FEATURE TRAINING Q&A
SKILLS FADE AND COVID-19
Which industries are in danger of becoming more susceptible to workplace risks?
Between April 2020 and June 2020, over 32 million working days were lost to COVID-19 related absences. In addition, redundancies and fluctuating guidelines have made it increasingly difficult for organisations to provide their workers with training. Movement restrictions, company policies and lockdown have all contributed to a reduction of training over the summer months. Businesses are doing their best to catch up
but with a second wave of the virus and the introduction of tighter restrictions, it is hard to see how they will keep up with training requirements. Reduced training and a reduction in task based activity (those who have extended time in furlough) will result in skills fade. The possible consequences of this in the high risk industries of confined spaces and working at height are plain. If we are to maintain skill levels in industry, we need to look at other ways of achieving it.
How can businesses manage rising threats to safety?
Alongside contingency plans and ‘back to work’ responses, health and safety training must be boosted to ensure that a restructured workforce can cope with high-risk environments and inevitable skill gaps that can occur. It is vital that this training provides
workers with the right balance of knowledge 30 SPRING 2021 | INDUSTRIAL COMPLIANCE
Everyone has a fundamental human right to go to work each day and come home to their loved ones safely. Nonetheless, statistics show that from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 the Construction Industry was hardest hit by fatal injuries (40), followed by Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (20) and Manufacturing (15). This was in a year of normal work activity. In this Q&A, Ben Haughton, technical director at Arco Professional Safety Services, speaks out about the escalating dangers industries may face as businesses deal with the ongoing fall-out of COVID-19.
and practical skills to be able to deliver their work safely. It is all too tempting for companies to provide their workers with theory only training when social distancing and movement restrictions are in place however the shortfall in practical skills could have severe consequences. This is not to say that there is no place for
training in the virtual world, there is a balance to be struck where it is safe to do so. The workforce needs the confidence to manage their day-to-day tasks safely but also not to be exposed to the increasing risk of contracting COVID-19 by receiving training in the normal classroom setting. Arco Professional Safety Services has launched several video conference courses and it is developing VR tools to help organisations keep
their workforces safe whilst also maintaining the recommended social distances during COVID-19.
How has COVID-19 impacted Arco training centres?
Arco understands that managing health and safety risks can be complicated, time- consuming and demand a level of technical expertise – and resources – that businesses may not have internally. COVID-19 should not stop organisations reaching out for help, equally it does not mean that training should stop. Providing practical skills is essential in high-risk industries and so Arco has adapted its centres to provide attendees with a safe learning environment and the reassurance
/ INDUSTRIALCOMPLIANCE
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