Training new workers
Are your newest hires trained to work safe?
New employees are usually eager to get to work and show their value to their boss and co-workers. While many pride themselves on being a “quick study,” as a supervisor or manager, making sure they’re familiar with on-site safety procedures and work practices can be a much better place to start with your new or young workers.
You are responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace
As an employer, you’re responsible for the health and safety of your workers. Having orientation and training programs in place and documenting your staff’s participation are good ways to ensure that everyone receives consistent training. “Employers should feel confident that their workers have learned safe work procedures and are well-trained to do their jobs," says Glen McIntosh, manager, new and young worker and small business with WorkSafeBC. "After training, get workers to show you, or tell you, how to do each task."
McIntosh's advice can open up a dialogue with new employees who may be afraid to speak up. Newer hires want to be seen as competent in their new roles and may prefer to try the tasks for themselves, but often lack the experience and training required to stay safe on the job. Training for young workers —age 15 to25 — is especially important as over half of all their serious injuries will occur during the first six months of employment.
What you can do to help
There are a number of components to young and new worker orientation and training. Here are three key steps to help prevent workplace injuries:
- Use a checklist
This can make the orientation easier to follow and more thorough. It can also serve as a record of employee training. Here’s a sample checklist that you can customize to meet the orientation needs of your workplace. - Train young and new workers with particular focus on:
- Performing tasks safely
- Operating machines and equipment safely
- Using and maintaining any required personal protective equipment, such as gloves or goggles
- Following safe work procedures
- Document and replay
Have your workers show you how to do the task after training. This helps you ensure that they can do it safely. It’s also important to document your workers’ training and keep it with their files.
Training, turnover, and teamwork
Training for safety is an important part of the larger new employee orientation program: it helps keep your workers safe and decreases their chances of getting injured. McIntosh points out another positive side effect of a solid training program: confident and skilled employees who are well versed in company procedures may also be more engaged employees. "While safety rests with the employer, contributing to a safe and healthy work environment is a shared responsibility of staff and management," says McIntosh. "All workers have the right to participate in safety programs, and highly engaged staff are able to be contributing members of a Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee."
We have many resources online available for download, as well as information packages available by request:
Small Business Health & Safety Log Book
Sample Worker Orientation Checklist
How to Implement a Formal Health and Safety Program