Using MCAA Resources to Help with Onboarding
Words: Cass SternLarge or small, family-owned or corporate, local or international – all growing businesses face the challenges associated with employee onboarding from time to time. Training a new hire can be a very resource-intensive process. The time and financial resources invested in required safety protocol certification alone can be significant. New employees with less work experience may require supplemental onboarding as well, and then there are the necessary internal training sessions covering scheduling and other processes.
Today, leaders and trainers at mason contracting companies are searching for digital resources to provide during the employee process; after all, long written training packets and dense manuals will only get trainees so far. To encourage information retention, keep employees supplied with the most up-to-date information available, and make resources readily accessible, downloadable PDFs, quick videos, and virtual checklists are all excellent ways to make employee onboarding much more efficient, effective, and inexpensive. Cutting corners is simply not an option, but for busy mason contracting companies already stretched thin or masonry professionals looking for a comprehensive starting point for onboarding resources, the MCAA has compiled a hub that can help prepare better masonry professionals for the job ahead.
Videos
The MCAA website hosts a set of three employee onboarding videos in both English and Spanish, and both are free to access for MCAA members. Each video focuses on a different aspect of employee onboarding and comes with downloadable supplemental information. The first, Crystalline Silica, has a viewing time of fewer than 20 minutes and, for instructors, comes paired with a free downloadable exam for trainees. The second video, which covers Hazard Communications, is just over ten minutes and also comes with a free downloadable exam. The final video featuring Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Employee Onboarding is less than ten minutes long and includes a free downloadable Personal Protective Equipment Presentation, Personal Protective Equipment Exam, a Personal Protective Equipment Certification of Hazard Assessment for trainees, and a customizable Personal Protective Equipment Policy Template. As an added bonus, these videos can be accessed from any platform including a smartphone or tablet, making them incredibly accessible for any training session - no more forgetting materials at home!
Checklists
Checklists can be an important tool to complete a variety of daily tasks both at work and at home, but in this instance, they can be an actual lifesaver! The full list is almost 20 items long and covers essential topics like Laser Safety, Bloodborne Pathogens, Scaffold User Safety, and more, and all can be accessed for free through an MCAA member account. While these resources are by no means comprehensive, they are certainly an excellent place to begin for any team leader looking to build up their internal company employee onboarding programs.
Each checklist includes critical safety information that every employee from tender to CEO should be readily familiar with before setting foot on any active jobsite. Checklists are not only helpful at the time of hire, but also throughout the term of employment and should be revisited often. Recertifications and training can be scheduled periodically throughout the year, but weekly toolbox meetings and monthly safety measures are also great methods to reinforce training. In other words, don’t let employee onboarding be the only time employees touch checklists and other information- ongoing safety communication regarding protocols can and will save time, money, and even lives.
Here is a full list of available safety checklists from the MCAA employee onboarding resource hub:
Training Manuals/Additional Training Materials
In addition to the resources discussed above, the MCAA also maintains additional training materials. Accessible for both members and non-members alike, these options can be ordered through the MCAA website and provide focused, in-depth training on specific operator skills, which is perfect when onboarding new employees with a higher experience level. For example, those interested in training employees on forklift operation and safety procedures have a variety of materials to select from.
Available in the MCAA Merchandise Marketplace, team leaders can select from multiple options like the MCAA Rough Terrain Forklift Safety and Maintenance DVD, which is designed to “present a visual approach to the various elements of operating a rough terrain forklift more efficiently and safely.” For those interested in a multi-media approach towards training or training larger groups, this resource will be incredibly beneficial and is available for $85.00 ($60.00 for non-members). Other resources include the MCAA Rough Terrain Forklift Safety and Maintenance Training Manual Parts 1 & 2, which are supplemental written training materials available for $25.00 each (or $15.00 each for MCAA members). To explore other training materials like these, be sure to visit the MCAA Merchandise Marketplace and use the available search categories to streamline the process.
Employee onboarding can be an intimidating process, but it doesn’t have to be. By utilizing the many free or low-cost resources available to both MCAA and non-MCAA members, team leaders at mason contracting companies across North America have invested in their new hires’ health, safety, and well-being, which in turn has long-term benefits for the company including reduced turnover and increased employee satisfaction. According to recent OSHA statistics, “every day, more than 12 workers die on the job — over 4,500 a year, and every year, more than 4.1 million workers suffer a serious job-related injury or illness.” It is the mason contracting company’s responsibility to protect their employees, and the best protection lies in prevention. By providing new hires with the information they need to stay safe on the jobsite, continuing education through Toolbox Talks and regular meetings, and capitalizing on new training media like videos or digital resources, team leaders can make a huge difference in day-to-day operations for all employees.