U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data indicate employees who have been on the job less than one year are far more likely to be injured than those who have been in their positions longer. Because our industry is composed of a large number of small companies that do seasonal work, employee-turnover rates are relatively high, making new-employee training an especially important, almost-constant concern. Our industry also employs a larger percentage of Hispanic and teen workers than other industries, and these populations present particular safety-training challenges.
Two key reasons new employees are more likely to get hurt are because supervisors think new employees know more than they actually do and new employees often are afraid to ask questions.
The checklist and dos and don’ts below can help your company address these issues and ensure new employees are educated and protected.