SOURCE: Chemical Safety Office, Risk Management Department
        109 S. Prospect St.

CONTACT: Ralph Stuart, 656-3068
         RMGTRBS @ UVMADMIN

LAST UPDATE: 9/24/92

A Guide to Training New Workers
 
ItUs your first day at work. You wake up excited, perhaps even
nervous. You report to work, and the rest of the day soon
dissolves into a haze of faces, places and random bits of
information. You fill out forms, meet your supervisor and
co-workers. Then your supervisor turns you over to a RbuddyS who
will show you the ropes. You return ho
 
The confusion and stress that accompany the first days of any job
are the reasons that new employees are more than twice as likely
to have an accident as experienced workers. Lack of experience, a
strong desire to please and hesitation to ask for help all cause
one in eight new employees to be involved in some type of
accident the first year on the job. The first month is the most
critical.
 
These are also the formative days on the job. New employees are
ready to learn and eager to succeed. They are also very receptive
to both structured and informal training, if offered. As a
supervisor, youUre one of the first people new employees turn to.
Your role is to shape their behavior and performance. Training
that stresses safety can be the perfect opportunity for you to
establish rapport with the worker.
 
What Should You Cover?
 
All employee training should include an introduction to the
University. This includes its history, organization and a tour of
the facility. Discuss wages, benefits and personnel policy. ItUs
your job as the supervisor to answer any questions and make sure
employees understand University policy.
 
New employees need to know how attention to safety in their jobs
relates to the overall function of the department and the
University. Include the relevant safety precautions in employeesU
job descriptions and give each new employee a copy as well as any
University safety publications. At every phase of training,
discuss the UniversityUs commitment to safety. Explain safety
rules and emergency procedures. Point out the location of
first-aid facilities. Explain how and when to use personal
protective equipment and how to care for it. Make sure the
employee understands the importance of the procedures. Encourage
new employees to report unsafe conditions to you, as well as any
accidents, even if there are no injuries or property damage.
 
Getting the Job Done Safely
 
Before you begin on-the-job training, there are several
preliminary steps you can take to make the training easier.
 
Determine what type of training an employee needs. If an
employee demonstrates adequate skill, you may need only to review
the entire procedure. Be sure to discuss all the safety aspects
of the job with the employee.
 
Define the specific tasks or procedures youUll address and
review key points in your mind before you begin. This helps you
stay focused so youUll include all the information you want to
cover.
 
Have all equipment and supplies ready and arrange the
workstation properly. This is an ideal time to impress trainees
with the importance of good organization and housekeeping.
 
The first step in on-the-job training is to help new employees
feel at ease. Give an overview of what you want to cover. Let
employees know that some procedures may be difficult or awkward.
Be sensitive to new employeesU uncertainties. Encourage questions
and requests for help. Show concern for the safety and health of
all employees.
 
Describe and demonstrate each step of an operation. Make sure you
include all safety precautions. Explain why a procedure is done
and when. Stand next to the trainees, rather than across from
them. That lets them see the work exactly as it will appear to
them. Stress important points as they come up in the
demonstration.
 
After this phase, ask the trainees to try the procedure and
explain each step as they progress. Coach trainees as they work
and be patient. Expect questions during this process. When youUre
sure the trainees are capable, let them work alone. Assign a
co-worker to help them when they need it. Express confidence in
their ability to produce quality work. Reassure them that their
speed will improve in time.
 
Follow Up Training
 
No training is complete without follow-up. Monitor employeesU
progress often during the first months. Have them demonstrate
their skills. Answer questions, correct mistakes and make sure
they follow safety procedures. You may want to have a follow-up
refresher course for more experienced employees. This will
reinforce your safety message once more.
 
Research shows that when you include safety procedures in new
employee training programs, morale improves and the accident rate
decreases. First impressions can last throughout a career.
Training is an ideal opportunity to make those impressions
positive and to teach safe and productive work habits to all
employees.
 
-Adapted from At Risk!
 
Kentucky School Boards Insurance Trust
.