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 on the organization’s safety culture, relevant safety procedures, and ensuring they have access to all necessary safety tools and resources. Employers must establish and clearly communicate best safety practices for all critical tasks, ensuring that these practices are well-understood, documented, and readily accessible to new employees. Proactively highlighting potential hazards is another crucial responsibility. Employers should analyze records of prior injuries and identify specific “hot spots” or areas of increased risk on the job site to make new hires aware of potential dangers from the outset . Building positive relationships with all employees, especially new hires, is essential for fostering an environment of open communication regarding safety concerns.

Implementing visual cues, such as providing new hires with distinct vests or hard hats, can alert experienced colleagues that the individual is new and may require assistance or closer supervision regarding safety risks . Employers should ensure that safety training is an ongoing process for new workers and should implement methods to verify their understanding and competency in performing tasks safely. Recognizing and celebrating instances where a new worker demonstrates safety competency can positively reinforce the importance of safety within the workplace .

Utilizing job shadowing or mentoring programs to pair new hires with experienced, safety-conscious mentors can provide invaluable on-the-job guidance and support in adopting safe work practices . Employers must also explicitly demonstrate safe job procedures, potentially using video documentation or other visual aids to ensure clarity and consistency in instruction . Ultimately, employers have a responsibility to create a supportive and question-friendly environment where new workers feel comfortable asking questions without fear of judgment and where systems are in place to protect them from identified hazards.

For further assistance in managing employee-related safety and worker’s compensation claims in your organization you can contact us directly, during business hours, using our chat feature, by phone at 1-844-377-9545, or you can reach us by email at [email protected], and you can always connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.