Virgin Atlantic partners with Brightwave for Manual Handling e-learning

Engaging new course creates awareness on the causes of back injury

Virgin Atlantic, one of the world's leading long haul airlines, has commissioned Brightwave, a workplace communications, learning and performance specialist, to develop a highly engaging Manual Handling e-learning programme for all staff to provide awareness on the causes of back injury in the workplace.

Employees will work through the new, 45 minute, portal-based programme developing a greater understanding of potential causes of pain, as well as hazards of back injury, crucial to safety in the workplace. Aimed at both office and operational roles, the solution is to be implemented as part of Virgin Atlantic's ongoing commitment to the health and safety of its staff.

"The health and safety of our staff is our top priority and we are always at looking at ways to enhance their working environment through training and development. We are certain that our staff will enjoy the e-learning course and hopefully find it very beneficial for them in the future." explains Pauline Reeb, e-Learning Manager at Virgin Atlantic.

"We wanted a solution that took a different approach to the training. It had to be innovative with an element of fun, in line with our brand. Through their insight into our organisation, Brightwave has designed a course that not only gets across the important messages but fits our company culture."

The exuberant course design, featuring sections such as "Everything you always wanted to know about backs* (*but were afraid to ask)", "Are you sitting comfortably?" and "Stand up straight! No slouching!" has been designed to appeal to the wide ranging target audience ensuring improved knowledge retention and practice which would not have been achieved with a generic, dry, solution. The programme also shifts focus away from merely laying out good practice putting more emphasis on the effects of bad lifting.

Lars Hyland, Brightwave's Director of Learning Services concludes "Health and safety and other mandated training often suffers from being primarily focused on regulation and demanding compliance. We believe that by engaging staff to take key messages, such as manual handling, personally, and to understand the consequences of their behaviour, they are far more likely to observe best practice. In this way real benefits are derived for both the individual and the organisation. We are delighted that Virgin Atlantic Airways shares our philosophy and is truly committed to innovative e-learning design."

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