These days, too many companies have short-circuited their "new employee safety orientation." They have either substantially shortened the time employees are in "safety orientation" or, worse, changed the format from face-to-face to a CBT format using information that is NOT even specific to the site-specific safety programs/practices.

And then they call me and ask, "Why do our employees doubt our safety efforts?"

Will Rogers said it best when he said...

"You never get a second chance to make a good first impression."

The new employee orientation is much more than simply a "check the box" safety training to satisfy some government regulatory requirement(s). It is our opportunity to lay the foundation for building TRUST with these new employees and to bring CREDIBILITY to the safety process/SMS that is there to protect THEM - NOT the business's liabilities!

Take the time to do this orientation well; it will have a lasting impression on these new employees, from which we can build trust and credibility.

Doing this orientation poorly will have a lasting impression that we will spend years trying to overcome.