And 3 things your organization can adopt now to prepare for the future
The landscape
The world of work has decidedly changed. How are your safety measures keeping pace? With companies continuing to navigate employee shortages and new hybrid work environments, it's imperative to stay apprised of technological advancements and tools to help your organization remain safety-compliant and relevant in 2023 and beyond.
In a world where workers are overworked, look for ways that technology can help reduce risk and ease workflows for staff.
2023 trends: Technology that's only as strong as your culture
In 2023 and beyond, we'll continue to see the use of safety wearables) to help maintain OSHA and safety standards and reduce risk. Tracking data with wearables allows managers and executives to stay ahead of trends and challenges that could put their employees at risk.
Implementing a tool like Training Tracker can help your organization save time by streamlining tracking, helping you stay compliant with better records, and through automated reminders so that training tasks are noticed.
But as we say at Training Tracker, as much as tools can help, safety is still about the people. And the tools and technology are only as effective as the culture you create at your organization, as safety requires a group effort and commitment by everyone on the team. We’ll expand on this concept more in a future blog.
The Consistent Issue: Inconsistent Records and Confused Record-keepers
One trend we've continued to see in 2023 is that many companies are being slowed by piles of paperwork and duplicated forms, and are using an antiquated spreadsheet made with good intentions but left untouched or updated infrequently, making the information unreliable.
As our client Sheila a Manufacturing Training Specialist for a bottling company, shared: "We were spending a lot of time and resources on time-consuming training management in inefficient ways with Excel spreadsheets, duplicating efforts, inconsistent record-keeping and had anxiety during audits. Since switching to Training Tracker, I've gained back hours of productivity time and invaluable peace of mind."
Continuing to operate haphazardly with inconsistent documentation only creates more room for errors, oversights, and miscommunications regarding required or continuing education, certification renewals, and more.
3 Steps your organization can take to be proactive with your safety in 2023
1. Consider safety for the whole worker.
The adage of "leaving things at the door" when coming to work isn't a simple ask. Stress, for example, is not easy to "turn off.” That stress may be from the job or other personal reasons; it could lead to distractions and potential errors.
Common workplace injuries are caused by overexertion, slips, falls, trips, and repetitive motions. However, it's also important to consider how a job may impact an employee's mental and physical health.
Approaching the health and safety of your company as a whole, rather than just what's outlined in regulations and standards, is critical to creating an environment where employees can feel safe and cared for both physically and mentally.
2. Integrate safety as part of your culture
When onboarding new employees and reintroducing current employees to the expectations and approach of your company, how much emphasis is placed on health and safety?
The company's culture starts at the top, so employees need to know their safety is a primary consideration of the management teams. Creating a culture emphasizing safety also incentivizes employees to take care of their mental and physical health.
3. Improve record keeping
Having clear expectations, a culture that values health and safety, and a simple way for employees to learn and grow boosts morale and decreases the chances of injuries, illnesses, and other hazardous conditions.
Utilizing a tool like Training Tracker can give you and your employees peace of mind, knowing that all will be informed about the latest safety standards, and technology that can improve their well-being at work. Your employees will also feel better knowing they can trust that they will be informed about new safety protocols and trained in systems and technology that adds to their overall well-being at work.
Bonus: Adopt safety technology early
Technology that can help employees stay safe at work is emerging daily. Adopting the technology for your employees allows you to shape how the tech is used moving forward. Advanced safety technology improves employees' overall wellness, creating a healthy, safety-focused, efficient workplace.
Safety Summary
Adopting technology to help ease the burden of tracking new education or opportunities to get ahead of safety issues will only improve the business. Empowering your employees to make the best decisions for their health and safety can correlate with the longevity and health of your organization. Our next post will expand on the importance of creating a culture of safety in the workplace.
For more information about how Training Tracker can help you stay ahead of the curve and provide excellent educational benefits to your employees, book a free consultation.