I’m a research guy who reads newly published academic articles like people used to read the morning paper. So, in my efforts to understand the value of safety training, I naturally dove into the research. During this process, I read a broad spectrum of safety research studies, and the entries below constitute two of the most interesting finds.

A) One of the most cited sources on safety is a paper published in 1980 titled, “Safety Climate in Industrial Organizations: Theoretical and Applied Implications”. In it, the author concludes that, of the various drivers of safety climate within an organization, the two strongest are: 1) management attitudes and 2) the relevance of safety to production processes. In addition to this, the study was able to conclude that safety climate is demonstrably related to the general safety level.

Let me rephrase these findings - the best way to reduce workers compensation claims is to promote a strong safety climate, which is created through proper management attitude and by making safety training relevant to the job at hand.

B) A paper evaluating online computer training titled “Computer-based training for safety: Comparing methods with older and younger workers” determined that all computer-based training is not created equal. In essence, it found that workers in multiple age groups responded in different ways to online training, but workers of all ages responded best to a specific type of computer based training, that which contained “text with pictures and audio narration.” This is an especially fascinating finding because, while that type of training is not necessarily the flashiest or most high-tech, it remains the most effective.

I became interested in this topic years ago when I owned Specific Software Solutions and created the original ModMaster software product. More recently, though, my work in various academic settings has led me to become even more fascinated with corporate culture and effective learning systems.

Both of these experiences motivated me to put together a new safety training tool we could offer directly to the brokerage firms we work with. It is simple to use, cost-effective, and a product you can offer employer clients that delivers significant, research-based benefit.

To help you better understand the product, I put together a short video, which can be viewed, by clicking here.

In addition, you can find purchase details and the limits of the agreement as follows:

• RISK66 University costs $5,250/yr to subscribe and is only available to insurance brokerage firms and agencies. It is NOT available directly to employers.
• Once subscribed, you may offer Risk66 University to your firm's top 100 (by revenue) commercial clients with 1,000 employees or less.

Please contact Timothy L. Coomer, PhD at tlc@SIGMAactuary.com for more information on RISK66 University.