The onset of Covid-19 resulted in many companies moving aspects of their operations to online and virtual platforms, and contractor and management solutions provider KBC Health & Safety has made similar adjustments.

“Since Covid-19 more clients have adopted our computer-based training programmes. These programmes, an area in which KBC is well experienced, limit contact and promote social distancing protocols,” says KBC Health & Safety operations director Sian Thurtell.

While the company has conducted safety training through facilitator-led training, with a maximum of 25 people in a classroom prior to Covid-19, it has also used its electronic assessment platform to ensure that all learners are assessed efficiently and accurately.

Since the onset of Covid-19, KBC Health & Safety’s Innovation Team has converted most of their facilitator-led training programmes into online learning using various platforms. This enables clients to choose between their employees completing their training online, or attending classes that have been reduced to 50% capacity to allow for physical distancing.

“We have introduced ‘360 virtual tours’ that simulate a work environment in which a learner can interact with and identify possible hazards while remaining safely in the training facility. We intend to expand upon these by filming hazardous areas on specific sites, thereby ensuring that training is also environment-specific,” notes Thurtell.

KBC Health & Safety also intends to expand into microlearning, which will enable clients to access certain training videos using quick response (QR) codes placed in specific work areas on site.

For example, should a lockout procedure be required on site, an employee or contractor could simply scan the QR code and watch a short video to refresh their knowledge of the correct and safe way to carry out the procedure.

“KBC Health & Safety can develop these short informative videos to assist in reinforcing the training conducted before site entry while ensuring that continuous on-the-job learning occurs,” adds Thurtell.

Meanwhile, the company has successfully carried out virtual training, including a virtual training event for De Beers’ Venetia mine, in Limpopo.

“It was a first for the company and the client. Our facilitator was based in Johannesburg and the training was conducted through online streaming. The learners were on site at the Venetia mine’s training facility,” she adds.

Moreover, Venetia has outsourced the operational risk management processes A1 and A2 to KBC Health & Safety – an authorised provider of A1 and A2 training – with Venetia mine technical training manager Koos Nel stating that “it is not traditional technical training because the environment is constantly changing”.

KBC Health & Safety reviews its training programmes regularly to ensure that the material remains relevant.