Workplace Communicator Blog

The Real Cost of Workplace Injuries

Since the early 1990's, most companies have got their act together and decreased their workplace injuries (see chart).  After all, it's a no-brainer that workplace safety accidents cost businesses lots of money each year.  And from a human perspective, it's always a good idea to look after people.

Yet, many companies around the globe often forget about the real costs of an accident preferring to cut spending on safety training and equipment.

Let's take a look at some different viewpoints on the real cost of workplace safety to an organisation:

1. The Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index report states that improving workplace safety is a key strategy for reducing direct costs resulting from workplace injuries. The direct costs that are stripping businesses of their profits include medical expenses, workers’ compensation payments and costs for legal services.   Direct costs are just the beginning of the ‘price’ of an unsafe working environment. Workplace accidents trigger a range of indirect costs including repairs to damaged equipment and property, hiring and training of replacement personnel, as well as costs associated with lower employee morale and absenteeism that is common in a work site that is considered unsafe.
2. While across the Pacific Ocean, Ian Woods, a senior business analyst at AMP Capital Investors was quoted as at a Safe Work Australia event that “From an investors’ perspective, we actively consider OH&S performance in our investment decisions, as we believe it is a good measure of management quality in many high-risk industries".  Woods argues that investors now cannot ignore the cost of workplace injury as it is passed on to Australian employers. The average workplace injury costs 6 percent of profit. In the construction industry, the total workplace injury costs borne by workers, employers and the community is equivalent to a staggering 98 percent of the industry’s operating profit.
3. While Professor Patrick Hudson, based at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands was also quoted as saying “I have an estimate that a company may be losing up to 10 per cent of its turnover as a result of poor OHS and E (occupational health, safety and environment) performance...when you have a shutdown, you lose production, and you just add it up,” Prof. Hudson said

Gary Gregg, executive vice president of Liberty Mutual's Commercial Markets sums it all up by remarking "There is a clear link between workplace safety and a company's performance".

But who is really responsible for workplace safety?

Research undertaken by Missouri Employers Mutual Insurance revealed that 95. 7% of those interviewed stated that the responsibility for creating a safe work environment belongs to management.

The bottom line is that companies need to assess their risk situation and to educate employees about how to keep themselves safe.

For organisations with a profit and humanitarian focus, education and safety training video packages are a wise investment in reducing business risk since they protect the most important business asset of all. . . human capital.

How to improve the effectiveness of Occupational Health and Safety Training

Research has found that the most engaging methods of safetytraining are, on average, approximately three times more effectivethan the least engaging methods in promoting knowledge and skillacquisition, as well as reducing accidents,illnesses, and injuries.

Given the cost of workplace accidents to a company, getting your safety training right can save millions of dollars.

Dr Ian Woods, from AMP Capital Investors says that the average workplace injury costs 6 percent of profit.   While in the construction industry, the total workplace injury cost is equivalent to a staggering 98 percent of the industry’s operating profit.

These high cost effects a company’s ability to be competitive.  A good OHS strategy  is necessary to prevent accidents in the workplace and improving OHS safety is now a necessity not a nice-to-have.

So how do you make safety training more effective?

Training can be either passive/low engagement (eg: lectures and reading which are the least engaging) to active/high engagement (eg: watching a training video with a quiz, hands-on demonstrations).

Here are the four tips to an engaging safety training program:

1. Visuals - The trainee receives classroom style training with high impact visuals.  83% of human learning occurs through visuals.  The right brain prefers visuals and it is believed that it can process pictures much faster, even hundreds of times faster, than the verbal brain can process words.  The application of more interesting visuals such as diagrams, video and pictures can have enormous positive impact on learning.
2. Assessment - the trainee is assessed on the information they have learned and face to face feedback is given on their results.  It is important that a person gives the feedback (not a computer).
3. Development of training in stages - this means that the trainee receives different standards of training before starts job (basic), then on-the-job training that changes to suit the increasing knowledge of the trainee.  The training can get more complicated as the trainee understands more.
4. Behavioral modelling - this is integral to an active learning style.  A buddy or trainer demonstrates a particular task, then lets the trainee undertake it.  Coaching is then given as to how to improve.  However, it is important that the buddy is good at their job and will teach procedures correctly.

Action-focused feedback isregarded as the key to knowledge acquisition, in that it forces the trainee to work out relationships between events and actions, leading todevelopment of strategies for handling unforeseen events.

And while classroom training is the a passive form of training it can be used effectively if it includes:

• High impact visuals
• Quizzes (with one on one feedback).

Once information is imparted in classroom training, hands-on demonstrations are also required both in the class and when the new starter is on the job.

By incorporating more engaging, hands-on training into your learning design, it will ensure that workers get more meaning and understanding from their safety training.

How to Develop a Workplace Safety Messages Campaign (Part 1)

The main objective of any safety communication is to change behaviour.

But how does a safety or human resources professional change attitudes towards safety or improve the way people undertake procedures?

How can the safety manager deliver a message that motivates employees, supervisors and administrators to think and act safely?

Advertise your message

The secret - marketing. You need to advertise your messages.

According to Wikipedia, advertising is a form of communication intended to persuade an audience  to purchase or take some action upon products, ideals, or services.  Advertising can change the values, attitudes, and actions of those who see or hear the message.

Think television commercials.  Advertising is a billion dollar industry focused on changing consumers' habits and beliefs.   And while it is true that television might not be as effective as it used to be, this is only because fewer people are watching it now.  Nevertheless, Government organisations like WorkSafe and VicRoads have used television commercials to successfully change our behaviours and attitudes towards workplace safety and road safety respectively.

Advertising informs and reinforces the need for safe practices.  But advertisers know that you just can't say your product is the best.  Likewise with safety, you can't say your company believes in safety and leave it at that.

Cutting through the Clutter

Through the course of a day, people are constantly bombarded with marketing messages.  Estimates vary from around 150 - 5,000 messages per day (personally, I believe it is realistically around 1,000).

Successful ad campaigns have to compete with many other goods and service to grab the attention of people.  In advertising speak, it's important to "cut through the clutter" and get what is known as "top of mind" awareness.  If you think soft drink and your first thought is Coca Cola, then Coca Cola is top of mind for you when it comes to soft drink.

Your safety messages also need to cut through the clutter and be top of mind.  As a safety professional, your communication messages compete with messages from the production manager pushing for better productivity and co-workers fooling around.   And then there are messages from home that you have to compete with such as family issues, money problems, Facebook and other advertising .

In order to market safety messages, it's time that safety professionals started to think like marketers.  And this might be hard, as let's face it, they are a strange group to more linear thinkers like engineers.  However, let's put on our marketing caps and find out how they try to get into our brain.

Key advertising tactics to consider for marketing safety are:

• Consistent, clear messaging (includes branding) – Always promote the same standarized safety message and ensure that all departments are aligned with the message and do not send out conflicting information (eg: safety officer tells people to work safely and cautiously, but production manager pushes for speed).
• Consequences of poor safety - One of they key messages is to get employees really understand that poor safety behaviour puts their health and safety at risk, but also other employees, contractors and customers.  Let them know what effect this will have on the personal life and how it will effect their family.
• Multiple message placement - This means you have a consistent safety message or theme and you repeat it in multiple places.  It is like the glue that holds these tactics together and is essential in successful advertising.  In advertising campaigns, it is believed that people need to be exposed to a television ad six times before they will absorb the message.  This is why frequency of message equals success in the advertising campaign.

Most safety training programs fall short when it comes to frequency of message. Yet, there are many simple and cost effective ways to do this.

By getting workers to engage in your safety message in different ways (watching it, hearing it, reading it), supervisors can better ensure that more workers receive it.  Different communication methods include a training video that is supplemented with matching posters, email newsletter campaigns, key rings, employee handbooks and toolbox talks.

But how do you develop workplace safety communication?  Read How to Develop a Workplace Safety Messages Campaign (Part 2)

How Using Quizzes in Induction Training Improves New Starter Learning

Induction training is absolutely vital for new employees.   It is also the time when new starters are thirsty to know more about their new workplace and want to quickly integrate into their new team.   However, it can be difficult to know how well a new starter or contractor has absorbed training information.

Establish an induction training evaluation system

According to Joe Huang from Wondershare, makers of the Quiz Creator, as with any type of training, it is important to review and seek feedback before, after and during induction training.  The evaluation of induction training can be divided into three stages:

1. Evaluating new employees’ learning and academic performance. Before new employees start with you, you can quiz them on their knowledge.  This can be determined through examinations: paper-based tests are usually the most common way, but for the sake of time-saving and cost-effective, computer-based tests are the best choice.
2. Evaluating the appropriateness of the training course content.  For companies who are not sure about the content in their training and how new employees feel about it, you can quiz new starters to find out how they found the training and what they liked/disliked.  This is a great way to update your training in a meaningful way.
3. Evaluating the work performance of trainees.  After the newbie has started, you can quiz  supervisors on certain learning outcomes, to find out what they think of the performance of the new starter, so  you can know how the new employees took their training into practice.  This is also important information when reviewing your induction training and what areas need further improvement.

How quizzes can be used with induction training video for optimal results

Research has found that viewers of a training video score better on message retention and recall levels when they are told that they will be tested.

To use quizzes properly with a training video:

1. Quiz your learners before producing the training video. By finding out what information current staff have difficulty with, you will be more knowledgeable about the type of information to put into your training video.
2. Quiz your learners after (or during) the video training. This makes sure they have absorbed the information.
3. Use a quiz as a review tool. This is a great way to refresh staff.  Even if they only watch a small segment of an induction training video (for example: warm up exercises, by undertaking a small quiz on this topic, you know that they have learnt the information).

Now, while it is all well and good to test people during induction training, we hear from many companies that this sort of e-learning approach can be flawed.  All it takes is for a dodgy supervisor to hand people the answers and everyone passes through the quiz in flying colours.

That's why it is important when testing people that if they get it wrong, they have to go back to that section and watch the video again.  Or alternatively, the questions are randomly displayed so that it makes cheating much harder.

According to Joe Huang, it is important to choose a quiz creating software that has anti-cheating features.  This includes a time limit (so that there is no time to research answers), randomization (questions occur in different order), access control (password only access to change the test) and a concealed XML file (this stops the answers from being viewed).

Announcing New Training Video Buyer's Kit

It’s smart for companies to be worried about staff and customer training videos and how to tackle them correctly.  There are so many choices.  Quite frequently, training videos are produced that just don’t get watched.  Now making the right decision has just got easier.

Melbourne, Australia (August 11, 2010) – Digicast Productions, a training video production house, today released the “Training Video Buyer’s Kit”.   Developing the right training video for your company isn't easy.  Nor is choosing the right company to help you.  This kit is a useful resource for anyone involved in the challenging and complex task of deciding upon producing a staff or customer training video and then how to go about it.

Using a four step process the buyer kit includes:

• A list of questions to decide whether or not a training video is right for an organisation.

• The critical questions to determine what the training video needs to achieve, in order to write the brief and how to best manage the project internally.

• A valuable checklist to evaluate the suitability of a video production house.

• An additional checklist to measure the effectiveness of training videos already produced by production houses.

For a complete copy of the kit, visit http://info.digicast.com.au/things-you-need-to-know-before-buying-a-customised-training-video

About Digicast Productions

Established in 1991, Digicast is an Australian vendor of customised safety and induction training videos. Thousands of people each year worldwide are trained with Digicast training videos. For more information, visit Digicast at www.digicast.com.au or The Workplace Improver blog for training tips, www.digicast.com.au/blog.

Contact Marie-Claire Ross

Digicast Productions

+ 61 3 9696-4400

mc@digicast.com.au

###

Announcing New White Paper: Optimising Induction Training: Reduce Costs, Improve Quality and Talent Retention

Getting Training Messages to stick can be Tricky. This New Report reveals the Key Factors behind Successful Staff Induction Training and how to implement them.

Melbourne, Australia (July 26,2010) – Digicast Productions, a safety and induction training video production house, today released a new white paper “Optimising Induction Training: Reduce Costs, Improve Quality and Talent Retention”.   Around the world, many companies train new starters and contractors ineffectively often finding it difficult to get training messages to stick inside people’s heads.  This paper outlines the impact of poor induction training, the high cost of face to face training and the growing importance of including visuals in training materials.

Eighty-three percent (83%) of human learning occurs visually, yet the majority of companies produce text based induction training materials that have a 10% effectiveness rate on recall levels.

Smart organisations who regularly need to train contractors and new staff are looking for a more streamlined, engaging and cost effective way to ensure staff absorb training messages.

This exclusive white paper addresses the various pitfalls of a poorly designed induction training process and what can be done about it.  The report looks at:

• What current induction training programs are really costing companies

• The importance of avoiding a poor safety culture

• The emerging trend of using more visuals in communication

• How to make training messages sticky

• A little mistake that cost a Quarry $20,000 a year

For a complete copy of the whitepaper, download it now.

About Digicast Productions

Established in 1991, Digicast is an Australian vendor of customised safety and induction training videos.  Thousands of people each year worldwide are trained with Digicast training videos. For more information, visit Digicast or The Workplace Improver blog for training tips.

Contact Marie-Claire Ross

Digicast Productions

+ 61 3 9696-4400

mc@digicast.com.au

###

7 Tips to Improve Induction Training Materials

1. Use more Visuals - 83% of human learning occurs visually.  Use lots of photos, videos, diagrams and colour to present training information.  Avoid relying heavily on text based training.  After all, we only recall 10% of what we read compared to 50% for what we both see and hear.

2. Tell Stories - During training, tell stories of exemplary staff behaviour that typify the type of action you want staff to do.  Stories help people make emotional connections.

3. Lead by Values - Let staff/contractors know what your values are.   Using values, empowers workers to make decisions based on company values.  Difficult for staff to make the right decisions if they only have rules to follow.

4. Positivise it - Remove negative language.  Tell people how you want them to behave, rather than telling them what you don't want.  Remove words such as 'no', 'can't and 'don't'.

5. Involve senior management - Senior management play an integral leadership role in establishing culture.  Effective leadership whether it be concerning safety, a new sales method or business structure must be led from the top.  They must be involved in the induction process.

6. Reduce complication - Get rid of long sentences, jargon and big words in training materials.  Keep it short and tweet.

'Words are how we think, story is about how we link’ Christina Baldwin

7. Ask more why questions - Teach people why they need to do something, so they can always figure out the how.  Otherwise, company processes keep getting perpetuated without people ever questioning why they do something.

How to make your Training Materials more Positive

When new starters, contractors and even customers are required to start training with you, the interaction they have with your company will determine how long they want to stay and how long they will do business with you.

After all, first impressions aren't easy to erase.

That's why it is important with any staff or customer training that the training materials are written in friendly and welcoming language.

Yet, many times we see evidence of induction training manuals written in jargonistic corporate speak that seems keen to scold new starters for possible misdemeanors before they have even begun.

It is important that all training materials exclude negative terms such as 'no', 'can't' and 'don't'.  Not only is it unfriendly, but negative language can often be hard for the brain to understand.

Take this sign, for example.  This was placed at the back of a cafe that I enjoy going to.  It has very friendly staff, great coffee and a queue to get in (not my favourite part).

While waiting for my table and walking around the neighbourhood, I found it.  My attention was grabbed for the wrong reason -  I really couldn't understand it.

My first impression was that no deliveries were allowed.  That seemed strange to me, so I read on, only to be amazed that they were allowed but I couldn't instantly grasp when.

It is quite amazing how the word 'no' at the start of a sentence can really throw you off the true meaning of a message.

So I have decided to  positivise the sign in an attempt to show you, dear reader, how easy it is to make communication messages easier to understand .  And yes, I know that positivise isn't a real word, but I really like it.

All Deliveries Here

We accept deliveries:

Before 7am and after 6pm Mon-Fri &

Before 9am and after 6pm Saturday

Ah, isn't that much better?   My brain feels happier now.

Of course, this sign isn't for staff or even customers.  But as a customer I gathered that they didn't like their delivery people very much.

However, the point of this example is how negative language can be so much harder for the brain to take in.  While using positive language makes messages so much easier to understand.

Perhaps, it's time to positivise your training materials?

How to Communicate Workplace Safety Messages

According to Steven Bell, senior associate with law firm Freehills, in January 2012 the new Australian OHS laws will expect companies to drive safety management internally and push greater alignment between key messages and action.

The new laws will introduce a level of personal responsibility that will help drive the changes needed for better OHS.  This means that senior managers will be expected to foster a positive workplace culture, receive regular safety reporting and a practical understanding of what is happening on the ground.

This is a great step forward as senior management actually drive the safety culture of a company.

Currently, most companies promote a safety culture, but send out mixed messages when it comes to a safe workplace.  For example: A fairly standard grumble by many workers is that they are expected to work safely, yet at the same time they are told to work faster or in a way that involves safety risks, to drive productivity.

So with the new requirement to promote safety messages and show evidence of a positive safety culture, what is the best way to communicate workplace safety messages?

With any communication program, it is important to take into account that people absorb messages differently and the more they see it, the more likely it will be taken on-board.  Therefore, any workplace safety communication messages need to include a variety of communication approaches such as posters, training videos, staff newsletter and 'toolbox' talks.  They all need to be branded with the company's unique safety messages.

In addition, the workplace safety communication must be personalised to the company.  Generic safety messages won't cut it.  Instead, it needs to be formulated according to your culture and demographics.  And then it needs to be followed up with action.

Training videos are more persuasive than written material which is perceived as less important and credible.

A lot of companies that we have worked with have successfully used a customised training video as the main communication medium to drive OHS behaviour change. They have then supported the training video with posters, newsletters and other safety specific materials.

A staff training video is an ideal way to connect with staff.  Made correctly it will positively and believably demonstrate your company commitment to the healthy and safety of your workplace.  After all, research has found that training videos are more persuasive than written material which is perceived as less important and credible.

In order to take into account the new laws, consider creating a customised training video that includes:

• An introduction by senior managers talking about the importance of safety to the staff and company.
• Safety rules/explaining that poor safety effects the viewer and other workers
• Procedures
• Summary

Of course, just playing a training video doesn't automatically ensure that staff will know your training messages.  It needs to be followed up with a consistent workplace culture that always considers the safety rules/message in every activity.  Not just when played on a training video.

More importantly, senior management must support and agree with all the safety communication tools.  And refer to them often.

After all, staff won't believe that the company backs its safety messages, until they see the proof of action.

No health and safety training for one third of injured staff

A recent UK survey by National Accident Helpline found that over a third of people questioned who suffer work accidents or injuries in the workplace have not had health and safety inductions.

The telephone survey of 121 claimants found that 42 respondents (35%) had not been given a health and safety induction when they joined their workplace.

Beth Powell, National Accident Helpline consumer director, said: “This result shows that UK organisations still need to improve the way that they look after their staff’s safety at work and a health and safety induction for all new starters would be a key step towards this.

“More than 15,000 people a year contact National Accident Helpline after work accidents. Many of these would be avoidable with appropriate safety equipment, training and supervision.”

A health and safety induction typically includes information on duty of care, site rules, manual handling and other relevant safety information to that organisation.

In Australia, while we haven't undertaken the same research study as the National Accident Helpline to compare the results, a recent study by Safe Work Australia found a similar finding.  That being: part time workers are injured at a rate of 74 injuries per million hours worked versus 35 for fulltime workers.

Jarrod Moran from the ACTU blamed “less induction, less training and supervision” as the reasons for the high injury rates for part time workers.

Poor inductions undervalue the importance of safety.

And according to Professor Patrick Hudson, companies lose 10% of their turnover as a result of poor safety, costing billions in lost production and flow-on effects.

So how can companies improve their induction process?  Ensure it is undertaken regularly and that it is systemizd with a customised training video.

Given that educational researchers have found that 83% of human learning occurs visually, a custom made training video is an ideal way to get important information understood quickly and effortlessly.  It will also save training time and dollars.

You can find out how a well known steel manufacturer reduced their training time and improved their training outcome, here.