The Effects of Distance Learning The Effects of Distance Education Practices in the Field of Occupational Health and Safety: A Systematic Literature Review
Keywords:
Occupational health and safety, distance education, e-learning, systematic literature reviewAbstract
Occupational health and safety (OHS) training is considered a basic preventive tool in preventing occupational accidents and diseases by increasing employees' risk awareness. With the acceleration of digitalization, the diversification of the workforce, and the increase in flexible learning requirements, distance education-based OHS practices have become increasingly common in recent years. Traditional face-to-face training is not always sustainable and inclusive due to time, space, and cost constraints, making distance education models a strategic alternative in the field of OHS. Distance learning literature reveals that distance OHS training generally offers positive outcomes in terms of knowledge acquisition, risk perception, and the development of safe behavior. Studies conducted in sectors with varying levels of risk have shown that online learning environments yield learning outcomes comparable to those of face-to-face education, and in some cases, enhance learning retention. Notably, the integration of innovative digital tools such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and serious games is having a significant impact on hazard identification and risk awareness. However, the limitations of distance education in terms of interaction level and capacity to provide applied skills are also reported. Within the scope of this study, studies published in PubMed and Scopus databases up to 2025 were systematically examined. A total of 14 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. The findings suggest that distance OHS training offers strong potential in terms of flexibility, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness; however, they also indicate that there is still a need for holistic research, including long-term impact analyses, cross-sectoral comparisons, and applied learning components.
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