What should a safety orientation cover?

Site rules, PPE, the hazards of the job, emergency plans and how to report an injury or a near miss. Your site's hazards and your company's procedures decide the rest, so add lines for them.

Does an orientation replace job-specific training?

No. An orientation gets a new worker through the gate safely. Training for forklifts, lifts, lockout and other tasks is separate and has to be done before they do that work.

Who should give the orientation?

Someone who knows the site, usually the supervisor or safety lead. Your company decides who, and the rules that apply to you may set requirements, so check the current rule.

Free template

A safety orientation checklist for a new worker's first day.

Cover each line with the new worker before they start real work. Check it off as you go and have them sign at the bottom. Print the sheet or save it as a PDF.

Also calledSafety orientation checklist, New employee safety orientation, Site orientation checklist, Day one safety checklist

See the sheet All free tools

Free to print, copy and change. It’s a starting point. Add the lines your equipment and your rules need.

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New hire safety orientation checklist

New worker name

Start date

Site or location

Job title or crew

Supervisor

Orientation given by

Site and rules

PassFailN/A

Site layout, entry points and where to park
Where the restrooms, break area and water are
Who the supervisor and safety lead are
Site rules and what gets a person sent home
Stop work authority: anyone can stop unsafe work
Drug and alcohol policy, if your company has one

Hazards and gear

PassFailN/A

PPE required on this site and how to wear it
PPE issued, fitted and signed for
Hazards of the work they'll do first
Chemicals on site and where the safety data sheets are
Lockout and tagout, if the job involves it
Equipment they aren't allowed to run until trained
Training they still need before certain tasks

Emergencies and reporting

PassFailN/A

Emergency exits and the assembly point
What to do in a fire, a spill or a severe storm
Where the first aid kits and extinguishers are
Who is trained in first aid on this site
How to report an injury, even a small one
How to report a near miss or a hazard
Who to call and the site address for emergency calls
Worker had the chance to ask questions
Worker signed and dated the sheet

Defects found and action taken

Taken out of service? Yes NoReported to

Inspector signature

Date

Supervisor review

Date

A starting point. Adapt it to your equipment, your procedures and the rules that apply to you.Free template from portalbaseai.com

How to use it

Three habits that make it worth filling out.

Step 1
Do it before real work
Run the orientation before the new hire touches a tool or enters a work area. Walk the site with them, don't just sit in a trailer.
Step 2
Ask them to say it back
Ask where the exit is and who they call. A nod doesn't tell you what they took in.
Step 3
Keep the signed sheet
File it with their training record. Note any training still owed, with a date for it.

Do this on a phone instead of paper.

Give orientation on a phone, with the new worker signing on the screen. It works with no signal, and any training they still owe gets assigned.

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Common questions

What should a safety orientation cover?: Site rules, PPE, the hazards of the job, emergency plans and how to report an injury or a near miss. Your site's hazards and your company's procedures decide the rest, so add lines for them.
Does an orientation replace job-specific training?: No. An orientation gets a new worker through the gate safely. Training for forklifts, lifts, lockout and other tasks is separate and has to be done before they do that work.
Who should give the orientation?: Someone who knows the site, usually the supervisor or safety lead. Your company decides who, and the rules that apply to you may set requirements, so check the current rule.

Related and more free tools

Free tool

A safety orientation checklist for a new worker's first day.

New hire safety orientation checklist

Site and rules

Hazards and gear

Emergencies and reporting

Three habits that make it worth filling out.

Do it before real work

Ask them to say it back

Keep the signed sheet

Do this on a phone instead of paper.

Get new free tools by email.

Common questions

Related and more free tools

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