Online safety training in pollution management
Pollution management workers in Finland can now learn about their sector’s occupational health and safety issues via the internet in Finnish, thanks to an e-learning platform, created as part of the THESEIS project (Training on health and safety for workers in the environment industrial sector). The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH) participated in this project. Pollution management companies and educational institutes may also benefit from these e-learning materials, which are free of charge.
”Pollution management workers face many types of hazards and risk factors in their work. Occupational health and safety issues are taught on a general level in the pollution management sector, but comprehensive material and training that takes these different hazards and risk factors into account has not been available before this online training material,” says Pirjo Irmeli Korhonen, a specialist research scientist at FIOH.
Familiarizing workers with hazards and risk factors
The THESEIS course consists of an introduction and three modules, each of which contains different sections and related tasks through which you can test your own knowledge of each topic. The use of the materials is free, but requires logging in. As a result of the training, a worker is more aware of the hazards and risk factors of pollution management and is able to prevent dangerous situations.
Questionnaire to determine training needs
The training material was compiled on the basis of the results of a questionnaire answered by pollution management workers. The questionnaire determined the knowledge of waste water treatment and solid waste management workers regarding occupational health and safety issues, for example hazardous situations, ergonomics and fire safety. It was carried out in all participating countries. It also determined the National Qualifications Framework of the workers. The results defined the training needs of each country.
”According to the results, the particular areas in which Finnish pollution waste management workers need further training are chemical and biological hazards, working in confined spaces, and handling dangerous substances,” explains Antti Karjalainen, a research scientist at FIOH.
Also suitable for induction training
Through this training, pollution management workers can improve their professional expertise, and plan and further their careers. Pollution management companies can also use the online material for training new workers.
The pollution management sector employs 2.5 million Europeans. In Finland, 10 000 people work in this sector.
The THESEIS project (Training on health and safety for workers in the environment industrial sector) lasted from 2011 to 2013 and was funded by the EU’s Leonardo da Vinci programme. The programme supports projects that aim to develop professional training and European collaboration. Twelve organizations from eight European countries participated in the project (Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Germany, Finland, Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic). The online material was produced in the language of each participating country.
Pollution management e-learning platform
The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health researches, develops and specializes in well-being at work. It promotes occupational health and safety and the well-being of workers. It is an independent institution under public law, working under the administrative sector of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. It has six regional offices, and its headquarters are in Helsinki. It employs about 750 people.
