Training is often seen as a tick-box exercise, but technology can change that, argues Mike Welch
Workplace training has an unfortunate reputation that seems to be sticking around. For managers tasked with upskilling a large workforce, it can easily turn into a tick-box exercise. And for frontline staff (cue groans and eyerolls), training can be seen as an irritant that gets in the way of their day or an unwelcome return to the classroom where they feel intimidated, unconfident, or unengaged.
The risks of substandard training are real: it increases the chance of health and safety incidents in facilities, and it can mean products get into customers’ hands which should never have left the site. In fact, a recent survey by SafetyCulture found that half of frontline manufacturing workers have cut corners and risked their safety at work – this is a stark warning. Having under skilled workers isn’t just risky, it’s also bad for business productivity, staff churn, revenue growth, and competitive advantage.
Some businesses have found workarounds to engage staff, like the manufacturers which ‘operate a points-based training system’, enabling employees to track their progression. But these programs can be short-lived and lose momentum.
So, how can you create a positive training culture, reducing safety risks and driving incremental improvements? For me, the answer starts with technology.
Training through tech
Training’s big problem isn’t in the content – what your staff are trying to learn – but in the format – how the learning is presented. It’s 2024, and the existence of yawn-filled, eight-hour training days should have been retired long ago. Today, most of us take a mobile-first approach to life: if we need directions we use the map on our smartphone; if we need a grocery or food delivery we order through an app; and if we need to get organized, we use our online to-do lists and files. What if manufacturers, which need to continuously upskill workers and help them avoid workplace hazards, did the same?
Training powered by technology creates real impact, with many solutions offering mobile-first courses that are bitesize, accessible, and useful. Here, we can tap into the psychological tools built into smartphones to keep people’s attention on-screen and divert it towards workplace learning and reducing risk. Frontline workers can be notified of a new piece of micro-training on their device and complete it right then as a quiz, poll, video, and so on; either it will confirm their knowledge is right, or they’ll learn something new. The point of this gamification is that when training is accessible then people want to do it – I’ve heard that some people enjoy it! With increased engagement comes improved health and safety.
If mobile-first training is good for frontline workers, it’s even better for senior leaders and health and safety professionals. Using collated device data, managers can spot trends across the wider workforce that wouldn’t be visible otherwise or identify the skills gap or blindspot of individuals. Done right, a tech-led approach to training helps you track your team’s knowledge to pinpoint areas for improvement and ensure they perform tasks correctly and safely. This isn’t about micro-management; it’s risk management.
A question of content 
But it’s no use identifying your people’s skills needs in real-time, if it then takes you weeks to produce relevant training to give people the knowledge they need. Again, technology has the solution. One of the most exciting areas within training is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to scan and convert any piece of content – like a manual or procedure, even in PDF or physical format – into an online training package within minutes. Clearly, it takes an expert human eye to perform the right checks and balances, but if AI can help manufacturers produce materials faster without damaging quality, then we should embrace it.
Ultimately, technology enables you to take an evidence-based approach to training. This means tailored learning that’s relevant for your people, which in turn makes for a more engaged workforce. By avoiding formal training sessions booked months in advance, you embed training into how your team mitigates risk every day – a continuous health and safety loop.
Manufacturers are all at different stages of digital transformation, such as digitizing work instructions and automating parts of their operations. If your business is already moving towards paperless ways of working, then ensure training is part of the process.
Rethinking training
People who are passionate about workplace health and safety know that it’s really about culture – how engaged your staff are with their roles, development and skills. Embracing a technology-led approach can bring a host of benefits.
Yes, it can put the right information in the right hands at the right time, which could save some from injury or worse. But the best training also unlocks existing knowledge within your employees, increases their confidence in everyday tasks, and shifts their mindset from tick-box exercise to continuous improvement. Groans and eyerolls are optional.
Mike Welch
Mike Welch is the Managing Director of SafetyCulture Training, part of the global technology company SafetyCulture, which helps frontline teams find a better way of working. The SafetyCulture platform powers over a billion workplace checks each year, helps delivers approximately 75,000 lessons per day, and informs millions of corrective actions. In the UK, customers of SafetyCulture’s award-winning products include Muller, Unilever, and Donaldson Group.