Compared with ten years ago, employees report workplace injuries 18% earlier in their tenures. In 2020, at least 114,430 new workers with a tenure of fewer than three months reported a workplace injury that was serious enough to require time off from work, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Most commonly reported injuries included falls, slips and strains.

Are you including safety training in your onboarding and general training programs for all employees? An essential part of the onboarding program is sharing the organization’s risk management and safety culture and setting expectations with a new employee. The program should include opportunities for the new employee to demonstrate mastery of the subject matter while still under direct supervision. This allows management to proactively identify and close knowledge gaps.

Implementing a formal buddy system for at least six months is also recommended. This buddy system will not only assist in helping the new employee understand the safety procedures but also serve as a mentor and resource to answer other questions the new employee might have.  The person chosen as the buddy must serve as a daily reminder, reinforcing best practices and the organization’s overall risk management and safety culture.

Having risk and safety/health goals for managers which impact their performance evaluation will also ensure a focus on new and established employee workplace injury statistics.