New Employee Safety Training

Some employees come on the job with no knowledge of safety procedures and issues. Others have had exposure to safety training, and may even have an OSHA 10-hour or 30-hour safety training certificate. All new employees should undergo safety training . The training will vary according to the type of workplace or the person's job within the company. Each employee should participate in various types and levels of safety training, before and after beginning a job.

Orientation for New Hires

• No matter what type of business the workplace is, employees should participate in an orientation session upon or before beginning work. The basics of the company and job for which the person has been hired should be covered, with a general overview of safety issues regarding the worker's duties. Workers should be informed of the safety training requirements and what training is provided by the company.

  A tour of the facilities is usually included in orientation sessions. The safety-related areas should be pointed out. These include the First Aid office, safety exits, posted emergency exit plans, the office of safety representatives or personnel, safety signs, no-entry areas, and the bulletin board areas where safety information is posted.

General Safety Topics

• Every employee should be introduced to general safety topics, whether in person or through a company's employee handbook. Disaster and fire safety should be explained, as well as disaster and fire reporting and evacuation procedures. How to report injuries, along with alerting management to unsafe conditions, is also important for new hires to know.

  Hazardous areas or materials specific to the workplace or certain areas of the facility should be listed. Chemicals to be noted would include cleaning agents, printer inks and powders, and vehicle maintenance fluids. Risky areas would include forklift truck paths, stairwells, and rooms that contain infectious persons or animals.

OSHA Mandated Training

• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires that employees receive the OSHA 10-hour or 30-hour safety training prior to beginning work. The courses are developed for specific areas.

  General industry would cover offices, schools, hospitals, manufacturing and other workplaces that are not construction jobs.

  Construction is the other area covered by specific OSHA safety training.

  Mandatory topics covered in the training for all industries include the right to a safe workplace, company safety representatives, whistle-blower laws, and the contact information for OSHA and other regulatory agencies. Personal protective equipment ranging from safety glasses and lab aprons to full protection harnesses and welding shields should be discussed.

Job-Specific OSHA Training

• Miners, truck drivers, and longshoremen are some of the specific jobs that OSHA covers by regulations. These jobs would require training that a factory machine operator or a dishwasher at a restaurant would not need. Trainers for the OSHA safety courses must cover specific topics pertinent to every situation a worker will encounter. Before an employee begins work in an area, on a piece of equipment, in a confined space, or on a newly developed job procedure or site, training must be provided.

Record of Training

• OSHA and other agencies can audit a business or facility. It is important to maintain safety training records, most requiring the employee's signature, in the employee files.