NEW EMPLOYEE SAFETY ORIENTATION TUTORIALS AND TIPS

For employers with a safety manager, the manager can conduct the classroom part of orientation/training, prepare all the training materials (handouts, forms, checklists, lesson plan, etc.), conduct the employee evaluation, and maintain all documentation. The facility supervisor(s) can conduct the on-the-job training and observation, and determine when the employee is çéady for the evaluation.

For employers or departments without a safety manager, the company safety committee can share responsibilities for conducting the job hazard analyses and the training program. The safety committee can put together the orientation/training materials, conduct the "classroom" training, and keep records. The department where employees will work can conduct the hands-on training.

During the orientation period, introduce new workers to all the basic safety information that applies to their work areas, such as:

• General hazards in the work area;
• Specific hazards involved in each task the employee performs;
• Hazards associated with other areas of the facility;
• Company safety policies and work rules;
• Proper safety practices and procedures to prevent accidents;
• The location of emergency equipment such as fire extinguishers, eyewash stations, first-aid supplies, etc.;
• Smoking regulations and designated smoking areas;
• Emergency evacuation procedures and routes;
• Who to talk to about safety questions, problems, etc.;
• What to do if there is an accident or injury;
• How to report emergencies, accidents, and near misses;
• How to select, use, and care for personal protective equipment;
• Safe housekeeping rules;
• Facility security procedures and systems;
• How to use tools and equipment safely;
• Safe lifting techniques and materials-handling procedures; and
• Safe methods for handling, using, or storing hazardous materials and the location of material safety data sheets.

Orientation programs can be updated and refined by reviewing accident near-miss reports. Near-miss reports offered early warning signs of new or recurrent hazards in the workplace that must be corrected before someone gets hurt or equipment is damaged.

An evaluation of illness and injury reports are also a catalyst for changes in safety orientation and training programs. Orientation can involve several ley els of new employee involvement, from awareness information to formal training programs.

Awareness orientation/training informs employees about a potential hazard in the workplace and their role in responding to the hazard, even though they are not directly exposed to the hazard. For example, "affected" employees can be told about locks and tags for electrical systems without being trained how to implement the lockout/tagout program.

It is useful to rely on a checklist to ensure that appropriate safety orientation is provided to new workers. These checklists should be modified to fit the needs of the organization or site.