E-Learning for Food Safety: Three Business Benefits

By Jennefer Griffith

The food and beverage industry is fast-paced and demanding and, as a result, it is always in need of highly skilled and highly trained individuals. But conventional food safety-related classroom training can be expensive and time-consuming, and a lot of people are making the switch to e-learning opportunities these days. Is this a good idea for your business?

Why e-Learning?
There are a number of reasons why e-learning might make sense for your business, regardless of the number of employees working at your location. The convenience and opportunity inherent in online training cannot be beat – learning is enjoyable and allows participants to engage with interactive games, activities, quizzes, and much more. The Food Processing Human Resources Council has developed a new e-learning institute and skills library and now offers a wide variety of courses, training, and materials. We’re finding there are many benefits to this type of training, and here are our top three:

1. Customized training
The food processing industry is highly competitive. It is driven by innovation relying on unique skills to create commercial products at good prices and with the highest food safety standards. Training needs to support this business goal, and e-learning offers the required flexibility. Food processors must complement traditional classroom settings with computers and tablets. Online courses are now offered in learning capsules, so the learner progressively acquires knowledge and applies it to work as needed. When changes to food safety standards happen, workers promptly receive the new information that applies to their job.

2. 24/7 Accessibility
Food processors often run day and night shifts. E-Learning materials are accessible to the workforce throughout the day and during the different time zones where a company might have locations. E-learning offers self-paced instruction suited to various levels of skills from sanitation workers to food safety specialists. Because e-learning tools are available 24/7, 365 days a year, employers can offer staff training any time, day or night.

3. Bottom-line
Conventional learning systems can be expensive. Face to face training incurs costs in terms of space rentals, hourly trainer fees, and materials. With e-learning, employers no longer have to spend money on any of these items. Courses are purchased on an as-needed basis for specific employees, and group course purchases can be highly cost-effective.

If your business has not yet invested in e-learning opportunities, it might be time to take a look. A safer food chain depends upon well-trained employees and changes in training delivery mean that there are fewer impediments to success.

About the Author
Jennefer Griffith is Executive Director for the Food Processing Human Resource Council (FPHRC). The organization is a non-profit skills council, providing training courses, programs, and educational tools for the Canadian and international food and beverage workforce.