10 Essential Safety Tips for New Starters

• Learn emergency procedures before starting work.
• Know fire exits, alarms and assembly points.
• Always use personal protective equipment (PPE) correctly and report if it’s damaged or doesn’t fit.
• Set up your workstation to prevent strain and injury.
• Keep work areas tidy to prevent slips, trips and falls.
• Handle electrical equipment with care and never take risks.
• Follow safe practices when working with chemicals.
• Report near misses to help prevent future accidents.
• Use proper lifting techniques and equipment for manual handling tasks.
• Speak up if you feel stressed or overwhelmed.

A lack of familiarity puts new starters at risk. Experienced colleagues better understand the environment, equipment and procedures. In the time it takes to build a similar level of awareness, new starters are statistically more likely to be involved in a work-related accident.

These simple safety tips for new starters can help you avoid accidents, build good habits and make the most of the training and support provided by your employer.

Emergency actions should be outlined in your company’s health and safety policies. Before starting any task, make sure you’re aware of them.

Know where the fire exits are and learn the escape routes. Find out who the fire wardens are, since they’ll lead evacuations. Identify the first aiders, too, and where the first aid kits are located.

Fires spread fast.

Know where the fire alarms and extinguishers are. Ask about the types of extinguishers in your workplace and what they’re for.

If there’s a fire, raise the alarm, evacuate and follow the established procedure.

Some general advice on fire safety:

• Don’t use water on electrical fires.
• Don’t block fire exits or wedge open fire doors.
• Never cover smoke detectors.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) can save lives and prevent serious harm.

Hard hats, gloves, goggles, ear defenders, safety shoes – whatever equipment is relevant to your job, you should always use it as instructed.

But never wear PPE if it’s damaged or doesn’t fit. Report it immediately and wait for a replacement. Your employer has a legal duty to provide adequate PPE if it’s needed for a task. They can’t ask you to start work without it.

Setting up your work area poorly can lead to back pain, neck pain or, eventually, more serious musculoskeletal disorders, such as carpal tunnel syndrome or tendonitis.

If you do a desk job that involves using a computer or screen, you should:

• Adjust your chair so your knees are level with your hips and feet flat on the floor.
• Position your screen at eye level to avoid bending your neck.
• Keep your back straight and supported.
• Place your keyboard so your elbows stay close to your body and your wrists stay straight.

If you’re on a production line or doing manual tasks, change positions regularly and avoid repeating the same movement for too long. Your employer should rotate tasks to prevent repetitive strain and allow sufficient rest breaks.

Slips and trips are the most common workplace accidents, accounting for 31% of all non-fatal injuries to employees in the last year.

To protect yourself and others from these incidents, you must:

• Keep work areas tidy – don’t leave bags, tools or trailing cables on the floor.
• Clean up spills immediately or report them.
• Respect wet floor signs and go around any damp areas.
• Avoid running.
• Wear shoes with a good grip.
• Stay alert on stairs and heights.

Remember, one careless moment can lead to weeks off work, or worse.

Electricity can kill.

Here are a few safety pointers to remember:

• Never touch exposed wires or attempt repairs unless trained.
• Always check plugs, sockets and cables for obvious damage before using equipment.
• Don’t overload sockets.
• If a machine sparks or smells odd, stop using it and report it.
• Make sure that liquids and electricity never come in contact with each other.
• Stay alert around electrical equipment and treat it with caution.

Following these steps can stop accidents before they happen.

Some workplaces use cleaning fluids, solvents or other chemicals. Learn how to handle them safely.

Always follow instructions.

• Read the labels.
• Understand the warning symbols.
• Ensure proper ventilation in areas where there are chemicals.
• Wear the correct PPE such as gloves, goggles and masks.
• Know what to do in case of spills or exposure.
• Never mix chemicals unless trained to do so.

Handle chemicals the way you’ve been trained. Your employer should already have implemented safe procedures and precautions to protect you and others around you.

You might come close to being involved in an accident, but not actually hurt. Even if you’re not harmed, you should report these near misses.

It’s possible you missed a vital step in a procedure, or there’s a hidden risk unaccounted for.

Reporting these events will help prevent a real accident. It’s not complaining, it’s helping to protect yourself and others. And your line managers should appreciate your input, because it will help them make the workplace safer.

Manual handling is one of the leading causes of work-related injuries.

In your first weeks on the job, it can be tempting to lift more than you should in hopes of impressing supervisors. But regularly overexerting yourself is a physical risk.

And while lighter loads are obviously safer, lifting and carrying any object with poor technique is hazardous.

So, before attempting any manual handling task, ask yourself:

• Can I avoid this task?
• Do I need help?
• Can I use a trolley or lifting aid?

If you must move something with bodily force, remember these points:

• Check routes are clear before moving anything.
• Keep the load close to your body as much as possible – the “power zone” for manual handling is just in front of your stomach.
• Keep your feet shoulder-width apart and your back straight when lifting from the floor – bend your knees and hips to move yourself down and up.
• Don’t twist when lifting.
• If it’s too heavy, don’t lift it alone.

Workplaces can be stressful. Long hours, tight deadlines or demanding tasks can take a toll on your mental health.

If you feel overwhelmed, speak up. Talk to your manager or HR and use any employee support services available. Try to take a break away from your desk, even if it’s brief.

Mental health matters as much as physical safety, and employers have to treat it as such. They have a legal duty to prevent all work-related harm, both physical and mental.

New starters should know that health and safety at work is mostly down to employers.

Under UK health and safety law, employers have a duty to prevent work-related harm. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to:

• Identify and assess workplace risks
• Put effective control measures in place
• Provide safe equipment, clear instructions and proper training

With this being said, workers also have legal responsibilities. By law, you’re expected to take “reasonable care” for your own and others’ health and safety while working. You also have to cooperate with your employer on any safety matters. This duty includes:

• Following agreed procedures
• Using equipment as instructed
• Wearing PPE as instructed
• Reporting any health and safety concerns
• Attending training

So, while it’s the employer’s responsibility to put the right systems, equipment and training in place from the start, workers also have to contribute.

Knowing basic safety tips for new starters is a good start, but proper training builds the skills and awareness needed to stay safe at work. It helps new starters understand risks, follow correct procedures and meet legal requirements from day one.

We offer a wide range of online courses designed to help employees across all industries stay safe on the job. The courses cover essential topics like manual handling, fire safety, PPE, electrical safety and more.

Whether you’re an employer onboarding staff or a new employee looking to stay safe, our training can help you work with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.