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Step 4: Provide Health & Safety Training

• New Employee Orientation
• Job Specific Training Safe Work Practices Training
• Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) Training
• Health & Safety Certification Training
• Emergency Response Training

New Employee Orientation - One of the Most Important Things You Can Do

No doubt about the numbers! Statistics show that new employees - especially younger workers - are more vulnerable to accidental injuries within their first few weeks on the job.

Take some basic steps to ensure your new employees get off to a safe and healthy start. As you assemble your team, take steps to:

• Identify the individual's training needs, as well as any barriers posed by language, reading level or special learning requirements
• Ask questions about their understanding of job hazards
• Find out about any prior Health & Safety training they may have
• Make safe work practices a condition of employment
• Provide each employee with a copy of your Health & Safety policy and any other information about Health & Safety where they work
• If many employees speak a language other than English, translate Health & Safety materials into their first language
• Include Health & Safety information in your "new employee" pamphlets or brochures
• Consider assigning the new employee to a safety mentor for an initial orientation period

Job Specific Safe Work Practices Training

Once on the job, every person must be specifically trained to safely use equipment, tools, materials, weights, objects, and any personal protection devices required for their specific job tasks. People learn best by showing, then doing.

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) Training

You have another legal obligation - a special one - to train your employees to recognize potentially harmful chemicals, and use them safely on the job. For more information on how OSSA can help you to meet your WHMIS obligations, check our Product Catalogue and be sure to visit our Fast Track to Health & Safety page as well.

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Health & Safety Certification Training

Health & Safety Certification is required if you have a Joint Health & Safety Committee (e.g. you employ 20 or more workers). To help you with this requirement, Basic Certification Training Kits are available from OSSA.

Emergency Response Training

Imagine what could happen if you, an employee or a customer had a heart attack, a bad fall or a serious cut. What if there was a fire? It's important that people know exactly what to do in an emergency.

1. First Aid Training

You must have employees or managers trained in first aid on site every day to give immediate assistance to sick or injured people. There are many qualified agencies that can provide first aid training. A list of approved first aid training agencies is included in the OSSA Health & Safety Starter Kit. To order a kit, visit our on-line Product Catalogue.

2. Fire/Evacuation Training

Everyone in your workplace should be trained and rehearsed in:

• Location and use of fire extinguishers
• Location and routes to at least two emergency exits
• Location of posted emergency call numbers
• Each individual's emergency response roles and duties

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