The Safety Orientation System ensures that all new employees are well-versed in the organization's safety protocols before they begin work. By implementing a comprehensive safety orientation program, employers can significantly reduce workplace incidents and promote a culture of safety from the outset.
Establish a clear new-hire Safety Orientation System policy that defines roles, responsibilities, and procedures for any new hire or any employee who has a change in position.
Conduct a hazard identification evaluation of the work environment using a risk assessment or similar method to identify the company's leading hazards. Identify the top three to five hazards during the first year of participation and continue to evaluate and address additional hazards in subsequent years.
Provide training on workplace hazards, including methods to prevent or minimize exposure.
Provide training on how to report safety and health concerns and near misses.
Provide information on incident and injury reporting procedures, including how to report first aid events.
Provide training on emergency response procedures, as applicable, including evacuations, rally points, head count procedures, lockdowns, shelter-in-place, first aid kits, alarms, spill response, fire response, fire extinguisher use, and bloodborne pathogen procedures.
Post the WSI Important Notice to Workers poster and discuss its contents with employees.
Provide information about the employer's return-to-work program, if applicable.
Provide all OSHA-, MSHA-, and other safety-sensitive training required for the employee's position or assigned tasks.
Mentoring is a process in which mentors share knowledge, skills, information and perspective to foster the personal and professional growth of someone else. There are many terms used to describe the mentoring process. The key objective for new employees is to gain the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to become effective in the organization through mentoring interaction. Program requirements include:
Assign a competent mentor to each new employee and any employee who experiences a change in position or duties
Maintain a list of new employees and their assigned mentors
Document the mentoring process
Collect and document feedback from new employees and mentors on quarterly basis for the first year
Require new employees to participate in the mentoring program for a minimum of one year
Employers selecting the SOS Program for the first time must ensure the safety coordinator and any employees involved in implementation complete WSI's SOS Program online course within the first 90 days of their eligible policy renewal.
LMS Access: Email [email protected] for assistance accessing this course through WSI's Learning Management System.