Safety Tips for Your New Employee Orientation

New employee orientation presents a safety opportunity that shouldn’t be missed! New employees suffer many more injuries than experienced workers, because they have less skill and job knowledge. Even new workers that bring years of experience from their previous jobs are not familiar with your workplace and its unique hazards. Safety orientation is a great way to get new employees onboard, shape their attitudes toward safety, and familiarize them with your policies and programs. It's also your very first chance to teach them about your company, your expectations, and the importance you place on safety. It is the perfect time to set the right tone, letting new people know you care about them and have procedures in place to keep them safe.

Logically, your orientation needs to include a healthy dose of genuine and positive safety reinforcement, as well as some basic information on:

• General workplace hazards
• Specific hazards involved with each task the worker may perform
• Safety rules and policies, including accident-prevention techniques and hazard reporting
• Steps to take immediately following an accident or injury
• The correct way to report accidents and near misses
• Safe lifting techniques and material handling procedures emphasizing the importance of the use of mechanical aids in lifting and moving materials
• Selection, use, and care of personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Housekeeping requirements
• Safe use of tools and equipment
• Hazardous materials in your building and the location of safety data sheets (SDSs)
• Location of emergency equipment like fire extinguishers, eyewash stations, and first aid supplies
• Emergency evacuation routes and procedures

Keep your orientation fresh and fun. Incorporate ice breakers when there is more than one employee so they can get to know their coworkers. Encourage a two-way dialogue so it is less of a lecture and more like training. Also, it is important your orientation includes specific training that emphasizes your company’s commitment to safety.

The content of this document is general in nature and provided to you for informational purposes only. The information is derived from sources believed to be reliable and is offered as a resource to be used together with guidance from your professional insurance, legal, and safety advisors in maintaining a loss prevention program. Acuity assumes no liability by reason of the information contained in this document. If you have a specific concern, you should contact your professional insurance, legal, or safety advisors.