Safety data indicate that human error remains the leading cause of incidents in pharmaceutical plants. But can storytelling fix that?

Have you ever wondered why events in pharmaceutical manufacturing continue to occur despite the implementation of extensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and numerous training sessions?

Approximately 80–90% of accidents in all industries are attributed to human error, and the pharmaceutical industry is no exception, according to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) (OSHA Human Factors Bulletin).

As an EHS professional, you’ve seen this trend in your site statistics. Near-misses, improper handling of equipment, and errors in critical procedures often stem from how well teams understand and apply the information they’ve been given. What do you think is missing then?

Sometimes, how that data is communicated is more important than the data itself.

Usual training techniques fail to hold workers’ attention. This includes PowerPoint presentations, lengthy SOP manuals, or one-time seminars. People only retain around 20% of what they hear and 10% of what they read, according to the National Training Laboratories. On the other hand, “learning by doing,” or witnessing a process in a way that is rich in context and visuals, can improve retention by as much as 75%.

Thus, proactive safety professionals are adapting visual storytelling. Animated safety videos for near miss incidents are getting popular in highly regulated industries like pharmaceuticals.

Storytelling is ingrained in human nature. Antonio Damasio, a neuroscientist, has long maintained that when information is woven into a story, the brain processes and remembers it more efficiently. Additionally, according to The Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, storytelling can activate more brain regions. This results in a memorable and valuable learning experience.

For example, an animated video showing how a technician mishandles a reactor and the resulting pressure excursion is far more impactful than a static chart. By allowing learners to visualize cause and effect, these scenarios lend abstract processes a tangible, memorable quality.

High-stakes pharmaceutical environments have unique hazards:

A skillfully made animated film can simplify these complications. Here’s how:

When compared to text-heavy instruction, technical training videos can increase comprehension and retention by as much as 60–80%, according to research published by the Learning & Development Roundtable. This can lead to a significant reduction in human error-related events in the pharmaceutical industry.

Indeed, a multinational biopharma company reported a 31% decrease in cleanroom deviations over 12 months after implementing animation training for aseptic processing personnel (ISPE Annual Report, 2021). This is a powerful illustration of how training approaches tailored to employees’ cognitive needs can provide quantifiable outcomes.

Animation is a supplement to, not a replacement for, supervisor mentoring or practical instruction. It makes abstract hazards authentic and regulations memorable. Furthermore, it makes theoretical knowledge practical and adaptable. 3D animated safety videos produce a multi-layered approach in your EHS training program. It appeals to learners’ emotional and intellectual faculties.

You must examine the incident data from your site and reconsider how it is presented to your workers. Safety should be made memorable for them. It’s a necessity in a world where humans are both your greatest asset and your most significant risk.

Explore how custom animated safety videos can reduce incidents in your pharmaceutical facility. Create 3D animated safety videos tailored to your site’s specific needs.

Educating employees about safety-critical activities, hazardous conditions, and company safety policies and procedures is crucial to safety training.

TECH EHS animation services ensure employees have the knowledge and skills to maintain a safe work environment.