Standardize your onboarding process with a new employee safety orientation checklist, ensuring every new hire receives and confirms key safety information. From evacuation routes to PPE protocols, this template gives you a structured format for documenting orientation steps, improving accountability and regulatory compliance. It helps you stay compliant and onboard faster, while making sure you don’t miss important details.
Key elements of the new employee safety orientation checklist
Here are the checklist’s main components:
- Company safety policies: Use this section to walk new hires through your internal safety protocols. This is your chance to highlight your safety culture and the expectations that come with it.
- Emergency procedures: Clearly lay out evacuation routes, emergency contacts, and what to do in case of fire, medical emergencies, or severe weather. This reduces confusion in real scenarios, especially for workers unfamiliar with the facility layout.
- PPE training and equipment use: This covers the proper use of personal protective equipment and any specific tools they’ll need on the job. You can use this to minimize on-the-job injuries and reinforce safe equipment handling.
- Hazard communication: Explain how to identify and report hazards, where to find Safety Data Sheets (SDS), and how to handle dangerous materials. This encourages a proactive approach to workplace safety.
- Incident reporting procedures: This helps your team understand the steps for reporting injuries, near-misses, or unsafe conditions. You’re then better able to respond quickly and track trends across worksites or departments.
Best practices for using the new employee safety orientation checklist
Many workplace incidents happen within an employee’s first few weeks often because of skipped steps or unclear communication during onboarding. A new employee safety orientation checklist helps prevent that, but only if you use it the right way. Here are some tips for making the most out of it.
Start by tailoring the checklist to each role or department. Safety risks vary across job functions, and your checklist should reflect those specifics. A warehouse worker needs very different training than a front office employee, so divide your template into modular sections when needed.
Document completion in real time, not long after. Supervisors should review each item with the employee during the walkthrough. This encourages interaction, questions, and better retention of critical information.
Finally, regularly review and update your checklist. Regulations change, and new equipment shows up, so treat this template as a dynamic document. Outdated forms are one of the easiest ways to miss safety compliance.
Build safer workflows from the start
Set clear expectations from day one with this template, which enables you to document every key step. You can then walk each new team member through site-specific safety steps with precision and confidence. Download this template today and set up a stronger safety foundation, no matter who’s leading the orientation.