Safety Orientation Procedure
Document Type: Procedure
Version: 1.0
Last Updated: February 2026
Distribute To: All New Employees, HR, Safety Director
Purpose
Ensure every employee receives comprehensive safety orientation before beginning work on any jobsite. This orientation is MANDATORY and must be documented.
When Safety Orientation is Required
- All new hires (before first day of field work)
- Rehires (if gap > 12 months)
- Transferred employees (site-specific portion)
- Temporary/seasonal workers
- After significant safety violations (retraining)
Orientation Components
Part 1: General Safety Orientation (2-3 hours)
Conducted by: Safety Director or designated trainer
Location: Office or training room
Topics Covered:
1. Company Safety Policy (15 min)
- Safety is our #1 priority
- Stop work authority - everyone has it
- No shortcuts on safety
- Disciplinary policy for violations
2. OSHA Rights and Responsibilities (15 min)
- Worker rights under OSHA
- Employer responsibilities
- How to file a complaint (no retaliation)
- OSHA inspections - what to expect
3. Personal Protective Equipment (30 min)
- Hard hat requirements and inspection
- Eye and face protection
- Hearing protection
- Hand protection (gloves by task)
- Foot protection (safety-toed boots)
- High-visibility clothing
- Respiratory protection (overview)
- When specialized PPE required
4. Hazard Communication - GHS (30 min)
- Chemical hazards in construction
- Safety Data Sheets (SDS) - how to read
- Container labeling
- Pictograms and what they mean
- Location of SDS on jobsite
5. Fall Protection Overview (30 min)
- Leading cause of construction deaths
- 6-foot rule (when protection required)
- Types of fall protection
- Guardrails, safety nets, personal fall arrest
- Ladder safety basics
6. Electrical Safety Basics (15 min)
- Electrical hazards overview
- GFCI requirements
- Damaged cord/equipment reporting
- Lockout/Tagout awareness
7. Emergency Procedures (15 min)
- How to report emergencies
- Evacuation procedures
- Meeting locations
- First aid and AED locations
- Injury reporting requirements
8. Incident Reporting (15 min)
- What to report (injuries, near-misses, property damage)
- How to report (immediately)
- Why reporting matters
- No retaliation policy
Part 2: Site-Specific Orientation (30-60 min)
Conducted by: Superintendent or Site Safety
Location: At the jobsite
Topics Covered:
1. Site Logistics
- Site boundaries and access points
- Parking areas
- Material laydown areas
- Office/trailer locations
- Restroom facilities
- Break areas
2. Site-Specific Hazards
- Current hazards present
- Restricted areas
- Overhead hazards
- Underground utilities
- Traffic patterns
- Crane/equipment zones
3. Emergency Procedures (Site-Specific)
- Evacuation routes
- Assembly points
- Emergency contact board location
- First aid station location
- AED location
- Fire extinguisher locations
4. Site Rules
- Sign-in/sign-out requirements
- Speed limits on site
- Smoking areas (if any)
- Cell phone policy
- Visitor procedures
- Drug and alcohol policy
5. Communication
- How to report hazards
- Chain of command
- Radio/communication procedures
- Safety meeting schedule
Part 3: Trade-Specific Safety (As Applicable)
Conducted by: Trade supervisor or Safety
Timing: Before starting trade-specific work
Common Trade-Specific Topics:
| Trade | Additional Training Required |
|---|---|
| Scaffold Users | Scaffold safety training |
| Steel Erectors | Steel erection, fall protection |
| Electricians | Electrical safety, arc flash |
| Operators | Equipment specific, spotters |
| Concrete | Silica, formwork hazards |
| Roofers | Fall protection, heat illness |
| Excavation | Trench safety, competent person |
Documentation Requirements
Sign-Off Form
Each employee must sign acknowledging:
- Attended and understood orientation
- Received copy of safety policies
- Knows how to report hazards
- Understands stop work authority
- Received required PPE
Retain in Employee File
- Signed orientation checklist
- Date of training
- Trainer name
- Topics covered
- Test scores (if applicable)
Safety Orientation Checklist
Before Orientation
- Schedule training time
- Prepare training materials
- Ensure room/equipment ready
- Have sign-off forms ready
- PPE available to issue
During Orientation
- All topics covered
- Questions answered
- Videos/presentations shown
- PPE demonstrated
- Knowledge check completed
After Orientation
- Forms signed
- Copy of policies provided
- PPE issued and documented
- Site-specific scheduled
- File documentation
Safety Orientation Sign-Off Form
Employee Name: _______________________
Date of Hire: _______________________
Job Title/Trade: _______________________
Orientation Date: _______________________
Trainer: _______________________
Topics Completed:
| Topic | Date | Trainer Initials |
|---|---|---|
| Company Safety Policy | ||
| OSHA Rights/Responsibilities | ||
| PPE Requirements | ||
| Hazard Communication/GHS | ||
| Fall Protection Overview | ||
| Electrical Safety | ||
| Emergency Procedures | ||
| Incident Reporting | ||
| Site-Specific Orientation | ||
| Trade-Specific Training |
PPE Issued:
| Item | Size | Issued | Employee Initials |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hard Hat | ☐ | ||
| Safety Glasses | ☐ | ||
| High-Vis Vest | ☐ | ||
| Gloves | ☐ | ||
| Hearing Protection | ☐ | ||
| Other: _______ | ☐ |
Employee Acknowledgment
I acknowledge that I have received and understand the safety orientation provided. I have had the opportunity to ask questions and receive satisfactory answers. I understand my responsibility to work safely and report hazards. I understand I have the authority and responsibility to stop work if I believe conditions are unsafe.
Employee Signature: _______________________
Date: _______________________
Trainer Signature: _______________________
Date: _______________________
Related Documents
- Company Safety Manual
- Site-Specific Safety Plan
- PPE Hazard Assessment
- Emergency Action Plan
- Incident Reporting Procedure
Software Integration
Safety Meetings App:
- Digital orientation tracking
- Automatic documentation
- Refresher reminders
- Compliance reporting
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