Unleashing the Power of Safety Orientations for Outfitters

Did you know that 40% of occupational injuries occur among workers who have been in their roles for less than one year? Minimizing workplace injuries should be top of mind for adventure sports businesses, and implementing safety orientations in the onboarding process can play a major role in making this a priority.

Why Are New Employees More Susceptible to Workplace Injuries?

There are several reasons why new employees may be more likely to experience  on-the-job injuries, including:

• Negative Past Experiences: New hires may have experience working for outfitters that lacked a strong safety culture or failed to provide ample resources, making them less knowledgeable on occupational hazards and mitigation strategies.
• Incorrect Assumptions & Poor Training: Employers may incorrectly assume new employees already have ample safety training or operate under the false concept that those with “common sense” should be able to avoid occupational injuries without training. As a result, these employees may receive little or no safety education, making it increasingly difficult for them to combat potential hazards.
• Decreased Familiarity & Comfortability: New employees are often less familiar with their work environment, job responsibilities and related hazards. For instance, they may not know how to handle dangerous materials or substances, whom to report safety concerns to or how to respond to workplace incidents and emergencies. Making matters worse, new hires hoping to make a good first impression may be less comfortable with reaching out and asking questions, thus remaining uninformed on critical topics.

Remember, even if you’ve hired experienced staff, they’re still new to your company and thus more susceptible to the risk of injury.

Key Benefits of Safety Orientations in Onboarding for Adventure Sports Businesses

Businesses that incorporate  safety orientations in their onboarding processes  can achieve a wide range of benefits, including:

• Bolstered Safety Awareness: Safety training in onboarding processes can help businesses increase new employees’ awareness of their surroundings and associated hazards, giving them the resources necessary to properly protect themselves as soon as they start. From there, these employees will likely feel more empowered to prioritize safety and not be afraid to consult their colleagues or supervisors if they have questions regarding workplace hazards.
• Reduced Costs: Some may believe the costs of implementing safety orientations outweigh the benefits; however, this training is well worth the investment. The initial expenses of developing and presenting these orientations carry a small price tag compared to the costs of occupational injuries. According to the latest data from the National Safety Council, companies pay an average of $42,000 per medically consulted workplace injury. By helping minimize employee injuries, these orientations can also reduce related  workers’ compensation claims  and expenses, providing even greater cost savings.
• Improved Morale & Retention: By providing safety education during the onboarding process, businesses can effectively establish a solid workplace culture and make it clear they value their  employees’ health and wellbeing. It can help demonstrate a commitment to protecting employees, encouraging workers to stay loyal to their employers and limiting turnover rates.

Tips for Conducting Safety Orientations at Your Adventure Sports Business

The information provided during safety education varies based on the work environment and job responsibilities. Here are some tips to consider:

1. Ensure relevant information. Conduct safety orientations that touch on hazards and mitigation strategies specific to the facilities, workplace equipment and employees’ roles.
2. Provide helpful resources. It’s best to include a range of workplace resources (e.g., safety manuals, injury reporting protocols, incident response measures) and third-party content.
3. Make it interesting. Consider using visual presentations and hands-on modules to keep employees engaged. It’s also important to leverage discussions and quizzes to gauge the comprehension of the information being presented.
4. Follow up. Even after employees have been fully onboarded, continually follow up with these workers to ensure they have everything they need to stay safe on the job.

Safe & Secure With CBIZ Adventure Sports Insurance

Incorporating safety orientations in your business’s onboarding processes can help protect new and existing employees alike and reduce on-the-job incidents. For additional risk management guidance and insurance solutions for your business,  request a free CBIZ Adventure Sport Insurance quote  today.

This blog may contain scenarios that are provided as examples only. Coverage is subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy issued. The information provided is general in nature and may be affected by changes in law or the interpretation of such laws. The reader is advised to contact a professional prior to taking any action based upon this information.

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