Construction Safety Orientation FAQs
Find answers to some of the most common questions related to construction safety orientation.
What is construction safety orientation?
Construction safety orientation is a part of the construction onboarding process that educates workers on general safety guidelines, as well as site-specific safety hazards. While many construction workers may be familiar with general construction safety guidelines, each job site has specific hazards that everyone should be made aware of.
A safety orientation training ensures everyone understands jobsite safety. Safety training is also required by the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) for new employees. This means that ensuring everyone has undergone any needed safety training—and being able to prove training happened with proper safety documentation—will help you in case of litigation.
What should be included in construction safety orientation?
According to the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearing House, safety orientation training should give an overview of:
Management’s commitment to safety and employee rights
The company’s safety and health programs and policies
Safety and health regulatory requirements
Site-specific information
Hazards and how to correct them
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Verification and evaluation process
Reporting protocols
Employee participation
Emergency procedures
Construction safety orientations should be created with the jobsite in mind, so each orientation will be a little different. That's why all of Raken's checklists are customizable—including this Construction Safety Orientation Checklist.
What are the seven elements of a successful construction health and safety program?
OSHA outlines seven key factors to a successful construction safety program:
Management leadership
Worker participation
Hazard identification and assessment
Hazard prevention and control
Education and training
Program evaluation and improvement
Communication and coordination for host employers, contractors, and staffing agencies
Safety orientation is key when it comes to safety training, increasing construction workers' commitment to safety, identifying hazards, and preventing accidents.
What are the four most common struck-by hazards (or "Fatal Four") in construction?
OSHA's "fatal four" construction hazards are:
Falls
Electrocution
Caught-in/between object(s)
Struck-by object
Safety orientation should cover each of these hazards, as well as how to prevent them on the jobsite.
How can I make safety a priority on the jobsite?
Investing in a quality construction safety management app is a start.
Making time to go over safety protocols is easy with Raken. Raken's toolbox talk software let you plan, deliver, and track attendance for any safety topics. You can bulk schedule talks from the office, too.
Not only do Raken's toolbox talk topics help you plan safety orientations—they also help you plan continuing education on safety. This means ongoing support to all construction workers, letting them know their safety is important—and ultimately decreasing injuries and accidents.