memorable.
2. Create an Interactive Experience
Trainees are more likely to stay engaged when a session involves interaction rather than reading or listening. Consider encouraging employees to discuss their learning and share their thoughts. When people ask questions and start discussions, they engage more deeply with the material. As such, the training becomes more lively while solidifying the information in their minds.
Employers can create an environment like this through group activities or breakout discussions. For example, after a lesson on it, they could break the team into small groups to discuss how safety protocols apply to their roles. Another method is using a role-playing exercise, where they can practice responding to real-life situations. These techniques will enhance teamwork and embed the training content into daily practices.
3. Make Training Material Accessible to All
Accessibility is key because it ensures every employee can benefit from compliance and workplace safety training. Plus, it creates a more supportive and inclusive workplace culture where everyone feels a sense of belonging.
One of the ways to make training materials accessible is to create formats that are easy to listen to and read. For instance, videos with captions are an excellent way for employees with hearing impairments to learn. They’re also great for those who prefer reading over listening.
The materials should be easy to read by designing a platform that enables adjustable text sizes. They should also be compatible with screen readers. Additionally, consider offering training materials in multiple languages to accommodate non-native speakers. By taking these steps, employers can provide equal learning opportunities and make learning easier.
4. Offer Different Training Formats
Using various training formats is crucial for catering to different learning styles. For instance, videos can effectively demonstrate safe practices and make complex concepts easier to understand. However, others may prefer to read contextual information, as it offers more detailed explanations. Plus, it enables learners to go at their own pace.
Employers should also consider whether they want to train online or in-person. Each offers its own perks. Online training allows for more flexibility, letting employees complete modules at times that suit them best. It can also incorporate interactive elements such as quizzes and simulations to enhance learning.
However, in-person training can facilitate live interaction and discussion, making it easier to address specific questions. Both methods could provide a better experience by leveraging the strengths of each format.
5. Keep Training Sessions Short
Breaking the materials down into smaller, shorter sessions guarantees easier learning. This is an approach referred to as microlearning. It often works best in workplaces where employees are too busy to complete training for a longer period. Lengthier sessions may be less effective because employees may try to rush through the material, preventing them from retaining the information.
However, microlearning enables employees to absorb and recall the information better. It also prevents cognitive overload because they can focus on one concept at a time. Plus, employees can easily fit learning into their busy schedules, making the process less daunting.
Managers can foster microlearning by breaking the content into five to 10 minutes of key concepts. Focus each short session on a single topic and use different formats to deliver the content. Employers can also organize these mini-modules logically to allow learners to progress through topics at their own pace.
6. Use Gamification
Gamification can turn learning into an engaging and fun experience. By incorporating elements like points, badges and challenges, gamification can create a platform for healthy competition and achievement. While a study shows gamification purchases increased by 35%, researchers’ findings on the effectiveness in improving performance were limited. Regardless, this approach can make the learning process more enjoyable and motivating.
Start by setting goals and creating opportunities to earn points. For instance, learners can earn points by completing a module or passing a quiz. There could also be different levels for employees to progress through as they master various topics. Then, they could celebrate their progress by earning awards.
Remember, the key is to align the gamified elements with learning objectives. This will ensure employees have fun while absorbing crucial information for safety and compliance.
7. Personalize the Training
Giving employees options for how they approach training can enhance their experience. It recognizes that not every employee has the same role, and it creates a training experience that meets their needs. Therefore, providing a personalized training program is essential for increased engagement.
Employers can implement this strategy by designing a program where employees can choose various topics or modules most relevant to their job duties. This could include determining advanced safety protocols for experienced workers. It could also consist of foundational compliance practices for newcomers. By providing these options, workers can take charge of their learning, making the experience more relevant.
8. Use Social Learning Platforms
Consider using social learning platforms to keep the engagement up. These platforms are a great way to form a community and boost collaboration. Employees can learn from each other’s experiences, share insights and discuss real-world applications of the training content. While this approach is useful for building engagement, it reinforces learning through social interaction. Therefore, the lessons learned become more memorable, creating a higher impact.
Social learning platforms can take many forms, such as forums, social media groups and internal platforms. Here, employees can post questions, share experiences and offer solutions. Encouraging the use of these platforms after training sessions can also sustain interest and engagement. This is because employees will see the relevance of their learning when their peers update it with discussions and share scenarios.
However, creating a supportive, positive space for employees is important. This is so they feel comfortable sharing and participating. Moderating discussions is also key to staying constructive and relevant while remaining active.
Keep the Workforce Engaged Through Safety and Compliance Training
Creating engaging content for safety and compliance training may seem daunting. However, there are numerous ways to take training to a new level. Whether it’s through storytelling or microlearning, managers can create an environment where learning becomes fun and rewarding. Once employers combine multiple training strategies, they can ensure their workplace succeeds through more knowledge retention on safety and compliance.
Devin Partida writes about topics concerning tech and the internet. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of ReHack.com.
