How Often Should You Conduct Employee Safety Training?

Legally, there are minimum requirements for how frequently safety training should take place, but employees that work in hazardous environments could benefit from a more recurrent training routine.

Regardless of the degree of hazard in the workplace, long breaks between safety refreshers can cause employees to forget best practices, making them more susceptible to accidents or injuries. Continue reading to get an idea of crucial times when the topic of safety should be revisited.

New hire orientation

The new hire orientation is an employee’s first exposure to a company’s safety protocols, and arguably the most important. Receiving comprehensive training the first time around will reduce the likelihood of future accidents occurring. Furthermore, employees shouldn’t be permitted to begin performing tasks prior to completing safety training.

New hires are at a higher risk of making mistakes on the job because they lack experience in the new environment, even if they’re well experienced in the field. Thus, making sure that they’re primed to implement safe practices is key to ensuring that themselves and everyone around them are protected. Trainers should be clear in their instruction to new hires, always keeping workplace safety and health in mind.

Annual safety training

At the very least, employee safety training should happen at least once per year. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to conduct safety training annually. There are several reasons for this, one being that employees likely won't remember everything that they reviewed the year prior. Also, if there have been any updates to workplace protocols or compliance policies, it’s essential to make sure that everyone is on board. In addition, some states have their own annual employee safety training requirements. A yearly refresher course helps ensure that everyone knows what they need to know about workplace safety.

New machines, supplies and equipment

Anytime a business acquires new equipment, supplies or machinery, employees should be properly trained on how to safely use them before handling them in their regular duties. This training should also include instructions on what actions to take if they get injured, and how to avoid hazards. The most effective safety training will also teach employees how to safely clean the instruments, how to maintain them and how to troubleshoot problems. The incorrect handling of these instruments could negatively impact more than just staff members, but also the customers or clients whom they serve. For this reason, having new gadgets around the workplace always calls for a corresponding safety lesson.

Workplace incidents

An accident on the job can easily cause fear and uncertainty among employees, especially if it’s unclear exactly what went wrong. In fact, approximately 73% of workers in one study expressed that feeling safe is extremely important to them when they’re at their place of employment. Each incident in the workplace is an opportunity to drive home the message that unfortunate mishaps are a real possibility and that management values their staff’s safety and wellbeing over all else.

Review safety procedures and recommended techniques to avoid a future incident. Discussions should include not only what happened, but also what measures to take moving forward. In addition to keeping everyone safe, a heightened awareness of safety protocols can help businesses steer clear of workplace injury lawsuits.

Final thoughts

Every workplace has risks that are specific to the nature of its operations, so safety training will differ from business to business, and even between departments. Employees who work around chemicals, gasses, debris, biological matter or other potentially dangerous substances may need to undergo additional training, as needed. No matter the industry, employees should be regularly trained to handle both expected and unexpected situations that may arise in the workplace.