12 Safety training topics for your workplace in 2024

Regardless of your organization’s industry, your employees must be properly trained on the most relevant safety training topics to promote a safe and healthy workplace. In this article, we’ll discuss some recommended safety training topics that you should include in your next onboarding or safety training discussion.

What are the biggest safety issues in the workplace?

Workplace safety is crucial for a healthy environment and making sure employees are satisfied and protected. Some of the biggest safety problems include fall accidents which can cause serious injuries. Hazards like toxic materials can also be risky, especially in factories. 

Plus, the lack of proper training and equipment makes these dangers worse. Likewise, issues such as workplace stress and physical discomfort can create an unsafe environment. And so, tackling these problems is key to ensuring a safe workplace for everyone.

What is a safety training topic?

A safety training topic focuses on educating employees about specific risks and best practices to ensure a safe work environment. These topics can range from emergency response procedures and proper equipment usage to workplace ergonomics and hazard communication. 

By addressing these topics, organizations empower their teams to recognize potential dangers and take the necessary steps to prevent accidents. Engaging in safety training raises awareness and promotes a positive company culture.

1. Emergency evacuation and response

One of the first steps a company can take is to include emergency evacuation response as a safety training topic during onboarding and emergency evacuation training sessions. All organizations must be prepared to respond to emergencies in a swift manner to prevent the risk of injuries or fatalities. They must also have an evacuation plan in place so that their employees know where and how to evacuate during emergency situations like earthquakes, fires, gas leaks, chemical spills, bomb threats, or active shooter attacks. 

By preparing and training for emergencies, your employees will be able to strengthen their situational awareness and feel more confident in their emergency response skills. They’ll also learn how to evacuate calmly and account for their coworkers. You can equip your employees with these emergency evacuation and response skills through emergency evacuation training courses like SC Training (formerly EdApp)’s free microlearning program called Evacuation Plan. 

2. Fire safety

Whether you’re in charge of industrial workers or managing office employees, this is one of the safety toolbox talk topics that must always be included in your onboarding or workplace safety training program is fire safety. Fire safety training also helps workers correct bad fire safety practices and prevent fire outbreaks. Through this topic, you can also help your employees become more aware of common fire hazards such as electrical overloads, faulty wiring, flammable liquids, ignition risks, and combustible items. 

As an employer, you’re mandated by law to regularly keep your teams up to date with fire safety standards and train them on topics such as fire risk assessment, fire emergency response strategies, and basic first aid. So, you can take advantage of SC Training (formerly EdApp)’s Fire Safety course as an easily digestible training resource for your teams. Once they’ve completed this fire training course, your employees should be able to conduct fire risk assessments, use fire extinguishers and hoses, and execute first aid techniques for suffocation and burns. 

3. Hazard communication (HAZCOM)

Employees who are regularly exposed to harmful chemicals in their line of work face many physical and health hazards. To help them mitigate these risks, employers should highlight hazard communication (HAZCOM) as a safety training topic during onboarding sessions and refresher training courses. Organizations should also comply with OSHA’s hazard communication standards to promote good safety practices and avoid endangering the lives of their employees. 

Additional HAZCOM training will help your team understand specialized topics like labeling systems and safety data sheets. Workers will also gain a better understanding of the dangers associated with unprotected chemical exposure as well as the precautions they need to take to safeguard themselves from these risks. To assist you in training your team, we’ve compiled a selection of the most up-to-date hazard communication training courses.

4. Electrical safety

Due to a lack of fundamental electrical safety programs, thousands of employees are injured and killed every year. Cardiac arrest, muscle and nerve failure, thermal burns, blindness, and hearing loss are a few of the most common electrical injuries. Even seasoned electricians, electrical engineers, mechanics, and office workers must always remember to watch out for hazards and make sure that adequate time is spent on electrical safety training. 

This safety training topic allows workers to learn more about the dangers of electrical work. You can also emphasize common electrical work topics like arc flash, fault identification, electrical maintenance, electrical isolation and immobilization, and electrical safety protection. Apart from training, it’s important for workers to double-check that electrical systems have been installed and tested properly. 

5. Ergonomics

Overexertion, lack of movability, awkward postures, and repetitive work are common causes of physical discomfort and musculoskeletal injuries among workers. Those in the manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and even corporate industries are some of the most affected by these issues, which usually result from a lack of proper ergonomic planning. If they aren’t addressed, the constant strain on the bodies of workers can become chronic musculoskeletal disorders or worse, permanent injuries. 

It’s your duty as an employer to give your staff in-depth ergonomics training courses, implement risk management procedures at work, and comply with your state’s ergonomics laws and regulations. Through this safety training topic, your employees will have a better grasp of concepts like lifting techniques, body alignment, engineering controls, administrative controls, and proper PPE usage.

6. Slips, trips, and falls

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, slips, trips, and falls are the leading causes of workplace injuries such as cuts, bruises, fractures, and other musculoskeletal injuries. These accidents are commonly caused by wet and slippery floors, poor lighting, unstable walkways, inappropriate footwear, and the lack of hazard signs.

Regardless of the industry that you’re in, make sure your employees are aware of these risks by including this safety training topic in your onboarding, compliance training, workplace training, and behaviour based safety training courses. The more you delve into safety topics for the workplace, the better equipped your workers will be to implement the appropriate safety measures and minimize and eliminate slip, trip, and fall hazards.

7. Driver safety

Although road accidents involving transport and shipping drivers aren’t 100% preventable, their employers can still make every effort to lower the risks by educating them about driver safety. Drivers have a huge responsibility to make sure that goods and services are transported in the quickest and safest way possible. Through driver safety training, drivers can refresh their knowledge of safe driving practices and common road hazards to look out for. 

Employers can customize their driver safety training courses by including essential information about the vehicles they are operating and the parts they use to maintain them. They can also highlight the importance of defensive driving strategies and warn them about the consequences of reckless driving. SC Training (formerly EdApp) offers a mobile-friendly Driver Safety course to help companies roll out driving training more easily among their employees.

8. HAZWOPER

Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) is an OSHA-regulated set of guidelines designed to train emergency responders, healthcare workers, and manufacturing workers on how to safely handle hazardous waste. Because handling hazardous waste involves significant risks, this safety training topic covers lessons on toxicology, waste management, and decontamination. By increasing your team’s awareness of this topic, they’ll be more prepared to work with hazardous waste.

SC Training (formerly EdApp)’s course library offers a wide variety of courses on this topic, including Waste Management Safety and Hazardous Materials (Silica, Polymerics, and Waste). They are developed using a microlearning strategy that breaks down complicated topics into more digestible mini-lessons. You can also find material handling courses to keep your team up to date on safe handling practices for different types of materials.

9. Covid-19 preparedness

Because COVID-19 is still an ongoing global pandemic, organizations must remain vigilant and continue to raise safety awareness among their employees. Through health and safety tips like COVID-19 preparedness, you can give your team relevant and accurate information about the virus, how it spreads, and the symptoms to watch out for. This training topic also covers protective measures against coronavirus infection and health policies established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

The easiest way to discuss this safety training topic with your workers is to include it in onboarding and compliance training resources. If you’re looking for a hassle-free way to provide COVID-19 preparedness training, SC Training (formerly EdApp) has got your back. All you have to do is import their COVID-19 training course called Let’s Kick COVID-19! and distribute it to your employees.

10. Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Proper usage of personal protection equipment (PPE) is an essential safety training topic that must be discussed. It’s especially true for employees in the industrial, healthcare, and construction sectors who routinely work with hazardous materials, chemicals, and equipment. With PPEs as specialized safety equipment, they protect workers from serious injuries or illnesses such as chemical burns, electrical shock, radiation exposure, mechanical hazards, and viral diseases. 

Include PPE topics in your safety certificate courses to help workers learn more about the importance of PPEs, their proper use, maintenance, storage, and disposal, and how to choose the best one for your team’s needs. Apart from learning these basics, workers will also be able to categorize the different types of PPE. These include body protection, respiratory protection, eye and facial protection, and hand protection.

11. First aid

First aid training gives individuals the skills needed to respond effectively in emergencies, from minor injuries to life-threatening situations. This training teaches important techniques like CPR, wound care, how to handle choking incidents, and more. First aid training is essential as it empowers your team to act quickly and confidently – potentially saving lives and reducing recovery time. 

When you promote first aid training, organizations create safer environments where employees feel supported and cared for, knowing they can rely on their colleagues during emergencies. 

12. Machine guarding

Machine guarding training helps employees learn how to use machines safely by understanding safety features. This training covers different types of guards, how to use them correctly, and how to keep them maintained. It's important because it helps prevent accidents and injuries like cuts or crush injuries in workplaces. 

By raising awareness of machine safety, companies protect their workers and improve productivity which contributes to a safer and more efficient workplace.