It’s always tough being the new guy. You’re learning who people are, how to find your way around, and how to do your job. There are so many new things to take in that you’re probably not thinking about safety even though safety should be the first thing you think about when starting a new job.
Most employers will make you go through a safety orientation and/or have you review relevant Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) and One Point Lessons (OPL’s) before letting you onto the job site. Make sure you understand the potential risks associated with your new job and what operational controls have been put in place to protect you (such as required PPE). Make sure you ask questions about anything you don’t understand.
Some of the questions you should ask before starting a new job:
- What are the hazards associated with this work? Are there chemical, electrical, fire, or mechanical hazards I need to be aware of?
- What is the required PPE? Is the PPE provided? Where can I find it?
- How do I protect myself from the job hazards? When do I need to use LOTO? Do the procedures and task-based risk assessments protect me from the hazards on the jobs I’ll be doing?
- Is the work area organized, kept clean and free of spills and clutter? Is there a place for everything and is everything in it’s place? How’s the housekeeping? Are walkways and stairways clear?
You don’t have to be new to the company to be considered the new guy. Transferring to a new role or department and being placed in an unfamiliar situation makes you the new guy again. You’ll be learning new equipment, new processes, new procedures, and you’ll most likely have an experienced worker training you (even if you’ve been with the company twice as long as him\her). That’s ok! This training period is when you have to ask questions so that you can learn to do the job safely and efficiently.
Training a new worker is a huge responsibility as well. As a trainer, you probably think that your top priority is to get the new employee trained quickly enough so that he\she can be left on their own. The top priority should be to train the employee so that he\she can be left SAFELY on their own. A trainer needs to make sure that the employee is trained well enough to complete every job safely. This means that the trainer is not only telling the new employee what needs to be done; the trainer is leading by example and showing the new employee how it’s done.
Poor safety habits can lead to very serious injuries. New employees are trying to absorb a lot of information in a short amount of time. What they will remember most is what they see. If the trainer is cutting corners to save time then the new employee will do the same. “This is how we’re supposed to do it but let me show you how I do it.” Your trainee is watching you. By setting a good example you might just be saving a life.
Until next time – Safety First!