“The best way to protect new and young workers is to invest in your orientation program,” says WSPS Health & Safety Account Manager Charmaine Mitchell. “Give them the right health and safety information, instruction, tools and support up front. Use this downloadable orientation guide to make sure you’ve got everything covered.”

How to use the orientation guide 

Reviewing the checklist can help you pinpoint gaps in your orientation and training program and your policies and procedures. But first, assemble a team to take on the task. A team approach to reviewing these parts of the form ensures that all hazards are covered. Besides, says Charmaine, “many eyes make it easier.” 

Team members may include senior leadership, HR, supervisors and workers. “If I were an employer, I’d want to have my joint health & safety committee or health and safety representative involved to ensure we’re covering all the health and safety initiatives we should be.”

The new worker orientation checklist also lists essential training topics. Consider personalizing the list to reflect your business. The checklist also guides you through common hazards, job-specific hazards and other work-related information workers need to know. 

Begin your orientation with an overview of the company’s culture, values and commitment to safety. Make the training as comprehensive as possible — don’t assume prior knowledge — and open the door to questions, advises Charmaine. “Sometimes, we don’t as employers take into account the lack of life experience young workers have.”

Complement the orientation with demonstrations of safety techniques and emergency procedures, and a tour of the workplace to meet key players and locate essential items like Safety Data Sheets and first aid stations. 

After orientation is complete, build on the learning with task-specific training, safety talks, refreshers and other means of communication.

Keep a record

When you and participating workers sign off on the checklist, “it becomes an important document to help prove to a ministry inspector that you have done all this great training,” says Charmaine, especially if an incident occurs. But more importantly, it will ensure that young people have a foundation for a safe work life.

How WSPS can help

Resources

• New and Young Worker Orientation Guide
  
• 4 tips to protect young workers — and your business (article)
• 4 ways to support new and young workers (article)
• 15 tips for getting safety messages across to young workers (article)
• Managing Young Workers – What Every Supervisor Needs to Know (pre-recorded webinar)
• Quick Safety Tips: New and Young Workers (video series)
• Show new & young workers that safety is part of your organization's DNA (Trusted Leader Blog)

Consulting

Need more support? Our expert consultants can provide on-site training for your supervisors as you prepare to welcome young workers in your workplace. Connect with a consultant.

Training

• Health and Safety Awareness for Ontario Workers (free 1 hour, eCourse)
• Managing Hazards & Risks (3.5 hours, Online Instructor-Led Training)
• Orientation on Health and Safety for New Workers (1.5 hours, eCourse)
• Supervisor Responsibilities and Due Diligence (4 hours, Online Instructor-Led eLearning)

First Job, Safe Job: Helping parents keep kids safe at work

First Job, Safe Job is a blog created by WSPS for parents and caregivers to access practical safety information and resources they can share with teens and young adults they care about. It provides parents with creative ways to pass on important messages and tips to their kids in conversations that matter.