Addressing safety challenges for short-term, temporary and seasonal employees

Short-term and seasonal employees are essential to many businesses, but employing them brings unique safety challenges that can add complexity to safety programs and training schedules. Short-term employees are hired on a contract or project basis, working only for a limited time or until a certain task is completed. Seasonal employees are hired during peak business periods, which may correspond to particular times of the year, such as the holiday season for retail or seasonal tourism.

These employees are fairly common, for example:

• Retail stores frequently increase their staff to handle the holiday rush.
• The tourism industry relies heavily on seasonal workers during peak travel periods.
• Even the entertainment world isn't exempt, with many theme parks and resorts ramping up their staffing during busy vacation times.

Often, temporary employees are new to the job or industry and might not be familiar with the hazards or precautions necessary to stay safe.

They may be unfamiliar with the intricacies of using machinery or equipment, may not understand safety protocols and might not know how to respond in an emergency. Addressing these safety challenges is crucial to your business.

Importance of workplace safety

Workplace safety is a fundamental right for all employees. A safe work environment is not just about avoiding injury but also helps protect employees' mental health. It increases productivity, as employees can better concentrate on their tasks without worrying about potential dangers.

The need for a safe workplace becomes even more evident when you look at short-term and seasonal workers, because they often have less time than year-round staff to familiarize themselves with safety protocols. Thus, when it comes to protecting short-term and seasonal employees, it’s perhaps even more critical to conduct safety education training and enforce safety protocols. When managing seasonal and short-term employees, it's important to consider the unique challenges they face.

1. Less time for safety training

   Because these workers aren't on your staff year-round, they don't get exposed to what the daily work environment looks like. Therefore, it's crucial to make every moment of training count. Consider starting with a comprehensive orientation program. This program should cover the basics of workplace safety, such as:

   • Identifying hazards
   • Using safety equipment
   • Understanding emergency procedures

   You want to give them the knowledge they need to protect themselves and others from day one. Beyond this, here are a few more tips for safely and quickly onboarding new employees:

   • Use an electronic hiring process. This helps centralize your safety compliance and allows for quick onboarding.
   • Address employee expectations head-on. Ensure employees know the rules and expectations for safety and that they sign off on any documents outlining their responsibilities.
   • Provide hands-on demonstrations. Show new employees how to use equipment or navigate certain workplace areas safely.

   These basics will set the tone for how to handle situations safely.

2. Complex safety procedures

   Making procedures more accessible and understandable ensures everyone on your team can clearly understand how to perform or what measures to take. Consider hazard identification — all employees can accurately do this in an ideal situation. However, this may not be as easy for short-term or seasonal employees still learning the ropes.

   To help these employees, businesses can:

   • Use clear, easily understood signage to mark hazards — visual aids like signs, labels, or color coding to quickly and easily identify potential dangers.
   • Use a central location for the lockout station to ensure easy access and simple to follow structure around the lockout procedure.
   • Use OSHA-compliant lockout tagout tags or lockout labels to communicate safety and lockout information at the point of need.
   • Develop accessible safety and lockout procedures. Create written or video-based training materials that are easy to follow and understand. Place procedures at the point of use, or as close to the point of use as possible.

   In addition to your lockout tagout solutions, you can review and audit safety procedures to ensure they're up-to-date and compliant.

3. Lack of guidance

   Throughout the year, your staff can work with you or others to gain helpful advice and information about the job. Unfortunately, temporary workers don't get that privilege, so doing your best to guide them is essential.

   Mentorship can take different forms but involves pairing a less experienced employee with a more experienced one. The mentor provides:

   • Hands-on training
   • Shared insights
   • Advice based on their own experiences

   This relationship can help a new employee understand the formal safety rules and the unwritten, practical knowledge that comes from working in a particular environment over time. Mentors can also answer any questions or concerns a new employee may have. Communication can help staff identify potential safety issues early and helps ensure they're addressed before they become major issues.

   Similarly, supervision ensures that safety procedures are followed, and risky behavior is corrected. This can be particularly necessary for short-term and seasonal employees as they may still need to recognize potential safety risks.

   Supervisors should be visible, approachable and proactive. They should regularly check on new employees, provide feedback and take the time to explain why specific safety procedures are in place. By doing so, they're not just enforcing rules but helping employees understand their importance.

4. Unclear expectations

   Unclear expectations may lead to dangerous situations or accidental injuries. Accidents can easily happen when there are new employees who need to become more familiar with the workplace. This is where regular safety meetings come into play.

   Meetings are a fundamental tool for communicating expectations clearly and directly. They cover various topics, from reviewing specific safety procedures to discussing recent incidents and how they were handled, as well as introducing new safety protocols.

   These meetings should also be interactive, allowing employees to ask questions, express concerns, or suggest improvements. This way, you can answer any lingering questions or put to bed any misconceptions.

5. Inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE)

   Personal protective equipment, or PPE, is crucial in safeguarding your team, and businesses are responsible for providing it. From safety goggles and gloves to hard hats and high-visibility clothing, PPE will look different depending on the job's nature. But providing the equipment is just the first step. It's equally important to provide training on how to use it correctly.

6. Lack of communication

   When you and your team aren't communicating, you leave a door open for disaster. Therefore, creating a company culture where employees feel comfortable enough to come to you about hazards and unsafe practices is pivotal. This is especially relevant in manufacturing, where common safety hazards include everything from machine entanglement to exposure to harmful substances.

   When employees feel they can freely report and discuss safety issues, temporary employees follow suit, and it becomes much easier to prevent accidents. Plus, you're showing your employees that their safety is essential, which can boost morale and loyalty.

7. Lack of flexibility and evolution of safety procedures

   Safety isn't a static concern — it requires ongoing monitoring and adjustments, especially when your company is considering the needs of short-term employees.

   A commitment to safety involves:

   • Regularly inspecting the workplace for potential hazards
   • Reviewing and updating safety procedures as needed
   • Seeking employee input on their safety concerns

   Likewise, key elements of a workplace safety inspection can include:

   • Checking all equipment is in good working order
   • Ensuring clean and well-organized workspaces
   • Confirming safety signage is clear and prominently displayed

   Overall, addressing the safety challenges of all employees, but especially short-term and temporary employees, can extend beyond momentary safety concerns and facilitate long-term success.