Archives: HSE ADVICE ON NEW STARTERS
HSE ADVICE ON NEW STARTERS
New information from the HSE state that workers are more likely to have an accident in the first 6 months at a workplace as during the whole of the rest of their work life. The extra risks are due to:
- Lack of experience working in a new industry or workplace
- Lack of familiarity with the job and work environment
- Reluctance to raise concerns (or not knowing how to)
- Eagerness to impress managers and workmates
This means workers new to a site:
- may not recognise hazards as a potential source of danger
- may not understand ‘obvious’ rules for use of equipment
- may be unfamiliar with site layout – especially where site hazards may change from day to day and may ignore warning signs and rules, or cut corners
Six steps to protect workers:
- Assess the new starters capabilities
- Provide a suitable induction
- Make sure that control measures to protect against risk are up to date and are properly used
- Provide relevant instruction, supervision and training concerning the risks new workers will be exposed to and the precautions they will need to take to avoid those risks
- Provide adequate supervision
- Check workers have understood the information, instruction and training they will need to work safely, and that they are acting on it
