New hire kit checklist for construction crews
A good construction new hire kit covers four things on day one: safety gear, identification (name tape, logo patch, logo hard hat sticker and a new crew member decal), key information (orientation, site rules, emergency plan and a named mentor) and a few welcome items. Then add trade, training and milestone items as the person grows.
Why a kit matters
New people are most likely to get hurt in their first weeks, and they usually don’t know who to ask. Having a kit ready on day one shows them you were expecting them and that you take safety seriously.
It also makes it obvious who’s new, so the experienced guys know to keep an eye out.
Day one checklist
Safety gear
- Hard hat, safety glasses, gloves and hearing protection
- High-visibility vest or shirt where your sites require it
- Any task-specific gear, such as fall protection
In the US, OSHA generally requires employers to pay for required protective equipment, with some exceptions such as ordinary safety-toe boots. Check the rules that apply to your work.
Identification
- Name tape for the jacket or shirt
- Company logo patch
- Company logo hard hat sticker and a name sticker
- New crew member decal, so others know to look out for them
Information
- Safety orientation and site rules
- Emergency plan and who to call
- Schedule, start times and where to report
- The name of their mentor or lead for the first weeks
Welcome items
- A company shirt or patch hat
- One morale patch picked from your approved catalog
- A short welcome note from the owner or foreman
What to add after day one
| When | Add |
|---|---|
| First week | Check sizes and fit, replace anything that doesn’t work |
| 30 days | Trade sticker or patch once their role is settled |
| After each training | Training sticker, such as First Aid or OSHA 10 |
| End of the new hire period | Remove the new crew member decal in front of the crew |
| First safety milestone | Milestone sticker or patch |
Tips to make it easy
- Keep a few kits ready. Order logo patches, logo stickers and new crew member decals in bulk so a kit is ready before the hire starts.
- Batch name items. Collect upcoming names and order name tapes and stickers together.
- Use velcro. With velcro panels on jackets and hats, patches go on in seconds and can be swapped as the person grows.
- Write it down. A one-page checklist means the kit is the same no matter who does the onboarding.
Build your new hire kit
Tell us your crew size and how many people you hire a year. We’ll design a ready-to-stock kit with name tapes, logo patches and new crew member decals within 48 hours, free.
Get a free design for your crew