Asbestos awareness training converted from the classroom to eLearning to reach a wider audience

An in-person asbestos awareness program became an eLearning course that meets the government's training standard and reaches learners across industries.

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Asbestos Awareness title screen with silhouettes of construction workers at sunset

About CSAM

The Construction Safety Association of Manitoba (CSAM) promotes safety and health in the construction industry. It offers resources, training and tools that help companies and workers comply with safety regulations and reduce the risk of accidents on construction sites.

Demand for asbestos training outgrew the classroom

CSAM is a leading provider of asbestos awareness training in Manitoba. Its Asbestos Awareness course was first developed as in-person training aligned with the provincial training program standard set by SAFE Work Manitoba.

The course was designed for the construction industry, but other sectors that needed workplace asbestos awareness soon came to CSAM too, and few other providers offered it. To meet the demand without the logistics of in-person sessions, CSAM chose to convert the course to a flexible eLearning format.

Neovation worked with CSAM's subject matter experts to turn the existing materials into an engaging course that complies with the provincial standard. It covers what asbestos is, where it may be present, the health risks and when to call in the experts.

How the course was built

Expert collaboration
Subject matter experts who know the accredited in-person materials helped turn them into eLearning.
Instructional planning
Neovation completed a curriculum plan for the new approach, keeping the course concise, comprehensive and relevant across industries and roles.
Quality assurance in the LMS
Several rounds of review for content accuracy and technical function took place in CSAM's own learning management system before launch.
Accuracy and consistency
Every learner gets the same accurate delivery of key concepts and resources, whether they work in construction, maintenance or any setting where asbestos might be present.

Inside the course

The course title screen
What is asbestos?
Friable and non-friable materials
Markers reveal examples in walls and ceilings
The Module 3 title screen
Health effects of asbestos exposure
Ordering the steps of asbestos inhalation
Feedback on a knowledge check

Project goals
- Make the training available to a broader audience in industries beyond construction
- Align the course with the training standard endorsed by SAFE Work Manitoba
- Create an engaging, learner-focused course that helps participants meet their workplace safety responsibilities
- Launch a course that works well in CSAM's learning management system and removes the logistics of in-person training
- Meet growing demand from learners in many industries and roles
Challenges
- CSAM worked with a third party to confirm the converted course still met the provincial training standard for asbestos awareness, and Neovation supported it through that review
- Development uncovered areas in the original instructor-led version that also affected the new course, and a flexible, transparent scope management process let the team make the improvements under the existing contract and meet accreditation requirements

The result

The in-person course is now a reusable, consistent online course that follows the provincial training standards set by SAFE Work Manitoba. Hosted on CSAM's learning management system, it removes the barriers of in-person training.

Since the course launched, it has helped CSAM reach a much larger audience and meet the sector's demand for this training.

What CSAM says

Working with Neovation’s Custom Learning team was a great experience. From start to finish, our project was organized and managed with clarity and transparency.

We felt informed, supported, and confident throughout the process. The collaboration was smooth, and the team was thoughtful in bringing our vision to life.

They took our course content and turned it into a meaningful and engaging learning experience that will benefit a wide range of industries across our province. Their expertise, creativity, and commitment to quality were evident, and we appreciate the effort they put into making our project a success.

Meghan Storey, Training & Development Manager, Construction Safety Association of Manitoba

Types of interactivity
- AI narration
- Knowledge checks
- Graphic design and illustration
- Graded quizzes
- Branded eLearning
Where the content started
CSAM provided its instructor-led training materials and the related federal and provincial legislation, guidelines and training program standards. Neovation developed the new self-paced course in partnership with CSAM.