For over a decade, Ethos has worked closely with Uisce Éireann (Irish Water), supporting their commitment to delivering secure, safe, and sustainable water services across Ireland. As part of this ongoing partnership, Ethos has recently developed a bespoke e-learning programme designed to expand and reinforce Uisce Éireann’s Safety Leadership Conversations initiative.
Enhancing Safety Culture Through E-Learning
Safety Leadership Conversations (SLCs) play a crucial role in fostering a proactive safety culture within Uisce Éireann. Recognising the need for a cost-effective and scalable way to extend this programme, Ethos collaborated with the organisation to create an engaging and impactful e-learning solution.
Leveraging expertise in behavioural safety and e-learning development, Ethos designed a course that not only provides knowledge but also encourages meaningful engagement. A key feature of the programme is its audio-visual drama, a fictional story told through photography and voiceovers. Rather than focusing solely on the mechanics of conducting SLCs, this narrative-driven approach highlights the human element—emphasising why these conversations matter and how they contribute to a safer working environment.
When combined with more traditional e-learning elements, this approach strikes a balance between theory and real-world application, making the training both informative and engaging.
Key Learning Outcomes
Upon completing the course, participants will:
- Understand Uisce Éireann’s core values and how they apply to Safety Leadership Conversations.
- Recognise the importance of engaging in proactive safety discussions in the workplace.
- Identify common reasons why individuals take unnecessary risks and how to address them.
- Learn how to report and follow up on safety conversations to drive positive change.
- Gain confidence in initiating and sustaining meaningful safety leadership conversations.
This programme is expected to support Uisce Éireann in expanding its safety culture by reaching more employees efficiently, reinforcing key safety messages, and motivating individuals to take an active role in workplace safety.
The Role of E-Learning in Safety Training
E-learning offers a flexible and cost-effective way to educate and engage employees, making it an ideal complement to traditional training methods. While Ethos believes that face-to-face training and coaching remain invaluable in behavioural safety, e-learning plays a crucial role in:
- Providing consistent messaging across a large workforce.
- Reinforcing key learnings through refresher training.
- Serving as an essential component in blended learning programmes.
By incorporating digital learning into its existing safety initiatives, Uisce Éireann can enhance knowledge retention and make safety leadership training more accessible across the organisation.
Future Plans and Continuous Improvement
Ethos and Uisce Éireann will continue working together to refine and develop safety training initiatives. Gathering participant feedback during the rollout phase will be a key focus, ensuring the programme evolves to meet the needs of the workforce effectively.
As Uisce Éireann continues to grow, its commitment to safety leadership remains steadfast. Through this innovative e-learning programme, Ethos is proud to support their mission of keeping employees safe and strengthening the culture of safety leadership across the organisation.
