For years, employers have hired an employee, walked them to their workstation, told them to perform a task, and that encompassed their total training. That practice has cost businesses countless dollars. Safety starts before the employee ever begins their job. Safety must be incorporated in your company’s hiring process, through background, work history and references checks. Once employees are selected, they must receive safety training before they start their initial work assignment.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Standards require that all employees receive safety training relevant to their job tasks before their initial assignment. While it isn’t easy to find qualified workers in today’s environment, waiting to see if someone will work out is a very dangerous practice. And not providing initial safety training is an invitation for a lawsuit.
While many employers complain about providing training to employees who don’t finish the first week on the job, the problem is that many accidents occur before a worker finishes his or her first week on the job. The reality is that up to 40% of workplace accidents involve employees that have worked at an employer for less than a year, and some reports show that one out of eight workplace accidents involve employees during their first day of work.
In this article we will discuss what initial safety training is required in the pallet and woodworking industry for new hires. When inspecting a workplace, I always ask to review their safety training programs, and many do not have even the most basic programs put together.
Every single employee is required to have the following basic safety training when hired in the pallet or wood products’ industry:
– Written Safety Programs
• Relevant OSHA Standards
• Program Administrator
– State and Federal employee posters
– Close Call, Hazard, and Accident Reporting Procedures
– Emergency Action Plan
• Evacuation procedures; exits and egress
• Fire safety and emergencies
• Fire extinguisher locations
• Fire extinguisher operation
• First aid emergencies
• First aid kit locations
• Emergency eyewash station location
– Hazard Communication
• Globally Harmonized System
• Safety Data Sheets
• Chemical safety
– Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Safety glasses
• Safety goggles
• Hearing protection
• Other PPE related to their position may include: Hard hat, safety boots, safety glasses, hearing protection, welding hood, gloves, face shield, dust masks, respirators, high visibility clothing, aprons, and special clothing.
– Control Of Hazardous Energy / Lockout Tagout
• Lockout-Tagout policies and procedures
• Role of the authorized employee
• Role of the affected employee
• Other employees
– Equipment Operational Safety Training
• Equipment training relevant to their position
• Hazard awareness
• Forklift certification (Forklift operators)
• Infectious Diseases
• Exposure controls and universal precautions
• Safe Lifting Technique Training
Note: Some positions, such as supervisors, millwrights or maintenance personnel will require even more training.
Additional training may include:
• Confined space
• Fall protection
• Hot work
• First aid and CPR
At the top of the list are Written Safety Programs. These are most likely the most important safety program and training documents you will have. I still find employers that do not have any programs put together, and without them, you have no policies and procedures to go by. Your company’s written safety programs are the guides for your safety training program, and one of the first things OSHA compliance will ask you for during an inspection. Written safety programs should be specific to your workplace. You can find basic programs for free online, but make sure that you take the time to make them more workplace specific, and not just a generic program that does not relate to your workplace.
For those that have followed my articles through the years, we have discussed new employee safety orientations a number of times. I recommend that you copy the basic training outline I have provided and place it on a training form. The training components can be checked off and signed by the employee, and their trainer or supervisor, while completing a walkthrough of the workplace, and the safety training. You can also utilize the information concerning safety-related questions all employees should be able to answer in the sidebar on this page.
Each employer should have a new employee training packet put together with handouts and training materials for each of the subjects. Obviously, each job position is not the same, but most all of the training components are relevant, and the specific job description may require more or less in-depth instruction. All training needs to be conducted in a language the worker understands.
Beyond conducting the training, an employer needs to measure comprehension of the material. When providing workplace safety training you should always document the training, and test workers on their knowledge of what they have been instructed. I have put together countless training programs from handout-based training to PowerPoint presentations. In any method, an employee reviews the training and completes the accompanying written review to test their knowledge of the information provided. Materials for most of the training can be obtained online or through OSHA training materials.
The Internet has an endless supply of training materials, and many free videos can be found on YouTube. In most cases, you will not need to go out and buy expensive training materials if you spend a little time on the Internet. Many states have their own Department of Labor and Industries or OSHA websites. Check with your state’s library for free materials. The federal OSHA training library can be found at https://www.osha.gov/training/library/materials
Sometimes it can be good to do a quick assessment of the safety proficiency of your staff. Below is a quick list of some common safety questions that all employees should know how to answer.
Editor’s Note: Jary Winstead is a safety consultant, author and trainer who serves a variety of industries including the forest products’ sector. He owns Work Safety Services LLC and can be reached at SAFEJARY@gmail.com.
14 Safety-Related Questions that Every Employee Should Be Able to Answer
1. Who is the Safety Program Administrator for the workplace?
2. How often does the safety committee meet, and where can the minutes be found?
3. What form must be completed in the event of a close call, hazard, or workplace injury?
4. In the event of a workplace accident, who should the incident be reported to?
5. In the event of a disaster, what plan provides information on what must be done?
6. Where are the fire extinguishers located near your work area? And what do you need to do to properly use them?
7. Where is the meeting location outside of the building in the event of an evacuation?
8. Where are the Safety Data Sheet folders kept? When should you consult these to deal with chemicals and substances in your plant?
9. How many pictograms are in the Globally Harmonized System? What do each mean?
10. When a “Do Not Operate” tag is found on a machine, what do you do?
11. Where are the first aid kits located?
12. What personal protective equipment is required while in the production area?
13. When lifting, you should always lift with your ______ and not with your back.
14. When lifting, you should always bend with your ______ and not with your back.
