Safety Sales Training Program Goes Virtual

LEARNING Safety Sales Training Program Goes Virtual

ISEA’s QSSP training program had to pivot in the midst of the pandemic

ISEA is no stranger to educating sales and marketing professionals on the technical and regulatory fundamentals of workplace safety and health. Prior to the pandemic, one of its programs, the Qualified Safety Sales Professional (QSSP) training program, took place in person with direct, live contact and demonstrations from industry expert instructors. However, given the global shutdowns and travel restrictions at the onset of the pandemic, ISEA canceled in-person courses to ensure the safety of students and faculty.

But this vital educational program couldn’t stay shuttered for long. ISEA and QSSP faculty quickly transitioned the QSSP program to a virtual learning experience to accommodate interested safety sales professionals while ensuring the integrity of the curriculum. The QSSP program covers the principles and practices of occupational health and safety, as well as the fundamentals of industrial hygiene, risk management, safety engineering, health and safety regulations, and workers’ compensation. Working directly with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and other regulatory agencies, faculty members quickly updated course materials to include the effects of COVID-19.

MEETING DEMAND AT A CRITICAL TIME

The first 100% remote virtual training QSSP program took place August 24-28, 2020. With top-rated virtual classroom technology and courses taught live by experienced safety faculty, remote attendees broadened their technical expertise in health and safety,

TIMELINE 2020

[CONTINUED]

SEPTEMBER 23 ISEA testifies before the U.S. International Trade Commission to assist with an investigation about medical goods related to COVID-19.

OCTOBER 23 ISEA establishes an anti-counterfeiting ad hoc subcommittee.

DECEMBER 11 The FDA issues an EUA for the first COVID-19 vaccine.

DECEMBER 16

ISEA releases its award-winning “Beyond the Mask” video to spotlight the safety equipment industry’s COVID-19 response.

QSSP IN-PERSON COURSES TO RESUME

ISEA will resume its in-person QSSP training program in August 2022. While virtual course offerings are a good option for some, others prefer hands-on training. With a class size of no more than 40 students, the intimate setting offers face-to-face contact with industry expert instructors.

The in-person course also offers networking opportunities only possible in a live classroom environment. While all QSSP graduates become a part of an online alumni community, attendees of the in-person class meet their fellow safety sales professionals, making lifelong career connections.

Advanced Safety Sales Training Now Available

The ISEA education team has finalized an advanced training program for safety sales professionals. The inaugural QSSP-A course will take place August 2-5, 2022.

This training program is the next step for QSSP designees. The course design reinforces the foundational objective of QSSP — knowledgebased selling — through a strategically deeper session agenda emphasizing the applied and practical aspects of occupational safety and health.

The four-day in-person course features 2.5 days of interactive presentations, discussions and practical problem-solving. Participants also spend one day at the ENSA professional training facility, where they undergo technical training specific to their sales expertise, including hands-on practical scenarios.

Those who complete the QSSP-A training program and pass the competency test in August 2022 will be the first to carry the QSSP-A designation, which identifies them as the most qualified in safety sales.

QSSP: 2020-2021

learned about the complex regulations imposed by OSHA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other agencies, and earned the right to use the QSSP designation. Several courses also offered OSHA 30 certification as a bonus credential.

ISEA then developed additional course options for students to accommodate flexible work and training schedules. Students could opt to complete the training online via live webinar, at their own pace on demand, or with a mix of both through the QSSP blended option.

Safety professionals were grateful to ISEA for the quick shift to remote education at a time when in-person training was not possible. Since ISEA launched QSSP virtually, 231 more students have become qualified to sell safety equipment and technology at a time when safety in the workplace has never been more important.

Virtual QSSP courses are here to stay. Online training offers flexibility to those who prefer a remote work and learning environment. It also gives ISEA the chance to qualify even more safety sales professionals, broadening its reach.

By the Numbers

231

virtual qssp graduates

10

virtual qssp courses held

2,300+

total qssp graduates