According to the Health and Safety Executive, an estimated 604,000 workers sustained a non-fatal workplace injury in 2023/24, leading to 4.1 million working days lost due to non-fatal injuries. Additionally, employers also reported 61,663 non-fatal injuries under RIDDOR in the same period.

Now, as National Apprenticeship Week (9–15 February) shines a spotlight on early careers across essential trades, PPE experts at Start Safety UK are urging employers to embed personal protective equipment training from day one on the job, warning that apprentices and young workers can be at greater risk of injury during their first months at work.

James Crame, safety expert at Start Safety UK warns employers that young people and new starters may be particularly vulnerable in their first six months at work, stressing the importance of clear instruction, training and supervision from the outset.

“PPE handed out without proper training is not protection, it’s a false sense of security,” Crame says. “Day one is when habits form. If apprentices are shown from the start that PPE matters, fits properly, and must be worn correctly, safe behaviour becomes the norm rather than the exception.”

Start Safety UK has developed an Apprentice Safety Toolkit that has been designed to arm managers with practical support for day one onboarding, including a checklist that ensures that risks associated with keen but inexperienced workers in unfamiliar environments are minimised, and safety training is provided from day one.

Why Day One PPE Training Matters 

The Apprentice Safety Toolkit outlines four key reasons employers should prioritise PPE training during onboarding:

  • Early weeks are higher risk: New apprentices may not yet recognise hazards or feel confident to challenge unsafe practices.
  • PPE is only effective when used correctly: Ill-fitting or incorrectly worn equipment can fail to protect against injury.
  • Legal duties are clear: Where PPE is required, employers must ensure workers receive suitable information, instruction and training in its use.
  • The cost of inaction is significant: Millions of working days are lost each year due to workplace injuries, affecting productivity, morale and reputation.

Apprentice Safety Toolkit  

Start Safety UK emphasises that PPE should not be relied on in isolation and must sit alongside risk assessments and other control measures. James Crame explains: “Good safety culture isn’t built with posters on the wall, it’s built in the first conversations, the first demonstrations, and the first day an apprentice steps onto the job.

“Our hope is that this Safety Toolkit helps new starters engage with safety protocols in a positive way, and that it reinforces the importance of long-term protection right from the start of their careers.”

As employers celebrate the contribution apprentices make across industries, Start Safety UK is encouraging businesses to use National Apprenticeship Week as a prompt to review onboarding processes and ensure PPE training is embedded from the very start.

Below is the checklist employers are encouraged to use for apprentices and new starters in their first days on the job.

Before they start 

  • ☐ Role/task risk assessment reviewed for a new/inexperienced worker
  • ☐ Correct PPE available in apprentice sizes (spares included)
  • ☐ Buddy/mentor assigned for daily check-ins (first 2–4 weeks)

Day one essentials 

  • ☐ Site induction: fire, evacuation, first aid, incident reporting
  • ☐ “Stop work” authority explained (how to pause a task safely)
  • ☐ PPE issued, fitted, compatibility checked (eye/ear/respiratory/hand/foot/head as applicable)
  • ☐ PPE training delivered (how to wear, when to wear, limits, storage)
  • ☐ Apprentice demonstrates correct PPE use (“show-me” competency)

Week one safety embedding 

  • ☐ Supervision level agreed and recorded (higher at the start)
  • ☐ Daily “top 3 hazards” briefing happening
  • ☐ Manual handling basics covered
  • ☐ Equipment/machinery restrictions clarified
  • ☐ Fit-check refresher done mid-week (especially for eye/respiratory PPE)

30-day review 

  • ☐ PPE wear compliance observed and documented (positive reinforcement)
  • ☐ Any near-misses discussed and lessons captured
  • ☐ PPE condition inspected; replacements issued if needed
  • ☐ Refresher training scheduled (quarterly or task-change triggered)

For more information and advice on PPE, please visit Start Safety UK: https://startsafety.uk/pages/ppe-workwear

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