7-2. Designing and Implementing a Safety and Health Education Program for New Employees

Rookie employee safety and health education is a foundational element of a company's EHS (Environmental, Health, and Safety) activities. It is a vital initiative for quickly ingraining a safety culture. The training that takes place right after an employee joins the company is an important opportunity to form the behavioral standards and values that will shape how they perform their duties moving forward. In particular, from the perspective of preventing occupational accidents and reducing health risks, a planned and effective educational program design and implementation are required.

1. Basic Policy for Educational Program Design

In rookie employee education, the first step is to instill the company philosophy that "safety is the top priority." After that, basic content such as legal compliance, risk assessment, understanding safety procedures, and emergency response should be systematically incorporated. It is effective to combine classroom learning with practical on-the-job training to link knowledge with practice. Additionally, customization according to industry and job type is essential, requiring the implementation of training that is tailored to the specific workplace.

2. Practical Points to Enhance Effectiveness

To maximize the effectiveness of training, it is important to shift from passive learning to proactive, participatory learning. For example, by incorporating group discussions and case studies, the process of thinking for oneself and sharing with colleagues leads to a more ingrained safety awareness. Furthermore, simulated experience training that utilizes VR and other simulations allows employees to experience the reality of danger, enhancing their ability to predict risks.

3. Follow-up and Continuous Education

Rookie employee education does not end with initial training; follow-up after on-site assignment is essential. By establishing a system where senior employees provide guidance in an OJT (on-the-job training) format and conducting regular review sessions, it is possible to make safe behavior a habit. Additionally, learning in the workplace can be reinforced by sharing near-misses and participating in KYT (Kiken Yochi Training, or danger prediction training).

4. Integration of Management and On-site Staff for Establishment

To sustain the effects of education, it is important for management to clearly demonstrate a safety-first attitude while also maintaining a system where on-site managers routinely check on and guide safe behavior. It is essential to create an environment and provide organizational support so that rookie employees can practice what they have learned in their daily work.

Summary

The safety and health education program for rookie employees is the starting point for fostering a company's safety culture and is an initiative that is directly linked to the prevention of occupational accidents. By designing systematic educational content, using methods that encourage proactive learning, providing continuous follow-up, and ensuring integrated support from both management and on-site staff, rookie employees can quickly establish safe behaviors and improve the overall EHS level of the entire organization.