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% of all claims, even though this group only made up 24% of the total workforce. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also found that 35% of work-related injuries and illnesses occurred during an employee’s first year on the job. And research from the Institute for Work & Health found that employees who are in their first month on the job face a risk of a lost-time injury that is more than three times higher than that of workers with more than a year on the job.

The first 90 days an employee spends on a job are “among the most dangerous times in someone’s career,” Larry Pearlman, president and founder of Safety and Consulting Associates Inc., told Safety and Health magazine. Chris Hayes, assistant vice president of transportation and workers’ compensation risk control at insurance provider The Travelers Cos., noted that many of these injuries can be prevented with proper precautions, training and onboarding. “That first 90 days is critical,” he told Safety and Health. “That’s when you’re cementing that employee’s access to the right safety tools, the right resources, getting them involved in corporate culture, and helping them work through any misconceptions or gaps in communication.”

As we move into spring there is an uptick in hiring in a number of different markets, specifically in the construction industry, the seasonal recreation sector, and the summer job market, so now is the time when employers need to be prepared for what their new employees require in terms of job safety. Understanding the risks, identifying the hazards, meeting safety requirements and addressing the unknowns can all contribute to developing best practices for employers to help avoid work-related injuries and incidents, reducing workers’ compensation claims and mitigating costs.

Note: This is the first in a four-part series on the challenges related to an employee’s first 90 days on the job

Unpacking the reasons: Factors contributing to higher accident rates

Experts say that several interconnected factors contribute to the higher rates of workplace accidents among new employees during their initial 90 days. These factors include their unfamiliarity with the work environment, procedures, and potential hazards. One significant factor is the lack of understanding and familiarity with the intricacies of the operation and established safety procedures. New hires are still learning the nuances of their roles and may lack the implicit knowledge that experienced workers possess. This can lead to unintentional errors or the adoption of unsafe practices as they attempt to perform tasks without a complete grasp of the required safety protocols.

The initial onboarding period often involves information overload and stress. New employees are typically inundated with a large amount of new information, including safety protocols, company policies, and job-specific procedures. This cognitive burden can make it difficult to effectively process and retain crucial safety details. Furthermore, adjusting to a new work environment, getting to know new colleagues, and navigating administrative tasks can induce stress and distraction, increasing the likelihood of errors and oversights that can lead to accidents.

Gaps in communication and misconceptions can also contribute to unsafe actions during this initial phase . New employees might be hesitant to ask questions for fear of appearing incompetent or might misinterpret instructions due to a lack of context or industry-specific jargon. Effective two-way communication is paramount, and any breakdown in this process can lead to employees proceeding with incomplete or incorrect understandings of safety procedures, thereby elevating the risk of incidents.

A key challenge for new workers is their unfamiliarity with potential hazards present in the workplace. They may not be aware of specific risks associated with particular tasks, equipment, or the overall work environment. Hazard recognition is a skill honed through experience, and new employees simply haven’t had the time to develop this intuitive awareness. Consequently, they might not instinctively identify situations or conditions that could lead to injury, making them more vulnerable. Inadequate or incomplete training can also significantly increase the risk of accidents. If an organization lacks a comprehensive and well-communicated safety plan, the training provided to new hires might fall short of equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills to work safely. 

The pressure to perform and fit in can also lead new employees to take unnecessary risks. Eager to quickly become productive and demonstrate their value, they might be tempted to take shortcuts or overlook safety procedures in an effort to impress or keep pace with more experienced colleagues. They might also be reluctant to raise safety concerns for fear of appearing incapable or slowing down the team, further compounding the risk. New hires may have a lack of understanding of their safety rights and responsibilities, as well as those of their employer and frontline leaders. This lack of clarity can hinder their ability to advocate for their safety or to recognize when their rights are being compromised. Empowering new employees with this knowledge is crucial for fostering a proactive safety culture.

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.