Practical Initial Instructions
Initial instructions are an important measure to prevent accidents.
What is an Initial Instruction?
The initial instruction is a basic training or briefing that is conducted for new employees to inform them about important safety aspects, behavioral rules, and work procedures.
You should always pay special attention to work areas that pose a high safety and health risk, such as personnel hygiene or forklift driver training.
Responsibility Area
The employer is responsible for conducting initial instructions. In many countries, the employer is legally obligated to ensure that all employees working at a workplace are informed and trained about the relevant safety and health risks. Therefore, conducting initial instructions is an important responsibility of the employer.
The specific requirements for initial instructions may vary depending on the country and industry. However, the employer must ensure that all employees are adequately trained and informed before they start their work. This means that employees must be regularly and appropriately informed about the relevant safety and health risks associated with their work. Furthermore, the employer must ensure that employees have the necessary knowledge and skills to perform their work safely.
It is also important to note that employees themselves have a responsibility for their own safety in the workplace. They must follow the employer's instructions and actively contribute to workplace safety by reporting potential hazards and taking appropriate protective measures.
Appointed Persons
The employer can also appoint a person to conduct initial instructions. One possible person for this is a department manager or a supervisor who has the necessary expertise and experience in occupational safety and health protection.
However, it is important to note that the employer is ultimately responsible for conducting initial instructions. If a supervisor is tasked with conducting the instructions, the employer must ensure that the person has the necessary training and experience to conduct the instructions appropriately. The employer must also ensure that the content of the instructions complies with legal regulations and the specific requirements of the workplace.
What Measures Need to Be Taken?
Various measures can be taken during the general initial instruction for new employees to provide them with basic information and guidance. Here are some possible measures:
- Welcome and Introduction: A warm welcome and introduction to the company, work environment, and team. Information about the company culture, values, goals, and organizational structure.
- Safety Briefing: A comprehensive safety briefing covering key safety aspects in the workplace. This includes potential hazards, emergency procedures, behavioral rules, and the use of safety equipment.
- Workplace Tour: A tour of the workplace to show new employees the different areas, departments, and facilities. Explanation of specific work areas and relevant safety and hygiene regulations.
- Introduction to Company Policies: Explanation of applicable company policies and procedures, such as code of conduct, working hours, break regulations, reporting procedures for accidents or incidents, and data protection regulations.
- Introduction to Tasks and Responsibilities: Clarification of the tasks and responsibilities of new employees. Explanation of performance expectations, work processes, reporting lines, and teamwork.
- Training on Work Procedures and Techniques: Training on specific work procedures, techniques, and tools that are relevant to the new employees' job. This may vary depending on the job role, such as introduction to specific software programs or machine operation.
- Introduction to Company Resources: Information about available resources and support facilities, such as training programs, training materials, mentoring programs, internal.
- Question and Feedback Sessions: Opportunity for new employees to ask questions and provide feedback. This can be done through individual discussions, group discussions, or feedback forms to ensure that any uncertainties are clarified and employees feel comfortable and supported.
The specific measures and content of the general initial instruction may vary depending on the company, industry, and position. It is important to ensure that the initial instruction is effective, informative, and interactive to provide new employees with a good start in their work environment.
Implementation Methods
There are various implementation methods for initial instructions that can be used differently depending on the company, industry, and workplace. Some common methods are explained below.
Lecture
The lecture method is one of the simplest and most commonly used methods for conducting initial instructions. In this method, a person, usually a safety officer or a supervisor, gives a lecture on the relevant safety and health risks in the workplace, as well as the necessary protective measures.
Advantages
- Simple and quick to conduct
- Suitable for smaller groups or individual employees
- Opportunity for direct exchange between the speaker and participants
Disadvantages
- Monotonous and potentially boring
- May not be as effective in imparting practical skills and experiences
Training & Workshops
Training sessions and workshops can also be used to conduct safety instructions. Participants are offered interactive learning methods such as group work, discussions, role plays, or simulations to enhance their understanding of the relevant safety and health risks.
Advantages
- Interactive learning methods increase the attention and understanding of participants
- Imparts practical skills and experiences
- Opportunity for direct exchange and discussion
Disadvantages
- More complex to organize and conduct
- More expensive than other methods
- May not be suitable for all employees (e.g., language barriers or cognitive limitations)
E-Learning
E-learning platforms can be used to offer safety instructions online. Employees can undergo instructions and tests to improve their knowledge and skills related to occupational safety and health protection.
Advantages
- Available anytime and anywhere, allowing learners to learn at their own pace and schedule and review the material at any time.
- Often more cost-effective than training sessions and workshops, especially when it comes to instructing employees at different locations.
- Can be easily and quickly deployed for any number of participants.
- Easily customizable to the specific requirements and needs of participants
- Progress of participants can be tracked to verify if they have successfully completed the instructions.
Disadvantages
- May not be as effective in imparting practical skills and experiences
- May not be as interactive and motivating as other methods
UMO by d-simple
A cloud-based learning platform specifically designed for employee training in companies. It offers a wide range of features and tools that can assist companies in conducting safety instructions. Here are some ways we can help:
Templates
Library of templates that can help create and deploy instructions more quickly.
Design
The UMO Designer allows you to create interactive modules by simply adding and customizing text, images, videos, and other elements.
Management
Enables the planning, organization, and management of instructions for any number of employees.
Date Control
Provides tools for monitoring and tracking progress.
Accessibility
Accessible anytime and anywhere, allowing employees to learn flexibly and independently of time constraints.
Archive
Useful tool to ensure that you have a record of all conducted instructions and can access them when needed.
If you would like to learn more about how UMO can help make trainings in your company more effective and efficient, please visit our product page.
We have created a guide for you that explains the process of creating an instruction. The guide is designed to be informative and easy to follow, and can be accessed here
Example Instruction
Experience our example instruction - an interactive training that provides practical insights into our UMO training platform by d-simple. Click "Open" to test the instruction.
For more highlights and interesting information, please refer to our detailed product description.
You can find more answers to your questions in our FAQ section. Or simply ask your question directly to d-simple via the contact form.