Health & Safety E-Learning Benefits | BrightHR

A woman sat studying with an e-learning course on a laptop

First published on Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Last updated on Wednesday, December 18, 2024

E-learning is one of the preferred methods of training across a range of sectors in today’s digital age. Providing a flexible, scalable and cost-effective solution that removes the need for in-person training or classroom style environments.

For health and safety training, in particular, e-learning helps to keep businesses legally compliant with HSE regulations, whilst ensuring employees are safe at work. In this article we explore the many benefits of online training for health and safety. Not just for HR or health and safety professionals but for business owners, managers, and employees across all areas of a business.

What is e-learning?

E-learning in its simplest form is online, electronic learning. Providing a format for completing a course or undertaking training that just requires a digital device. Usually completed on a laptop, desktop or mobile device, e-learning courses can include different types of training materials, such as:

Quizzes
Videos
Infographics
Visual demonstrations
Presentations

E-learning can be both self-led and instructor-led. Some online training courses are scheduled and timed with live presentations from educators, while others can be accessed at anytime from anywhere.

These two types of online training courses are known as:

Synchronous – real-time online training led by a teacher or instructor
Asynchronous – learning on a schedule that suits the individual with ready to access learning materials.

Both offer similar benefits, however for most businesses, asynchronous methods of e-learning are more popular as they are less time-consuming and more accessible for a range of employees.

The benefits of e-learning

Health & safety e-learning provides a simple and cost-effective way to ensure everyone in your business has completed required training. Making sure your business is compliant with current legislation and regulations.

The benefits of choosing e-learning for your business’ health & safety training include:

Scalability

With a growing business, in-person training can quickly become a big expense and incredibly time-consuming. E-learning, on the other hand, can grow with you. Providing a range of online courses that all employees can access at a time that suits them.

No matter how many employees you have, a online learning management system can be accessed by any member of your team with little expense to the business.

Accessibility

E-learning courses are always available online. Even synchronous online courses can be accessed “on-demand”. And, with new LMS systems expanding their offerings, online courses can now also be accessed via mobile devices and mobile applications. Making online health & safety training more accessible than ever.

With no need to travel to external training centres or education providers, your training and development can become a part of your everyday work processes.

Cost-effectiveness

Without having to pay for one-off, teacher-led courses, learning management systems and on-demand online courses can save your business money.

Reducing the costs of expensive training days, instructor fees, and additional expenses such as travel to and from training centres.

Timesaving

Save yourself the time and hassle of leaving the workplace for a day of extensive training. Most online courses take less than one hour to complete and will provide just as much detail and guidance as an in-person training experience.

With the time you earn back, you can put more focus and energy into what matters to you most – growing your business.

Self-serving

Most online training will require little input from a trained expert. This means your employees can simply log-on, access their assigned or chosen course, and achieve a certificate or report when complete.

Plus, if an individual feels they need to refresh their knowledge in a particular area, they can always choose to access a course in their free time and complete this at their own pace.

Automated reports

For line managers, the automation of electronic learning makes managing employee development and learning quick and easy. Many LMS solutions now offer automated reports and the option to assign courses to employees on a deadline.

This means you and your managers can keep track of who has completed which training courses and who needs a health & safety training refresh.

Health and safety learning management systems

Having a learning management system at your disposal makes keeping your health and safety training up to date easy. When considering which LMS is right for your business, there’s a few things you should consider:

What are your business needs?
Does your sector require industry-specific health and safety training courses?
How many employees will need access to e-learning courses?
How often will e-learning be required in your business?
What is your budget for employee training and development?

If you wish to access regular health and safety training courses, you will want to find an LMS that can provide a wide range of courses. And for industry-specific training courses, you will need to look for an LMS with accredited training courses, recognised by your industry.

Access 80+ FREE e-learning courses with BrightSafe

BrightSafe e-learning is a free training solution that is included in your BrightSafe package. Designed to provide updated health & safety e-learning for a wide range of industries and businesses.

With BrightSafe e-learning you can:

Keep your business legally compliant to avoid hefty fines from the HSE and local authorities
Access a range of health & safety courses wherever you are with the BrightSafe On The Go app
Assign industry-specific courses to your employees to complete according to deadlines
Keep up to date with the latest H&S legislation for your industry
Get automated reports on employee training and development to ensure everyone has completed their necessary training
Keep your team safe and prevent accidents and injuries in the workplace