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Tips for safely onboarding new employees

The onboarding process is a critical time for both employers and employees. It's during this time that new employees learn the ropes of their new job, get to know their co-workers and establish themselves in their new roles.

Unfortunately, it's also a time when accidents and injuries can happen. Studies show that new employees are more likely to be involved in a workplace accident than their more experienced counterparts.

So, how can you ensure that your new employees have a safe and productive first few weeks on the job? This article provides you with a few actionable tips for safely onboarding new employees.

A manager welcomes his new employee in an industrial warehouse environment.

Safety tips for the preboarding process

Preboarding refers to the process of orienting and acclimating new hires before their first day on the job. (As opposed to onboarding, which is the process of acclimating new hires on their first day of work.) This can include sending out informational materials, scheduling introductory meetings or providing access to online resources.

It's essential to be prepared for the preboarding process. Here are a few tips to make safety top of mind:

Immediately address new employee expectations

First impressions matter. Research has shown that people make judgments about others within the first one-tenth of a second of meeting them. When new hires arrive on their first day, it's important to ensure they have a positive experience.

One way to do this is to educate new employees on what to expect on their first day. This way, they can arrive feeling confident and prepared, rather than feeling anxious and out of place.

According to a study by Gallup, nearly 88% of employees said that their company's onboarding process was lacking, compared to just 12% who said their companies did a great job with the onboarding process.

To achieve your company being in that 12% category, consider these courtesies when preboarding new hires. Be sure to communicate any safety information they need to know during the preboarding process. This will ensure they are fully prepared for their first day on the job. Specifically, detail any accessible entryways or areas to avoid. This will help them feel more comfortable on their first day and also help to prioritize their safety. This step could be taken care of even further back in the process during the interview stage, especially if the interview is on-site.

By educating new hires on what to expect, you can set them up for success from the very beginning. This will not only help them feel more comfortable, but also help them be more confident and productive in their new role.

Implement an electronic hiring process

Implementing an electronic hiring process has many benefits for your business. Perhaps most importantly, it allows new hires to submit requested records online. This is a great way to improve accessibility for new hires.

Accessibility means that employees can access the information and resources they need to do their job, regardless of their physical location or ability. Accessibility is vital in the workplace because it helps ensure that all employees have an equal opportunity to succeed.

Electronic records may also serve as a safety measure. They can help prevent accidents and injuries by ensuring everyone has the same information.

Electronic records can also help employers track employee performance and compliance with safety regulations.

An electronic hiring process is a great way to improve accessibility and safety in the workplace. Additionally, it can help save time and money by making it easier to track employee performance.

New hire orientation safety tips

When bringing a new employee on board, it's important to ensure their safety in the workplace. Here are some tips for managers to help make the transition safe and successful for new hires.

Make emergency information easily accessible

New hire orientation is an important time for companies to ensure that their new employees are properly trained and informed about company policies and procedures. This includes safety procedures in the event of an emergency.

When planning new hire orientation, it’s important to make sure that emergency information is easily accessible. Designate a person to present the emergency information, have printed materials available or make the information readily available online.

A red exit sign hangs on a concrete warehouse wall.

It is important to be clear and concise. Here are some tips for those presenting emergency information during new hire orientation:

  • Clearly state what the emergency procedures are and where employees can find more information.
  • Emphasize the importance of following the procedures.
  • Provide examples of scenarios where the procedures would need to be followed.
  • Encourage employees to ask questions if they are unclear about anything.

For those attending new hire orientation, it’s important to pay attention to the emergency information that’s being presented. This includes taking note of the procedures in place and where to find more information. It’s also important to ask questions if anything is unclear.

Take note of existing allergies and injuries

When it comes to safety in the workplace, it's essential to be proactive and take note of any existing allergies or injuries that your employees may have. This way, you can prevent further injury and ensure everyone is able to work in a safe and comfortable environment.

You can obtain this information from your employees in a few different ways. For instance:

  • Include a question about allergies and injuries on your new hire paperwork. This will allow employees to disclose any relevant information before their first day on the job
  • Ask about allergies and injuries during orientation itself. This can be done in a general manner, such as asking if anyone has any allergies or injuries that the company should be aware of
  • Ask if anyone has any allergies to certain materials or conditions that might be present in the workplace (such as latex gloves or dust). This will help you identify and clearly mark potential hazards while taking all necessary precautions

If an employee does disclose an allergy or injury, be sure to make a note of it in their file. This will help you remember to take the necessary precautions in the future.

Begin orientation with a review of company safety protocols

Review the company's safety protocols as part of your orientation to ensure employees know what to do in an emergency. Here are some common safety protocols that everyone should be familiar with:

  • Evacuation procedures: In the event of a fire or other emergency, you need to know how to evacuate the building safely
  • First aid: Knowing how to administer first aid can be vital in an emergency situation
  • Emergency contacts: Make sure you know who to contact in case of an emergency, such as the company's security team or the local police
  • Safety equipment: Familiarize yourself with the location of fire extinguishers, first aid kits and other safety equipment so you can quickly access them in an emergency
  • Lagging vs. leading indicators: Ensure employees know the importance of proactive safety and incident prevention, rather than solely reactive measures
A manager walks through safety protocols with his employees. A woman reads an evacuation map that also shows what it would look like glowing in the dark.

Our tip: Use past accident examples and lessons learned in training. And, make training hands-on and in-person whenever possible. This will help to keep new employees engaged and safety topics more impactful.

Following these safety protocols will help keep your team safe in the event of an emergency. If you have any questions about safety training, be sure to ask your supervisor or another member of the company's safety team.

Safety tips for a new hire’s first day

Starting a new job is an exciting time, but it can also be a bit nerve-wracking. You want to make a good impression on your first day, and one of the best ways to do that is by being safe.

Whether you're working in an office, warehouse or other facility, there are some basic safety tips that every new hire should follow on their first day.

Tell new employees where to locate PPE, first aid stations and other safety identification products

As a new employee, it's essential to familiarize yourself with the location of all personal protective equipment, first aid kits and other medical equipment. In the event of an emergency, every second counts, so knowing where these items are located can help ensure a quick and efficient response.

Labeling is also critical in ensuring that everyone knows which equipment is for medical use and which is for safety purposes. In a busy workplace, it's easy to mix up the two, so clearly labeling everything is crucial.

Safety sign telling workers that safety glasses are required in the industrial environment.

PPE signage:

A PPE sign indicates the type of personal protective equipment that is required for a particular job or task. It also provides information on how to use and care for the PPE properly.

PPE signs typically include the following information:

  • The name of the PPE manufacturer
  • The type of PPE (such as gloves, goggles and masks)
  • The size and/or fit of the PPE
  • The date of manufacture
  • Instructions for the proper use and care of the PPE
A sign indicating the presence of a safety shower.

First aid signage:

First aid signage is imperative for worker safety since it shows them where first aid stations are in case of an emergency. While all serving a similar purpose, there are different types of first aid signage for different situations, including:

  • First aid kits
  • Emergency shower stations
  • Emergency eye wash stations
  • Automated external defibrillator and more
A lab technician using laboratory labels created to withstand an autoclave environment.

Laboratory labels:

Used to identify lab specimens, proper labeling in a lab environment is crucial to ensure identification can be met for a variety of conditions and specifications. These label types include:

A worker applying heat-resistant labels to an industrial machine.

Heat-resistant labels:

A heat-resistant label indicates that the product to which it is affixed can withstand high temperatures and harsh chemicals without damage, which is important since lack of identification can lead to hazardous situations for workers.

An array of many orange and teal cables that are all neatly labeled.

Wire and cable labels:

Cable labels are used to organize and effectively install and repair your wires and data lines, among other uses.

These labels, that include wrap-around, heat-shrink and self-laminating, offer crucial identification so anyone working on them can quickly know what that particular wire or cable’s purpose is since cutting or disconnecting the wrong wire could be potentially hazardous to workers.

An arc flash tag is shown on an electrical box.

Electrical labels:

Electrical labels keep your team safe and signal what they need to know about the electrical hazards around them. Whether it be arc flash warnings, conduit or voltage marker symbols for identifying energy sources in an emergency situation, the labels make it clear.

A fall protection is required sign located on storage racks in an industrial warehouse.

Safety signage:

Safety awareness and compliance signs identify specific areas of your facility that pose danger and/or require extra caution. Promote safety and teamwork in your facility — and stay compliant with OSHA regulations — with a wide array of sizes, materials and text legends available for almost any application.

Introduce new employees to the rest of the company

When new employees join your company, make sure to formally introduce them to the rest of the team. This helps everyone feel more comfortable and familiar with one another and can even help increase safety in the workplace. By knowing the new employees and their roles, everyone is better equipped to work together safely and efficiently.

Formal introductions can also start the process of relationship building. This is key to forming new and/or better committees and groups that monitor and enhance safety in the workplace.

Prepare their workspace

Before a new employee's first day, it's important to have their workspace ready. This includes making sure they have the proper safety equipment.

Employee safety is a top priority in all industries, particularly in manufacturing. Employees must have the proper personal protective equipment to protect them from potential hazards. This includes items such as gloves, earplugs and safety glasses.

Having the proper PPE is just one part of keeping employees safe. Employers must also ensure that safety protocols are being followed. This means having regular safety meetings, conducting employee training and maintaining a clean and safe work environment.

Providing employees with the right equipment and following safety protocols can help prevent accidents and injuries in the workplace. This is especially important when it comes to lockout tagout, which means keeping procedures, padlocks and devices at the point of use. This, in turn, can help improve productivity and morale. A safe workplace is a happy workplace!

A warehouse employee puts on protective ear muffs.

Make safety a sustainable, continual process

The onboarding process doesn't end on the first day or even the first week of employment. It's important to continue training new employees on safety procedures throughout their job, whether that’s through annual refresher training or training for new processes or procedures. For companies that lack the time, resources or expertise, Brady Safety Services offers a convenient, trusted way to maintain safety in the workplace.

No matter the method or timing, maintaining a safe work environment is the responsibility of everyone in the company, from management to front-line employees. By following these simple tips, you can help ensure that your workplace is safe for everyone.

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