Worker Orientation: 8 Essential Topics to Include

How do you ensure a consistent safety message in your subcontract worker orientation? 

These eight topics will ensure workers on your project participate and know exactly what’s expected of them, as well as what to do in the event of an emergency. 

Including the below topics in your worker orientation ensures a clear and consistent safety message to subcontract workers entering the job site. By including the below in your worker orientations, you can ensure on-boarding your workers is a smooth process. 

What to include in your worker orientation:

1. Employer Contact Information 

This information is essential for new workers, especially in large organizations, if working alone or in the field. Employers need to provide their workers with this information to access it in the event of an emergency. 

Information should entail: 

• The names of company managers, department heads, and supervisors 
• Direct line phone numbers and email addresses of the worker’s manager, supervisor, department head(s), and administrative staff. 
• Company contact phone numbers, such as security, reception, and emergency after-hours 
• Company postal address and fax number(s) 

2. Safety Representative Contact Information 

All employers have a duty to appoint a safety representative or committee whose role is to promote and strengthen a health and safety culture to prevent workplace injuries, accidents, and illnesses. During the orientation, new workers should be introduced to the representative and provided with necessary information such as: 

• The safety goals and objectives of the company 
• The procedures for highlighting any work-related issues or concerns 

3. Employer and Employee Rights and Responsibilities 

The employees’ and employer’s rights and responsibilities under the relevant health and safety act should be outlined. Topics encompass:  

• The reporting of accidents 
• Compliance with workplace regulations and precautions to ensure health and safety at work 
• The right to refuse dangerous work and hazard reporting 

4. Health and Safety Procedures and Codes of Practice Related to the Worker’s Assigned Job Task 

Employers must develop safe operating procedures or codes for practice for all job positions and provide new workers with adequate instructions and guidelines on how to work safely. 

Therefore, within the orientation, the company’s procedures and codes of practice related to the new worker’s job should be explained. It is also essential to communicate what is expected of the employee in terms of behaving safely.  

5. First Aid and Reporting Injuries and Illnesses

Employers must establish, maintain, and visibly post all information regarding first aid procedures and best practices. Supervisors must communicate to new workers all information related to first aid, introduce first aid providers, and indicate first aid kits’ location. 

It is recommended that a First Aid Reporting Template or an Injury/Illness Reporting Template be provided. Each template must be based on the emergency needs of the workplace. 

6. Accident/Incident Reporting Procedures 

Orientations should communicate accident/incident reporting to all new workers. Explain the company’s procedure for reporting accidents/ incidents, and provide information regarding whom to contact to make such reports. 

It is both useful and motivating to highlight changes made in the past. This highlights good accident and incident reporting. The employee should understand why it is so important to record, analyze to achieve better safety standards.  

7. Emergency Procedures and Preparedness Emergency 

Emergencies are unexpected and are a vital part of a company’s health and safety management system. The safety representative must:  

• Provide the company’s emergency personnel contact information  
• Review the evacuation plan, inclusive of exit routes, signals, and sirens 
• Encourage new workers to review the plan and attend emergency preparedness training sessions. 
• Give the location of fire extinguishers, eyewash stations, etc. 
• Provide information on potential hazards and exposures 

Additionally, there should be a Q&A session at the end to allow new workers to give their input and recommendations as it relates to the emergency plan. 

8. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Managers should be sure to include their PPE policy related to selecting, inspecting, using, replacing, purchasing, and maintaining equipment in good working order. 

Including these basic topics in your worker orientation ensures a clear and consistent safety message that encompasses all basic aspects of any effective safety initiative. Learn more about how you to successfully on-board your trade workers here.