New worker training: Are you meeting your legal requirements?
Having just said goodbye to your summer staff, your thoughts quickly shift to the upcoming holiday season. It’s time to start planning for seasonal team expansion!
An important reminder for any employer introducing new staff to their team is their legal responsibility to provide health and safety training. And a critically important one at that. Young or inexperienced workers are up to four times more likely to be injured during their first month on the job. A result of:
- an unfamiliarity with safety procedures.
- a hesitation to speak up about unsafe conditions
- stress and fatigue from long hours and high customer volume
Mandatory awareness training: What you need to know
In Ontario, general workplace safety training called Basic Occupational Health and Safety Awareness Training is legally required for all workers, regardless of the type of work they are doing. This training is free online for both workers and supervisors. This training is mandated under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) as part of Ontario Regulation 297/13. This training gives new and young workers an introduction to basic health and safety concepts, including:
- the rights and responsibilities of workplace parties,
- violence and harassment,
- how to recognize, asses, and control common workplace hazards.
In addition, employers are required to provide training in specific areas, depending on the work that will be done. This job-specific training ensures that workers know how to perform their specific tasks safely. For example, if machinery will be used to receive stock, they may need specialized forklift training. If there are chemicals at the workplace that workers may use, they must complete WHMIS training.
Grocery retailers can use the results of a recent industry-led risk assessment to help focus their additional training efforts. Top workplace risks include: musculoskeletal, slips and trips, cuts and lacerations, workplace stress and workplace harassment.
The employer must also maintain documented training records.
“Do not rely on a new worker’s past experience to determine your training needs,” warns Kart Vyas, specialized health and safety consultant with WSPS. “It’s great if they arrive on the job having had training; however, as the employer, you are still responsible for verifying that knowledge and having documentation to prove it.”
Five tips for an effective orientation
“When I talk about general health and safety training, I usually break it down into two groups: the specific training that is legally required, and best practices,” says Kart. “Best practices may help employers in demonstrating due diligence, if put into question. It shows that they are proactively taking steps to protect their workers by going beyond the minimum requirements.”
In addition to training, Kart recommends putting together a new worker orientation that covers the five points listed below. “An onboarding orientation that emphasizes the workplace's safety culture establishes the foundation that creates a healthy work environment for everyone,” says Kart.
- Rights and responsibilities
Explain the rights and responsibilities of each workplace party so that new workers understand their role and the role of their supervisor and employer. - Workplace hazards
Discuss all the hazards a worker may encounter while doing their job—physical and psychological. Review safe work procedures and how hazards will be controlled to prevent injury and illness. - Supervisors
Make sure new workers meet and become acquainted with their supervisor and know how to reach their supervisor if they have any questions or concerns. - Incident or hazard reporting
Ensure new workers are clear on how to report hazards or an incident, including incidents of violence and harassment. - Emergency preparedness
Review procedures for emergency situations, such as evacuation, fire, or a chemical spill, focusing on why they matter, who to follow, what to expect, and what action to take. Include first aid procedures.
Additional Resources
- Top Risks in the Grocery Retail Sector and Root Cause Analysis – The top health and safety risks faced by grocery store workers as identified by frontline workers during risk assessment and root cause analysis workshops.
- Health & Safety Handbook Generator - Quickly produce an employee health and safety handbook that adds value to your orientation training.
- Employee Orientation and Training Checklist – Use this checklist template for managing the orientation and training of workers.
- Training Attendance Record - Monitor safety training attendance with this form.
- Do your workplace supervisors understand their role? 'Due diligence' explained - Do your supervisors understand their legal responsibilities? Do they know the expectation of due diligence? Find out how to set them up for success.
