For most of us, nothing beats the human interaction, one-on-one networking with colleagues, and hands-on physical interaction with actual new products that come with in-person industry trade shows. Due to the pandemic, however, that’s obviously not been possible. We’ve all watched as show after show has canceled in-person events this year, despite many optimistic attempts at originally rescheduling them. I know the day is coming (hopefully sooner rather than later) when we all will gather again at industry events. But until that day comes, our readers need industry information — and they need it now. Given the current climate, more than ever before, there is an extraordinary need for workplace safety content. COVID or no COVID, the electrical industry isn’t slowing down, and neither are we at EC&M. That’s why we’ve partnered with our sister publication, EHS Today, to offer you a new online learning event: the Workplace Safety Academy.
In the fall of 2019, EC&M and EHS Today surveyed more than 500 professionals responsible for occupational safety with the intent to better understand their challenges and needs for the months ahead. We discovered: worker safety is a core value among respondents; worker safety helps them build morale at their firms; and finding solutions is difficult. “We stand by saying, ‘prepare and prevent, don’t repair and repent.’ We invest in workplace safety because it’s good business, and it’s part of our company values,” said one survey respondent. Another indicated, “Searching for protective equipment on the web leads me to more questions than answers. I want examples of how other contractors are reducing accidents and injuries.” From this research, we also learned the top 10 categories respondents were most interested in were test & measurement equipment, workplace safety training, personal protective equipment, insulated tools, flame-resistant/arc-rated clothing, lockout/tagout, eye and face protection, construction safety equipment, ergonomics, and fall protection.
To meet this growing demand for the latest safety information, we launched the Workplace Safety Academy at https://workplacesafetyacademy.com/ on July 6, 2020. Running from July through October, this four-month online event is FREE to all attendees, thanks to our sponsors (Panduit, Westex by Milliken, and Intertek Alchemy). Offering three tracks (codes and standards, training and engagement, tools and technology), attendees can access any or all of the information any time they want. It’s easy to navigate the site and customize the experience to your specific interests. Simply go to the site, click on an item (this could be a webinar, demo video, technical article, how-to tutorial, whitepaper, case study, or product showcase), fill out the online registration form that pops up (you only have to do this once), and then you’re all set. Use your desktop, tablet, or mobile device to come back as many times as you want on your own time to access the material for free — fresh content is being added regularly, so check back frequently.
There’s no time like the present when it comes to preventing accidents in the workplace and keeping employees safe and healthy. Visit our free online learning event (https://workplacesafetyacademy.com/) between now and the end of October, and let us know what you think. We’re dedicated to bringing electrical professionals the latest safety resources any way we can — and if that can’t be in person just yet, then we hope this program helps fill the gap in your electrical safety training needs.
