This form must be completed and reviewed with all new employees by their supervisor and returned to the Human Resources Office within the first three days of employment.

After each element has been discussed with the new employee, please check the corresponding block on this form. 

• Safety & Health Contact Information:
  • DMA Safety Officer, Damien Maricich, Damien.Maricich@mt.gov
  • DMA HR Officer, Linda McKinney, 406-324-3334
  • Division Safety Committee Liaison:
  • State Safety Website:

• Alarms
• Building Evacuation Procedures
• Reporting Medical, Fire & Safety Emergencies
• Location of First Aid Kit/AED
• Emergency Communication - JOC Notifications / CCR List (MYCA)
• Training

 

The topics on this Safety Orientation Checklist have been discussed with the employee.

New Employee Safety Orientation Checklist Supervisor’s Guide

The purpose of this guide is to assist supervisors in completing the New Employee Safety Orientation Checklist enclosed in the New Hire Packet.

All new employees must be given a Safety Orientation Training within the first three days of starting work.  The New Employee Safety Orientation Checklist is based on the DMA Safety Program and is required to comply with the Montana Safety Culture ACT MCA 2009 Part 15.

Information on Safety and the Montana Safety Culture Act can be found at the SafeMT, WorkSafeMT and the Workers’ Compensation Management Bureau’s web sites.

Workers’ Compensation:

SafeMT:  http://safemt.com/safety-education/safety-programs/montana-safety-culture-act/

New Employees are required to watch this video: https://workerscomp.mt.gov/_docs/Safety-Documents/2020_NEO-Safety.mp4

The DMA HR Office and Safety Officer (324-3339) is available to assist, provide resources and guidance to supervisors on safety matters. 

• Review your division’s Emergency Action Plan (EAP)

Each workplace is required by OSHA (29 CFR 1910.38(a)) and the Montana Safety Culture Act to have a written Building Emergency Action Plan.  The Department has a Safety and Emergency Preparedness Plan, but each building has their own evacuation plans and procedures.  Review these procedures and, if the employee is new to the building, conduct a walk through.

• Review the various alarms for your building with employees. Describe the sound of the alarm, actions to be taken when the alarm sounds, evacuation routes, and assembly location outside of your building.  Walk the employee through primary and secondary emergency exit routes.  If exit route maps are available in our Emergency Action Plan these can be printed and given to the employee as well.
• Inform the employee that if they have a disability or condition, now or in the future, whether temporary or permanent, that they feel may hinder their ability to exit the building safely, they can confidentially contact you and an individualized evacuation plan can be developed that may include buddies that can assist them in an emergency.
• Explain the JOC Notification System – In the event of an emergency (or test) employee can be notified by email, text, and/or landline (personal and business). It requires providing contact information to the JOC.
• Training and Exercising our response capabilities are a priority. Training will be provided as determined by the need of the department and the direction of the Safety Committee.  Encourage employee to attend and make recommendations for training opportunities.

 

• Explain the procedures for reporting medical, fire, and safety emergencies

 

• For medical emergencies: 911 must be called immediately and those that are CPR or First Aid trained should be contacted and may be able to provide assistance until advanced medical care arrives.
• If fire or smoke is discovered the building must be immediately evacuated and others warned by activation the fire alarm or verbally announcing fire in whatever means available. Once evacuated from the building 911 must be called.
• Procedures for Earthquakes, Suspicious Packages, Bomb Threats or Active Shooters are in the Safety & Emergency Preparedness Plan.
• For other emergency situations 911 should be called.

The employee should be shown the location of the First Aid kit and Automated External Defibrillator (AED), if there is one in the building, and informed of who is trained in First Aid and CPR in their office.

• Computer Ergonomics

Ergonomics is an important part of the DMA Safety Program.  Repetitive motion injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, and back pain are on the of the department’s leading workers’ compensation costs.  Repetitive motion claims can be very expensive because of potential medical costs and lost work time related to these types of injuries.  Not only can repetitive motion injuries be very painful for the worker but they can also cause a decrease in productivity and increased absenteeism.  As a supervisor you should do your part to protect the worker by:

• Watching the New Employee Safety Orientation video.
• You should also talk to employees about reporting any signs or symptoms of repetitive motion injuries to you immediately so that they can be addressed. In many cases, if the cause of these symptoms can be addressed early on it can prevent more serious or long-term problems.
• The new employee should also have an ergonomic assessment conducted on their workstation. Assessments can be scheduled by contacting the Safety Officer.  The DMA Safety staff will conduct assessments in Helena and arrange for field office assessments to be conducted by safety consultants from Montana State Fund at no cost to the requesting program.

ð     Job Specific Safety Concerns

Discuss any job specific concerns for their job or our office, examples include:

• Office or building security
• Workplace Violence - https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/workplaceviolence/
  • Fact Sheet - https://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_General_Facts/factsheet-workplace-violence.pdf
  • Categories:
    • Violence by Strangers: Violent acts by criminals who have no other connection with the workplace, but enter to commit robbery or another crime.
    • Violence by Customers/Clients: Violence directed at employees by customers, clients, patients, students, inmates, or any others for whom an organization provides services.
    • Violence by Co-workers: Violence against coworkers, supervisors, or managers by a present or former employee.
    • Violence by Personal Relationships: Violence committed in the workplace by someone who doesn’t work there, but has a personal relationship with an employee-an abusive spouse or domestic partner.

 

• Lifting and proper body mechanics if lifting is part of their job.
• Exposure control plan for blood-borne pathogen.
• Hazard communication training.
• Distracted and Defensive driving training available for workers that travel.
  • Distracted Driving: http://rmtdweb.doa.mt.gov/rmtd/RMTD_CTIS_TRAINING.training_list.
  • Defensive Driving: If you are more hands-on, the Montana DRIVE Workshop is a one day Advanced Driver Course:  Montana DRIVE One-Day Summer Workshops

 

• Accident Reporting Procedures

All incidents, regardless of severity, must be reported to the immediate supervisor, or designee.  Reporting of an accident facilitates a rapid investigation and helps assure the timely implementation of corrective measures.  Early reporting sets in motion an early-return-to-work plan that not only helps keep the cost of the claim down, but also assures that the employer cares about helping the employee heal as soon as possible. If you need assistance in completing the form(s) please call the HR office at 324-3334.

 

If the worker does not want to submit a claim for Workers Compensation, this should be documented along with as much detail as possible about the incident.

 

If an incident occurs which did not cause an injury, but could have different circumstances it should be reported to and documented by the HR Office/Safety Officer.

 

The form(s) can be emailed to Linda McKinney, lmckinney@mt.gov or mailed to the HR office at:

 Department of Military Affairs

 Director’s Office -  Attn: Linda McKinney

1956 Mt. Majo

 PO Box 4789

 Fort Harrison, MT 59636-4789

 

 

• How to Find Safety Information & Whom to Contact

 

If employees have safety concerns they should first talk with their supervisor to make sure they are aware of the issues.  The Safety Officer is available to assist, provide guidance, and answer questions.

 

The DMA Safety Officer and HR Contacts include:

 

                Safety Officer, DMA Safety Officer, Damien Maricich

HR Officer, Linda McKinney:  lmckinney@mt.gov   or 406-324-3334

                HR Specialist -Payroll/Benefits, Karmen Griffiths-Millhouse:  kgmillhouse@mt.gov or 406-324-3319

 

Once the New Employee Safety Orientation Checklist is completed, it must be signed by the new employee and their supervisor and returned to the Human Resources Office.