The first 90 days on the job are critical for safety part four
Note: This is the last entry in a four-part series on the challenges related to an employee’s first 90 days on the job. You can read the first here, the second here, and the third here. A lack of experience and familiarity with new work environments and procedures significantly contributes to the heightened risk of safety incidents during the first 90 days of employment. New employees are often unfamiliar with the specific equipment they will be using and the established safe work procedures for their assigned tasks . This lack of familiarity can lead to errors in operation or judgment, consequently increasing the likelihood of accidents. It’s important to recognize that even individuals with prior work experience can be considered “new workers” when starting a new role or joining a new company due to the unique equipment, procedures, and potential hazards specific to that workplace. Inexperienced employees may also react […]
The first 90 days on the job are critical for safety part three
Note: This is the third in a four-part series on the challenges related to an employee’s first 90 days on the job. You can read the first here, and the second here Employers bear significant responsibilities in creating and maintaining a safe working environment for all employees, and these responsibilities are particularly critical during a new employee’s initial period of employment. The safety process should ideally commence even before the employee’s first day. Employers should integrate safety information into job descriptions, postings, and employment boards to provide potential candidates with a realistic preview of the job and its inherent risks . Asking safety-related questions during the interview process serves as an early introduction to the importance of safety within the organization and can help assess a candidate’s safety mindset . A comprehensive onboarding program with a strong emphasis on safety is paramount. This includes providing new hires with thorough training […]
The first 90 days on the job are critical for safety part two
Note: This is the second in a four-part series on the challenges related to an employee’s first 90 days on the job. You can read the first here. Analysis of workplace injury data reveals several common types of accidents that tend to occur more frequently among new employees during their initial 90 days on the job. Understanding these common pitfalls can help employers target their safety training and prevention efforts more effectively. Overexertion is a leading cause of injury for new employees, accounting for 29% of injuries according to data from Travelers. These injuries often result from improper lifting of heavy objects, repetitive motions that new employees may not be accustomed to, or awkward postures adopted without proper training or ergonomic awareness. The high prevalence of overexertion injuries suggests that training on correct lifting techniques and ergonomic principles might be insufficient or not effectively implemented during the initial onboarding period. […]
The first 90 days on the job are critical for safety
The first 90 days of a person’s employment are a pivotal period for both new hires themselves and for their employers. While this time is often focused on getting accustomed to a new role, understanding company culture, and building relationships, it is also a period of heightened vulnerability when it comes to workplace safety. Research consistently demonstrates that new employees face a significantly elevated risk of experiencing workplace accidents and injuries during these early months. In 2021 and 2022, nearly 278,000 employees experienced workplace incidents that resulted in days away from work within their first 90 days on the job, according to Injury Facts, an online source of preventable death and injury statistics compiled by the National Safety Council. The 2024 Injury Impact Report from Travelers, which analyzed over 1.2 million workers’ compensation claims between 2017 and 2021, showed that employees in their first year of employment accounted for 35% […]
International Repetitive Strain Injury Awareness Day
About repetitive strain injuries Over 2.3 million Canadian adults are diagnosed and learning to cope with repetitive stress injuries (RSIs) or musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) each year and this number is increasing steadily. The impact of these injuries and disorders, not only on the individuals involved but on our society as a whole is enormous, which is why the last day of February has been recognized as International RSI Awareness Day. These injuries and disorders can be crippling, seriously affecting the ability to work or even perform daily activities. They often develop slowly, over time and although there is some discussion about the direct cause, it is generally accepted that work-related activities can be a contributing factor to the onset, severity, and location of an RSI or MSD. Who’s at risk? The overuse of muscles in the hands, wrists, arms, shoulders, neck, and back are linked to RSI symptoms. The […]