A general workplace safety overview course suits new hires, temporary and seasonal workers, and experienced employees who need a broad refresher. It fits manufacturing, warehousing and maintenance settings where several hazards overlap. The 21-minute video, in English and Spanish, stresses each employee's role in making the safety program work.

A general safety orientation does not by itself meet OSHA's topic-specific training requirements. Standards such as lockout/tagout (29 CFR 1910.147), permit-required confined spaces (1910.146), hazard communication (1910.1200) and bloodborne pathogens (1910.1030) each require their own training. An overview works best as an introduction before that detailed instruction.

A workplace safety orientation should introduce the hazards employees are most likely to meet. The Making Safety Work video touches on lockout/tagout, personal protective equipment, bloodborne pathogens and confined space entry. It also covers hazard communication, good housekeeping and pedestrian safety, with basic controls for each.

Employee responsibilities for workplace safety include following safety rules and procedures, wearing required PPE and keeping work areas orderly. Workers should report hazards, injuries and near misses. Workers should also stop and ask when a task is unclear. Employers own the safety program, but it only works when each worker takes part.

Employee participation in a safety program grows when workers help identify hazards, join safety committees or inspections, and see their reports acted on quickly. Supervisors should model safe behavior and recognize good catches. Workers stop reporting when concerns vanish without a response, so close the loop every time.