Designing Digitally
03/02/2021
People often over-simplify employee training by just considering it the act of learning skills to perform a job. While it includes this, it is imperative to go a step further to think about the importance of employee training regarding safety. Without proper training programs, both employees and customers have a higher risk of injuries due to preventable mistakes.
One specific sector that can validate the need for effective learning and development is construction. Employee errors in this industry can be especially fatal, as OSHA reports one out of every five worker deaths is construction-related. Additionally, according to BLS, construction workers accounted for 47% of all fatal work injuries in 2018.
Safety & Health Magazine also reported that over a 45-year career span, there is a 1 in 200 chance that construction employees will die from a work-related accident. Considering these nerve-wracking stats, it is clear we need to determine the root of the problem.
With higher stakes in the construction sector, employee training and safety needs to be emphasized. Yet that does not seem to be the case, as CPWR stated that construction site injuries account for 6–9% of project costs, but safety and health programs only account for 2.5% of project costs. Effective training is vital to protect these employees, so why are companies not investing in it?
According to McKinsey, the construction industry is one of the least digitized, second only to agriculture and hunting at the bottom of the list. With advancements in technology, digitalization is one of the key factors to remaining competitive in one’s field.
McKinsey also reported that online training solutions could help:
Save up to 20 hours of staff per week.
Save up to 75% of the time needed to generate reports.
Save up to 90% of the time for information and document sharing.
Other studies have also reported that online training increases knowledge retention by 25% - 60% and creates a 218% higher revenue per employee and 24% higher profit margins.
Let’s explore some of the other key benefits of offering employee training on a digital platform in the construction industry.
Read also: How the Construction Sector Can Use eLearning
It is apparent safety is critical in construction. With online training, employees can practice their on-the-job tasks without the risk of injuries or damages from mistakes. With immersive learning solutions such as online simulations and virtual reality, employees can practice job expectations that will accurately represent your company while acquiring mastery through hands-on training.
Another benefit is access to any time, anywhere learning, thanks to mobile devices and apps. When you supply your workers the ability to find information at their exact moment of need, you can support employees whenever and wherever. For example, when they need refreshing over requirements for a new machine or steps on completing an inspection.
Read also: Overcoming the Top HR Challenges in the Construction Sector
With online learning, you can keep your workers up to date on laws and regulations with courses that offer scalability and easy updates at any time. You can ensure consistent delivery across the entire company and reduce the need for new training programs as industry standards change.
With innovative training solutions, you can evaluate construction skills and knowledge with tools like performance reporting and employee facial recognition to avoid corrupt practices and dishonesty. You can guarantee unqualified workers are not representing your company.
With online training, you can utilize xAPI tracking to collect powerful learner analytics during the training modules and quizzes. It can help you identify specific employee strengths or weaknesses and determine training areas that need to evolve for better results.
Online training solutions are a great benefit for the construction sector. From increasing safety to the many other advantages, eLearning solutions are essential for all employee learning needs. Technology has offered us many opportunities to improve training, and it is time the construction industry capitalizes on that.
If you are interested in learning more about eLearning in the construction sector, get a copy of our eBook that expands on the topic. If you are ready to talk to a Designing Digitally team member about how we can help you reach your training goals, get in touch today!
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