1. Check the title, length, source and year.
2. Determine the purpose and intended audience.
3. Note the organization of text and graphics.
4. Read the introduction and check the end pages.
5. Predict your workplace responsibilities.
6. What questions do you need answered?

Then discuss the answers to questions that pertain to the document.

As an example:

The sample activity from Keyano College used a safety handbook for employees working in extraction and asked the following questions.

1. What three steps must you take when injured at work.
2. In what areas of extraction are you permitted to have a beard?
3. When is fall protection required?
4. What are the four steps in the Syncrude Environment Health and Safety Management System?
5. What questions do you need answered? (this especially important for the trainer)

The answers were:

1. Inside front cover: tell your employer, tell your doctor, tell the WCB
2. Page 17, every area but Plant 6, 67 or composite tailings or when you are doing work that requires air purifying or air supplying respiratory protection.
3. Section 3 PPE page 15 required when worker can fall greater than 10 ft from a temporary work area or 4 feet from a permanent work area.
4. See back cover: assess plan, do, review
5. As a new employee, you may not be familiar with LEL (Lower explosive Limit), PPM (part per million), Tag I System, Voicecard, 3 point contact Purple flagging means radiation (a good thing to know!) What are the pictures on front??