Whether it is hiring a student, intern, or new employee, there are specific steps employers need to take to reduce the risk of a new worker becoming injured or ill at work.
- Prepare your supervisors and others working nearby. Ensure supervisors have the support needed to effectively manage new workers and assign them to less risky work to start. Evaluate hazards in the work area and put control measures in place before the new worker begins.
- Frequently encourage new workers to ask questions. They may be less likely to ask questions at first in order to impress their boss.
- Provide orientation and training. Ensure to review workplace-specific procedures with new workers such as how to report hazards, whom to report hazards to, and emergency response procedures. Ensure you also provide many of the mandatory training requirements to them such as Worker Health and Safety Awareness, Workplace Violence and Harassment, and more.
- Take it slow and prioritize the orientation information provided to new workers. It's easy for new workers to feel overwhelmed by the information provided in the first few days on the job. Chunk sections, prioritize and deliver this information to them over a longer period of time.
- Have the supervisor and new worker identify hazards and risks on the job together.
- Show them how to perform the work safely, watch them, ensure they understand, and continuously supervise them.
- Keep records and documentation of your new worker orientation efforts.
For more details on ways to help keep new workers healthy and safe on the job, read more in our article Keeping new workers healthy and safe at work.
WorkBright??can help you develop an orientation program tailored to the unique needs and hazards of your business, ensuring your supervisors and new workers develop the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary to reduce the risk of incidents. Contact us to learn more.
