Anyone in the medical field knows that full OSHA compliance training is required, but fewer people know that OSHA online training can make that process a lot more seamless and convenient. If you operate, manage, or work at a medical facility that requires OSHA trainings every year, consider the wide range of benefits that come with implementing the online training course.
Why Coordinating Your OSHA Training Schedule Online Is Better for Everyone
OSHA Online: The Convenience Factor
One of the biggest benefits of conducting all OSHA trainings online is the convenience. It takes a huge amount of effort and coordination to get everyone in the same room to conduct a training, but if every individual employee can simply take the training on his or her own time, the likelihood of everyone getting those requirements in goes way up.
In an online system, the administrator just has to send out an electronic reminder for any employee who has a training that's going to expire that year.
This also allows each employee to take the training at his or her own pace. This promotes greater retention of the material because any single section that a person finds confusing or overly complex can be reviewed until the information makes sense. There's even the ability to start and stop the training at will. Therefore, if something unexpected comes up, you aren't obligated to start all over from the beginning. You can just pause and pick up where you left off. Online testing also accommodates for retesting of any section that isn't passed on the first attempt.
Lastly, online trainings don't obligate people to participate on one single day. They can choose the date and time that's most convenient for them, meaning there truly is no excuse or reason that everyone at your medical facility should ever be out of OSHA compliance—and that's largely thanks to the convenience of online trainings.
Online Training OSHA Work: The Cost Factor
In addition to convenience, it's also greatly in the interest of the medical facility to complete these yearly trainings sessions online because it is much more cost effective than holding an in-person training.
A face-to-face training requires payment for both the physical location to hold the training and the trainer to conduct the session. That's not even taking into account the time and cost required if that training takes place during business hours and stops employees from completing their normal jobs.
OSHA Online Trainings: The Accuracy Factor
Because all records related to OSHA trainings are kept electronically when trainings are done online, it helps ensure greater accuracy of those records. This means:
- Fewer people working with expired trainings (and not realizing it).
- Easier access to records, should you be subject to an OSHA audit.
- More control and accurate information on the part of the administrator (who can see who has completed what trainings and when).
The online records suite also means all SDS sheets are kept in an online database, so everyone has equal access to those important documents.
Another major benefit is that auditing bodies know online systems tend to be more accurate and up to date, so if you can show your electronic records, that makes a good initial impression for your audit—always a favorable situation.
HIPAA OSHA: Ensuring You're in Compliance with OSHA Rules
Because HIPAA protects the anonymity and private information of patients, it's one of the most important aspects of any training session. If you're not in full compliance with these OSHA laws, you're not only putting your facility at risk of the consequences—you're also potentially compromising patients' private information.
OSHA BBP Training: Following Every OSHA Rule to the Letter
Another highly important OSHA law relates to BBP training. OSHA and bloodborne pathogens is an extremely important training to conduct, and it's one that every person who treats patients must complete and renew every single year. An online system helps ensure nobody falls through the cracks and sees patients without the proper certification regarding all bloodborne pathogens.
Consequences of Being Out of OSHA Compliance
If you have people working at your medical facility and seeing patients without going through their proper trainings, that puts your facility out of compliance with OSHA laws. When that happens, you're running the risk of several consequences:
- OSHA fines (levied against the medical facility).
- An OSHA audit (to determine what else, if anything, is not in full compliance).
Online trainings can help mitigate the likelihood of these negative consequences.
For more information about OSHA regulation and the rules of OSHA training, please feel free to contact a representative of MCF Environmental Services, a full-service waste management company.
