Starting the New Year Strong: Refreshing Your Commitment to Workplace Safety

A new year is the perfect opportunity for a fresh start — not just personally, but professionally as well. As organizations set goals, plan projects, and welcome new team members, it’s also an ideal time to reset expectations around workplace health and safety.

Proper safety training isn’t just a box to check; it’s the foundation of a productive, confident, and compliant workforce. Starting the year with a strong safety focus helps set the tone for the months ahead and reinforces that safety is a priority, not an afterthought.

Why the New Year Is the Right Time to Review Safety Training

The start of the year naturally brings change: new hires, updated processes, new equipment, and evolving regulations. This makes it a critical moment to ensure everyone is trained, informed, and aligned.

Refreshing safety training at the beginning of the year helps:

• Reinforce safe work habits before bad ones form

• Bring employees up to speed on any regulatory or policy updates

• Address gaps identified from the previous year

• Re‑engage workers after holiday breaks

• Build momentum toward a safer year ahead

Revisit Core Training and Certifications

Annual refreshers are essential for maintaining competency and compliance. Review which certifications and training are required for your workplace and confirm they’re up to date. This may include:

• JHSC certification and recertification

• WHMIS and hazard communication

• Working at heights

• Equipment and machinery training

• Supervisor health and safety awareness

  
  

Ensuring training is current protects both workers and employers — and demonstrates due diligence if an incident occurs.

Onboard New and Returning Employees Properly

With staff changes common at the start of the year, onboarding is more important than ever. New employees should receive thorough safety orientation before starting work, while returning employees benefit from reminders and refreshers.

Clear expectations around safe work practices help employees feel confident, supported, and prepared — reducing the likelihood of incidents caused by uncertainty or assumptions.

Learn From Last Year

The new year is a great time to reflect on the previous one. Review incident reports, near-misses, inspections, and safety meeting feedback. Look for patterns and opportunities to improve.

Using this information to guide training topics ensures your safety program is proactive rather than reactive.

Final Word

A fresh year brings fresh opportunities — including the opportunity to strengthen your safety culture. By prioritizing proper training, reviewing programs, and engaging your team early, you set the stage for a safer, more successful year ahead.

Because when safety comes first, everything else works better.

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Trust MSW Safety

You can trust MSW Safety to provide you with cost-effective training solutions tailored to meet your organization’s unique health and safety needs.

To ask to learn more, contact us online or call 1-877-488-3329. Visit us 24/7 on the web at mswsafety.ca