3 Technologies Transforming Employee Training for Safer and More Productive Workplaces

It has been rightfully said that new technology cannot be good or evil in and of itself. It is all about how one chooses to use any given technology. If innovations are as good as they can bring people, we have more to think about than just social media. 

Contemporary workplaces also bring together people as companies conduct rigorous employee safety training. However, it does not look like the worker safety training scenario at present is good. A recent study found that nearly 87% of employees are concerned about future emergencies. 

Around 34% did not even feel confident about navigating any emergencies properly. Such sad statistics can be improved with the help of robust technologies. In this article, we will discuss four such tech innovations that companies can use during employee training to improve safety and productivity. 

Virtual Reality (VR) 

Certain jobs or scenarios can be dangerous to the point of life-threatening. In such cases, companies cannot place their workers in real-life training scenarios. Thankfully, there is no need for that today due to technologies like Virtual Reality (VR). 

While VR can be used across industries, two of the main would include construction and firefighting. In the case of the former, this technology is used to navigate complex scenarios in a safe and controlled environment. For instance – workers may be given a situation where they must safely walk on the steps of a bridge construction. 

Moreover, the construction industry may have to offer chemical safety training as well. This is because construction workers expose themselves to hazardous materials every day. One major threat would be per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS. These chemicals exceed over 12,000 in number but they can be carcinogenic. 

The same chemicals are used even in the firefighting industry to manufacture Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) which puts out liquid-fuel fires. The effects have already been witnessed by firefighters since they’re exposed to PFAS regularly. Many developed cancers of the testicles, kidneys, and bladder. 

The injured firemen and military personnel sued PFAS manufacturers like 3M, starting in 2017. This was the time when the Veterans Affairs offered the VA claims for AFFF exposure for disability compensation. Claimants could still file lawsuits. 

According to TorHoerman Law, over 9,000 personal injury cases have been filed to date. The Bellwether trial process is to take place for fair individual payouts. Even infrequent exposure to construction materials can lead to major health issues. 

VR technology can help workers understand the risks of PFAS and assist in the safe transportation of hazardous materials. Similarly, the firefighting industry can use VR to create complex simulations, produce repeated scenarios, and practice high-risk events. 

Robotics 

Robotics, which uses smart bots, can enhance safety and productivity by taking up tasks on workers’ behalf. Companies can train workers to delegate hazardous tasks such as spraying pesticides or inspecting offshore oil rigs. 

For greater accuracy and better productivity, robots can take up repetitive tasks. These bots or automated safeguarding systems can be introduced in sensors to keep personnel safe from harmful machinery.

The safety training program can cover the following topics on robots –

• Learning all about safety guidelines associated with using robots 
• Identifying the hazards associated with robots 
• Understanding the complete procedure of working with robots, including the clothing to wear, obstructions to place before the robot’s work area, etc. 
• Learning how to save a colleague who may have used a robot incorrectly 

Robotics is huge and is expected to be as Statista shares that its current market volume stands at $36.20 billion in 2024. It is experiencing an annual growth rate of over 9%.

Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) 

Big data is another technology that is helping transform the workplace training space. How exactly? Let’s look at some ways this may happen –

• Employers can easily identify training needs by analyzing data like employee behavior and near-miss accidents. Even any deviations from standard operating procedures can be used to identify areas that require additional training. 
• Machine learning models can be used to analyze past data models. This way, common accident areas can be identified and addressed with better safety training protocols. 
• Key metrics can be tracked over time to assess the effectiveness of safety programs. 
• Any outliers or anomalies in safety data become useful resources to predict future safety issues. 

Before we close, here’s an optimistic statistic for encouragement. Studies have found that companies invested in employee safety training witness a 21% increase in profits. So, the mantra for success is to enhance worker confidence through regular safety and productivity training sessions.