The global coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has disrupted several aspects of our lives over the course of the past two months. At least 46 states have shut down nonessential businesses that can’t be operated online as a result of the pandemic. Facilities that are considered essential and continue to operate include health care, grocery stores, pharmacies and drug stores, laundromats, and restaurants for carryout, delivery, and drive-through only. Trade services, like electrical work and plumbing, are also considered essential.

The pandemic has also caused several changes to the way EHS professionals work. Many organizations have shifted their entire team to telecommuting.

Based on a recent poll conducted by Aarcher Institute, 58 percent of EHS professionals are now working from home as a result of the pandemic. According to the poll, 26 percent are still working at their facility and 16 percent are not working at all or have been laid off.

It’s critical that EHS professionals who are working from home remain current on regulations. With in-person conferences and training events on hold, many EHS professionals are seeing this as an opportunity to engage in training virtually to stay up to date.

Aarcher Institute offers several live, instructor-led virtual training courses to help you build your skills in a variety of EHS areas. Our virtual training program, which has been in place since 2015, emulates the benefits of attending a live course. Attendees participate through internet and phone connection, and they receive their course materials delivered by FedEx prior to the course (no shipping cost). Virtual attendees view a combination screen that includes a full-size image of the slide and a live video feed of the instructor. Participants ask questions either verbally or through a chat function throughout the class. Our instructors are very familiar with presenting courses through this system, and our student ratings for our virtual training are excellent. Click here to see our list of upcoming virtual courses.

Here are some more benefits of enrolling in a virtual training course:

1. Strengthen and expand your skills. As an EHS professional, it’s crucial to keep your skills up to date and learn new skills to help you do your job better. Virtual regulatory and compliance training courses give you the tools you need to lead your organization in your areas of expertise, maintain safety, and continue to meet your goals even when you’re working from home.

2. Stay in compliance. It’s essential that you stay in compliance with the complex and sometimes confusing EHS regulations. There’s no better way to stay up to date with these laws that you deal with in your job than by attending virtual training courses.

3. Increase your value to your organization, especially during the current global pandemic. During this time when companies are downsizing to save money, attending a virtual training course to strengthen your skills and stay in compliance will increase your chances of keeping your job if your organization is conducting layoffs. 

4. Improve your chances of securing a new job if you’ve been laid off. If you apply for a new job, you’re more likely to get it if you’ve recently attended relevant virtual training to help you keep your skills up to date.