1. Safety Orientation
Michael Downey

2. Purpose of this Safety Presentation
This presentation is designed for Safety Professionals, Human Resource Managers and any Manager/Supervisor who is involved in new employee safety/orientation.
The two main issues we will discuss are
How to do the Safety Orientation
Document
DOCUMENT!!!!!
Why do we worry about Orientation?

3. Safety Program All good programs contain these building blocks
Training Safety programs must have training as a foundation
Test the Knowledge of Employees
Knowledge
Dissemination of Policies and Procedures New employees must understand safety applicable to their work
Communication
Putting the plan into action Not only must employees be trained, but there must be a system in place to ensure employees are properly following the plan
Action

4. Comprehensive Safety Program
A Safety program is propped up by these three legs. If one leg fails, the whole program can fail, i.e. an incident.
Safety Program
Education
Action
Communication

5. Comparison of Written and Practiced Safety Programs
Safety Manual (Written)
Field work (Practiced)
Manual States everything that should be said in a safety manual.
Competent Person:
One who is capable of identifying existing hazards
Capable of identifying predictable hazards
Has authorization to eliminate hazards
Make sure your Company is Practicing what it is preaching
Safety Manual collects dust and supervisors don’t use it.
Competent Person is supervisor
Has some training
Does not work closely with workers
Does not stop work.

6. Safety Orientation Topics Hazcom Slips, Trips and Falls Electrical
What to include in Program?
Topics
Hazcom
Slips, Trips and Falls
Electrical
Fire
Emergency Action Plan
Excavation (directed to the worker’s task)
Confined Spaces
Distracted Driving
Rigging
Demo Saws
Working Safely with Equipment

7. Excavation and Trenching
Training needs to fit the Employees’ responsibilities
All employees need basic Excavation and Safety Training.
Employees must understand what makes a trench or excavation unsafe (water, vibration, differing conditions, system not being used properly)
Competent person must be on site (typically the excavator operator). Competent person must know what Class of Soil is present and the proper system used for the safety of workers.
Competent person must not allow employees to work in a trench unless the trench is properly stablilized.

8. Confined Spaces
You are not working properly if you do not have a monitor
Signage must be in place
Employees need to be trained
Permits must be filled out with testing results
All employees must understand what are “acceptable entry conditions”
No one enters a confined space unless a monitor has been used to test the atmosphere
Employees understand Emergencies
How are employees to be rescued.

9. Distracted Driving Workers: Road Users.
These concerns come from both workers and road users
Workers:
Adopt no phone use or have hands free options.
Texting must not be allowed
Road Users.
Flaggers must have proper training.
High visibility attire
Night time adds to safety risks
Go through What If Scenarios.

10. Rigging Safety
Proper Rigging must be provided for workers so improper techniques are not used
Often we work in areas where it is not convenient to run and get proper rigging
Rigging Certification is not required, but it is not a bad idea.
All rigging must have capacity tags
Rigging must be inspected daily
Communication is critical
Watch for pinch points
Do not swing loads over heads

11. Demo Saws Hearing Protection Required Safety Glasses
Respiratory Protection
Gloves
Go through What If Scenarios
Idiot proof directions to employees
Supervisors should remove all excuses from employees

12. Working Around Equipment
Training for operators and employees on foot
High visibility is required. Operators typically do not strike objects that they can see.
Operators need to use caution when working in tight areas and understand where employees are working
Employees on foot need to understand the blind spots of the operators
Employees on foot should assume that the operator does not see them until the operator gives them a nod or otherwise acknowledges their presense

13. New Employee Orientation
PowerPoint Presentations work best with pictures
Workers should not be surprised with conditions in the field.
Make sure to cover all aspects of the work your company performs
Review OSHA standards in order to ensure all applicable training is included
Many citations are given to companies who cannot prove any type of training was given to employees
If work changes, make sure all employees are current with training on the new procedures.

14. Orientation Documentation
Employees retain more when they know they will be tested
The Safety Dept and Field Supervisors should come up with the main items that workers need to understand in the field
Come up with questions. Multiple choice and fill in the blank work best.
Do not cover obscure facts.
Ensure all employees have Stop Work Authority

15. Safety Acknowledgement Form
I hereby certify that I have attended or read Safety Orientation and have been made aware of the following (list is not all inclusive):
Proper attire to wear to the project
No drugs, alcohol or weapons are allowed
Slip, Trip and Fall Safety
Personal Protective Equipment and when to use it
Reporting of any injury sustained during the course of work
Ladder safety
Rigging Safety
Hazard Communication
Housekeeping
Hearing Protection
Lifting and back safety
Tool Use and Safety
Electrical Safety
Welding and Cutting
Fire Protection
Working with Lead
Lock Out Tag Out (LOTO) requirements
Respiratory Protection to include receiving a copy of Appendix D
I also understand that I have "Stop Work Authority." Which means that I have the ability to stop either my work or the work of my fellow employees when I believe there is a serious safety issue present without concern that I may be fired or face disciplinary action.
Employee Signature
Date

17. Conclusion
The main reason for safety is to ensure all your employees go home
The training of employees is not optional, but actually legally required by OSHA.
Not training employees or verifying that they have requisite training can be devastating to the injured, their families, co-workers and the overall health of a company.
Train, test and document!

18. Managing Safety is all about managing Risk—Make sure you are making the most informed decision.
Michael Downey, President
Downey Consulting, Inc.