As an Environmental, Health and Safety professional you know that training is a necessity. Training will keep you in compliance with applicable health and safety standards as well as assist you in reducing the potential for accidents/incidents to occur. Today you have many choices when considering a training format, Instructor Led training, Computer Based Training and Web-based Training or WBT.
"Many of you are getting your information over the internet these days…we've all got to move into that technology. OSHA'S got to move to that technology."-Charles Jeffress, Assistant Secretary of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health, at the 2000 American Industrial Hygienists Conference and Exposition.)
That was said four years ago, a very long time in today's information age. Since that time Web-based Training has become an even more viable training option as technology, Internet availability and bandwidth have increased. In this paper we ask: "Is it time for you to consider a Web-based Training solution for your EH&S training needs?"
Simply defined WBT is the delivery of training material (or information) to the user via the Internet. This is basically the same as CBT with the difference being the delivery mechanism, CBT being delivered with a CD or Floppy Disk and Internet training being delivered over a modem connected to the Internet. Right of the bat there is a benefit to WBT - say good-bye to keeping track of and managing all those CD-ROMs and floppies!
Right now, this instant, you can go on the Internet and sign up for a wide variety of Health and Safety Training courses. With a little searching and patience you can even find courses that are free. Go ahead and try it. Use one of the popular search engines and do a search on "Web-based Safety Training." If you do this you will quickly be buried by choice. One of the popular search engines turned this up as their most searched site: "Hazards Control Computer Assisted Instruction for External Customers." Say that fast three times but with patience, and a more focused search you will be able to find quality WBT providers.
"As a matter of policy, OSHA does not approve or endorse training programs. The employer, rather than the training provider, is ultimately responsible for ensuring that employees acquire the training and skills needed to perform their duties in a safe and healthful manner." (From OSHA Standards Interpretation Letter dated 10/20/1999 - Web-based HAZWOPER refresher training: hands-on training and trainer accessibility).
The above OSHA interpretation clearly defines the acceptance of WBT by allowing the employer to choose the delivery method of training. A well-designed WBT course will more than meet OSHA training guidelines. Keep in mind however, that if audited employers are usually required to show proof that the employee took the course and that the student can demonstrate competency in the course material.
