Initial instruction – the foundation for safe work and successful onboarding
With the initial instruction, you ensure that new employees – whether trainees, interns, temporary workers, or external partners – are aware of all relevant hazards, protective measures, and rules of conduct before they start work. We help you implement the initial instruction in an understandable, legally compliant, and verifiable manner.
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Structure the initial instruction process.
It’s great that you are dealing with the topic of initial instruction. Because that is part of good onboarding these days. With well-organized initial training, you ensure that new employees – whether trainees, interns, temporary staff or external partners – know right from the start what hazards exist, what protective measures apply and how to behave correctly in everyday working life.
At the same time, initial training is a legal obligation: employers must provide training before anyone starts work. This is laid down in the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the DGUV regulations, among others. However, initial instruction is a real “safety booster” over and above the mere regulation. New team members are often not yet familiar with processes and risks, clear instructions prevent misconduct and create security right from the start.
Typical content ranges from company rules or emergency organization to fire protection or PPE to ergonomic VDU work or data protection. It is important that the instruction is conveyed and documented in a practical manner. This will keep you on the safe side legally.
With our sam® EHS software, you can easily plan, carry out and verify initial instructions digitally. Topics are assigned automatically, content is comprehensible and available on mobile devices, and evidence is stored in an audit-proof manner. This way, you can easily integrate initial training into onboarding. This means that the initial training does not become a paper chase, but a clearly structured and safe start.
And one thing is certain: our Sammy will certainly put a smile or two on your face during your instruction.
Why is the initial instruction so important?
- Legal obligation: Employers must instruct employees before they start work (e.g. Occupational Health and Safety Act, DGUV regulations).
- Accident prevention: New team members are not yet familiar with processes and risks – clear instruction prevents misconduct.
- Fast onboarding: create security, roles understanding, and responsibilities from the start.
- Verifiability: Documented instructions provide you with legal certainty during inspections and incidents.
Typical contents of the initial instruction
- Company, work areas, and contact persons
- Safety rules, operating instructions, and emergency organization (first aid, escape & rescue routes)
- Hazards in the workplace and suitable protective measures
- Fire prevention behavior and handling of fire extinguishing equipment
- Machines, work equipment, and personal protective equipment (PPE)
- VDU work: ergonomics, data protection, and IT security
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Procedure: From preparation to follow-up
1. Preparation
- Define training topics and responsible persons
- Compile workplace-related and activity-related content
- Provide materials (operating instructions, documents, media)
2. implementation
- Comprehensible, practical teaching with examples from everyday working life
- Employee involvement through questions and short exercises
- Workplace inspection or practical demonstration, where appropriate
3. Follow-up
- Learning check / knowledge query to ensure understanding
- Document participation (name, date, content, responsible person)
- Plan instruction intervals and refresher courses
Digital & legally compliant with sam® from secova
With our sam® solution, you can efficiently organize initial training – from planning to verification.
- Plan & Assign: Distribute topics based on roles and define deadlines
- Understand: multimedia content, clear structure, available on mobile devices
- Comprehension: Learning control to secure knowledge
- Receipts: automatic documentation and audit-proof evidence
- Update: Quickly adapt content to new hazards or processes
Further topics
FAQ on initial instruction
Who needs to receive initial instruction?
All new employees, including temporary staff, temporary workers, interns, and external service providers, must be instructed before they begin work.
When is the instruction considered verifiable?
If the content, date, participants, and responsible person are documented in writing, preferably directly in the system.
How often do I need to refresh content?
At least regularly (typically annually) and as required – for example, after accidents, with new working materials, or process changes.
Modern implementation of initial training – we support you
We would be happy to show you how to efficiently plan, carry out and verify initial training with sam® from secova.