How Often Should Workplace Safety Training Be Delivered

When it comes to taking care of your employees, workplace safety is the first thing you should do. The training for the safety of the workplace should be conducted regularly to stay safe from any accident. In fact, the CDC claims that safety training reduces workplace injuries by at least 62%.

It is not wrong to say that workplace safety should be the utmost priority of any organization. It can be made possible with a leadership committed to the safety of their employees and regular workplace safety training.

Why Is Workplace Safety Training Important

The safety of a workplace is required to ensure a hazard-free and safe workplace that provides an environment where workers can focus on routine tasks without any danger and fear.

The requirements of safety training vary from industry to industry or on the kinds of hazards, but below are the main guidelines that every business should implement for a safe work environment and hopefully will help answer the question about how often should workplace safety training be delivered.

1. Pre-Employment Orientation

2. Yearly Safety Training

3. Special Training On New Equipment And Procedures

4. Training For Documenting Workplace Accidents

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1. Pre-Employment Orientation

The first important thing for the safety of your workplace is to provide initial safety training to your employees as it lays out the foundation for safety protocols in an organization. Make it a part of the orientation process so that it would make new employees mentally and physically ready.

This one-day orientation training can make the newly hired employees understand the importance of safety procedures. Safety training before getting into work is required for various jobs that involve any level of risk.

This pre-employment orientation training includes training to handle equipment safely, the safe way of performing a task, the safe way to handle and dispose of hazardous material, medical response training, hazardous material training, and more. For instance, how to use the fire extinguisher, familiarity with the layout of the workplace, so employees know emergency exits.

You can hire a specialized trainer or ask managers/supervisors to make sure that all the company employees, including permanent and temporary employees, have the skills they require to remain safe on the job.

The Pre-Employment orientation includes a safety manual as well.

Safety Manual

Organizations must provide a safety manual in addition to the initial training so that your newly hired staff has a guide to refer to when they have queries. A safety manual can either be a handbook or an online document.

The carpet cleaning industry gives initial training to its employees about work and safety. The industry also provides safety manuals to its workers for future references. The safety manual contains guidelines for properly handling hazardous chemical and machinery used in industrial cleaning along with best practices and medical emergency responses.

2. Yearly Safety Training

For the safety of your workplace, it is essential to refresh safety training after a year. However, the renewal period can vary from industry to industry. For most industries, an annual revisit of workplace safety training is sufficient.

For instance, flying crews have to take workplace safety training annually to refresh safety protocols and procedures. They must pass the exam to fly according to the rules and conditions set by the Civil Aviation Authority.

An annual workplace safety refresher is important for all employees - from executives to administrative employees. It is essential for all employees, irrespective of whether they are directly or indirectly involved in the core business activity.

Regular safety training for the workforce is often mandated by the government. If companies initiate them voluntarily, it shows that you are concerned about the safety of your workers which increases the morale of the staff as well.

3. Special Training On New Equipment And Procedures

An external change often calls for internal organizational change. An organizational change can be a change in the structure, hierarchy, policies or procedures, culture, technology, or even workplace safety.

It is important to train your employees before any change within the company. This additional training is live-saving. In case of any changes in the procedure for workplace safety, it should be communicated to the staff, and they should be trained accordingly.

4. Training For Documenting Workplace Accidents

Even after providing a safe workplace and initial training to your staff, accidents can still occur. In case an accident has occurred, a review and documentation of the situation are essential so that necessary steps can be taken to avoid a similar incident in the future.

This training should not only identify and discuss the root cause behind the incident, but it should also mention the changes required to move forward. This ensures everyone knows about the incident and that every employee is aware of it. Transparency is essential to employee safety, as well. If employees know that someone got hurt not following protocols, they are more likely to follow it.

Being a business owner or a leader, you must show that you value the lives of your workers. Also, show your commitment to workplace safety, and discuss how the workplace hazards can be minimized. Employee training to avoid workplace hazards is essential as it prepares your staff to handle any hazardous situation without creating panic.

Final Thoughts

The safety of your workplace is important if a business wants to retain its employees for longer. This is the first thing you should do. It is also important to provide a hazard-free and safe working place to your employees to make them feel valued and increase their morale.

When hiring a new workforce, give them initial training and orientation to make them ready for work. Brief them on the safe use of equipment, tools, and hazardous material. Provide them medical response training.

Safety training of your staff should be refreshed every year. It is important to value your workforce today, to make them more productive in the future.

A safe workplace is important for every organization-what is your safety training policy?

Author Bio:

Shaheryar provides ghostwriting and copywriting services at Assignyourwriter in the UK. His educational background in the technical field and business studies helps him in tackling topics ranging from career and business productivity to web development and digital marketing. He occasionally writes articles for Carpet Cleaning Stevenage.