Orient, Train & Supervise Workers

Set Your Team Up For Success Through Orientation, Training, and Supervision

A safe workplace starts with setting clear expectations and giving workers the tools they need to succeed, starting on day one. Whether you’re hiring someone new, bringing back a returning worker, or changing roles within your team, it’s essential to provide a strong foundation through orientation, training, and ongoing supervision.

These three stages work together to help workers gain the knowledge, confidence, and support they need to do their jobs safely and effectively.

Orientation: Start with the Basics

Goal: To help workers feel prepared, informed, and welcomed.

Orientation is your first opportunity to introduce new and young workers to your workplace, safety culture, and expectations. It should happen before any work begins and be tailored to the person’s role and experience level. Orientation should include:

• An overview of your Health & Safety Program
• Key workplace hazards and how they’re controlled
• Emergency procedures (e.g., fire exits, muster station points, locations of first aid kits, etc.)
• How to report injuries, hazards, or unsafe conditions
• Who to talk to about health and safety concerns

Don’t forget: a health and safety orientation is required for all new and young workers under BC’s Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.

Training: Build Competence and Confidence

Goal: To ensure workers have the knowledge and skills to work safely.

Training dives deeper than orientation and focuses on the ‘how’. How to complete tasks safely and respond to hazards in real-world conditions. Training should be practical, hands-on where possible, and include opportunities for workers to ask questions. Training topics may include:

• Safe use of tools, machinery, or equipment
• How to wear and care for PPE
• Job-specific hazards and how to control them
• Safe Work Procedures for high-risk and medium-risk tasks
• Psychological health and safety practices
• First aid and emergency response plans

Training should be refreshed regularly and updated when there are changes to the job, the team, or equipment. Always document training to show who was trained, when, and on what.

Supervision: Support that Strengthens Safety Performance

Goal: Reinforce safety practices, catch issues early, and build worker confidence.

Supervision isn’t just about oversight, it’s about support. Good supervisors model safe behaviour, encourage open conversations, and help workers apply what they’ve learned in real time. They’re often the first ones to notice when something’s off, whether it’s a new hazard, a gap in understanding, or a chance to improve how work is being done.

Here are a few simple ways to supervise effectively for safety:

• Lead by example – model the behaviours and attitudes you expect
• Check in often – ask how things are going, and really listen
• Watch for red flags – like changes in routine, new equipment, or distracted workers
• Give feedback in the moment – safety coaching works best in real time
• Encourage reporting – make it easy and judgement-free for workers to share concerns

When supervisors stay connected to their teams and take a proactive approach to safety, it reinforces training, builds confidence, and helps create a workplace where people look out for one another.

Keep it Going

Orientation, training, and supervision aren’t “set it and forget it” tasks. They should be ongoing and evolving within your workplace. Make a habit of checking in after training, updating procedures when needed, and treating safety as a daily priority.

More Information and Resources

Customizable Templates

• Health & Safety Orientation Checklist for General Industry (go2HR)
• Health & Safety Orientation Checklist for Restaurants (go2HR)
• Employee Training Record for Individual Workers (go2HR)
• Employee Training Record for Multiple Workers (go2HR)
• Young or New Worker Orientation Checklist Template (WorkSafeBC)
• Contractor Orientation Checklist (go2HR)
• Health & Safety Program Manual Template (go2HR)

Additional Information

• Training and Orienting Workers (WorkSafeBC)
• Support for Employers: Training and Orientation for Young and New Workers (WorkSafeBC)
• Psychologically Safe Orientation Strategies (People Working Well)
• Supervisor Series – Spotlight on Safety (WorkSafeBC)
• Sample Employee Orientation (CCOHS)
• OHS Regulation 3: 23 New or Young Worker Orientation and Training

Online Training

• OHS Program Fundamentals Module 6: Training and Instruction of Employees (go2HR)
• Safety Basics Health & Safety Orientation Course (go2HR)
• Joint Health & Safety Committee (JHSC) Training (go2HR)

Webinar Recordings

• Building Trust from Day 1: Psychological Safety for Tourism & Hospitality Teams (go2HR & Thriving Workplaces)

Need Help?

We’re here to support you at any stage of the process. Contact us for guidance, templates, or one-on-one support tailored to your business.