16th April 2024

Health & Safety

Workplace health and safety: online courses vs in-person training

Educating your team on workplace health and safety is essential to ensure that your business is compliant with regulations, and your employees are safe at work. The question is, how best to do so?

In the landscape of the modern workplace, employers are faced with the challenge of selecting the most effective health and safety training methods. Methods that not only meet national compliance standards but also resonate with the diverse learning needs of their workforce. Today’s blog post aims to explore the pros and cons of two popular approaches to the delivery of workplace health and safety training: online courses and in-person learning.

The growing demand for online training

In recent years, particularly since the pandemic, online training has gained immense popularity due to the flexibility and accessibility that it can offer businesses.

The ability to learn at one’s own pace, coupled with the convenience of accessing learning materials from anywhere, has made online courses a preferred choice for many businesses that are looking to bring workplace health and safety training to their employees in a flexible manner.

Offering flexibility and convenience

Online courses offer unparalleled flexibility, allowing employees to complete modules at their own pace and convenience. This is particularly beneficial for businesses with diverse schedules or remote teams.

A woman watching a workplace health and safety tutorial on a laptop and taking notes.

A cost-effective option

Traditional in-person training is typically much more expensive than online courses, which do not incur the same overheads by any stretch. Here at Penshaw View, we understand the budget constraints faced by many organisations, especially in the current economic climate, and therefore seek to provide competitively priced online courses, alongside our in-person options, without compromising on quality.

Scalability? Check!

For businesses with a rapidly growing workforce, scalability is a crucial factor when it comes to workplace health and safety training. Online courses can be easily scaled to accommodate a large number of employees simultaneously, and our online training modules are designed to handle varying levels of demand, ensuring that businesses can efficiently train their expanding teams as and when the need arises.

Online training with Penshaw View

Here at Penshaw View, our selection of over 150 different online training modules covers a huge variety of subjects, ranging from the likes of Fire Warden Training and Social Media Training to Safeguarding Children and Gender Identity Training. These courses are designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of workplace health and safety regulations, business compliance, and HR policies to businesses across the UK, allowing employees to learn according to their schedules, no matter their location, all whilst minimising disruptions to daily operations.

Recognising the value of in-person training

While online courses offer undeniable advantages, there are scenarios where in-person training proves to be the more effective choice. That’s why we’re committed to offering a comprehensive suite of in-person training options here at Penshaw View.

Hands-on experience

Certain aspects of health and safety require hands-on learning, including the likes of First Aid Training and Fire Awareness Training, which educates on the use of equipment such as fire extinguishers.

In-person sessions provide a tangible experience, allowing participants to practice emergency procedures, use safety equipment, and engage in realistic simulations that will facilitate more effective learning. Here at Penshaw View, our experienced trainers bring a wealth of knowledge to in-person sessions, ensuring that participants gain practical skills that are directly applicable to their workplace.

A person undergoing workplace health and safety training administers CPR to a dummy.

An interactive learning environment

A fantastic aspect of in-person training is how it naturally fosters a collaborative and interactive learning environment, where participants can engage in discussions, ask questions, and receive immediate feedback from experienced trainers. In an online learning scenario, it is natural for attention to drift, and for distractions to arrive, whereas the interactive approach of in-person learning typically serves to keep learners engaged, thus enhancing the retention of information and promoting a deeper understanding of the health and safety principles that are being presented.

The value of team building

In the modern working world, many people work in online roles where there is little human interaction on a day-to-day basis. In this sense, in-person training can provide an excellent opportunity for employees to come together, learn as a team, and strengthen their ties as a community.

Tailored to your needs

Some industries have unique health and safety challenges that may not be adequately addressed in a generic online course. Here at Penshaw View, our in-person training sessions can be customised to cater to the specific needs and regulations of different industries and organisations, ensuring that participants receive information that is relevant to their workplace.

Workplace health and safety training with Penshaw View

Because we understand that businesses across the UK have a range of diverse needs, our aim with Penshaw View is to offer a holistic approach by presenting businesses with a range of both online and in-person training options. This ensures that businesses can tailor their health and safety training in a way that aligns best with their organisational culture, budget constraints, and the nature of their workforce.

Of course, the success of any training program rests on the expertise and skills of those who lead the learning, and we take pride in our team of experienced professionals who bring real value to the training sessions that we offer. Whether through online modules or in-person workshops, our first-class trainers are committed to ensuring that every member of your team receives quality training that is designed to be effective in the workplace and falls in line with up-to-date practices, regulations, and requirements.

Every member of our dedicated team is committed to ensuring that you receive the right support for your team, organisation, or career, prioritising the training and learning that you need to adhere to national regulations, develop practical skills, and enhance business performance.

Looking for quality workplace health and safety training? We’re here to support your team with online and in-person options. Get in touch to find out more.

Penshaw View
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