The Real Cost of Inadequate Workplace Training

In 1998, the Esso Longford gas explosion in Victoria killed two workers and cut Melbourne’s gas supply for two weeks.

Investigators found multiple causes — but one stood out: inadequate training. Operators and supervisors didn’t have the knowledge they needed to handle a critical operating procedure. The result? Lives lost, a city disrupted, and millions in damage.

The lesson is clear: inadequate training doesn’t just risk poor performance — it risks lives, reputations, and entire operations.

A Modern Example from a Gas Refinery

Fast-forward to today. We work with the world’s largest independent exploration and production company—based on proved reserves and production of liquids and natural gas.

We’ve built over 100 eLearning modules for them, covering every part of their operation.

Not long ago, we developed a safety training module for ship captains entering the gas refinery. Part of this work required drone operations near their facility off Gladstone, Queensland — a site where the risks are, understandably, enormous.

As Chief Pilot of our drone company, I had to complete the same three-hour online induction as every other worker. We had designed the course ourselves — but this time, I was the learner.

It was nothing like the “boring training” stereotype. The scenarios, decision points, and simulations forced me to think. The interactivities made me feel the weight of each choice. And when I arrived on site, I realised — I remembered every safety step.

That’s when it struck me: boring training is often inadequate training. And inadequate training is expensive — sometimes catastrophically so.

Why Interactivity Changes the Outcome

Neuroscience tells us:

• Active recall beats passive watching – Doing something with information strengthens neural pathways far more than just reading or listening.
• The generation effect – Even guessing an answer helps you remember it. The brain remembers what it creates better than what it just consumes.
• Emotion drives memory – Decision-making with real (or simulated) consequences engages the brain’s emotional centres, making the learning stick.

The Bottom Line

The cost of inadequate training isn’t in the development budget. It’s in the accidents, the errors, the lost productivity, the legal claims, and the repeated retraining when nothing sticks.

At Gladstone, three hours of highly interactive training wasn’t just a compliance requirement. It was risk mitigation, operational efficiency, and — potentially — life-saving.

Because in high-stakes environments, you don’t want people saying, “I think I saw something about that in a video once…” You want them saying, “I know exactly what to do. I’ve done it before.”

The Author

Chris Gaborit is a serial entrepreneur and founder of Learno, an AI-powered eLearning company delivering world-class digital training to Fortune 100, ASX 500, and leading SMEs.

Chris specialises in making learning engaging, practical, and results-driven, blending the latest technology, AI innovation, cinematic videography, and drone footage to create unforgettable learning experiences.

A passionate advocate for using AI to design better, faster, and smarter eLearning, Chris has spent his career helping organisations inspire, educate, and transform their teams. He’s written for The Sydney Morning Herald, LinkedIn, and Fast Company.

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