Safety Induction Checklist for New Employees

What this process is

A safety induction is the first structured health and safety conversation a new worker has with your organisation. It happens before or at the start of work and covers what they need to know to stay safe and to know what to do if something goes wrong. It applies to new employees, temporary workers and subcontractors — anyone who is about to work on your site or premises for the first time. This checklist supports the induction conversation. It gives you the topics to walk through and a place to record that they were covered, with a simple Yes, No or N/A response for each. As you complete it with the worker, you build a signed record of the initial instruction.

Why it matters

The induction exists so that a person can do the job safely, and so that there is a consistent record of what they were told. It gives the new starter the essential information they need on their first day: how the job is done safely, who they report to, how to raise a concern, and what to do if something goes wrong. It also confirms that the organisation has delivered the basics — emergency arrangements, reporting routes, safe working requirements — and that the worker has acknowledged them.

What a good induction covers

The checklist is organised so that each area is covered in turn and confirmed as you go. A complete induction covers: - **Job introduction** — how to perform the work safely, welfare arrangements, HR contacts, emergency contacts and training requirements. - **Law, policy and safe systems of work** — employee responsibilities, the policies and procedures that apply, and awareness of risk assessments. - **Emergency arrangements** — fire exits, assembly points and alarm points; first aid provisions such as first aiders and the location of first aid kits; and how and to whom accidents and incidents are reported. - **Manual handling** — training, the lifting procedure and the safe use of lifting aids. - **Hazardous substances** — the relevant risk assessment, safe handling and disposal, and vaccinations where applicable. - **Personal protective equipment (PPE)** — assessing and providing it, using and storing it correctly, and reporting failures. - **Hazard awareness and housekeeping** — what to look for, to whom to report it, and keeping a place for everything so that everything is in its place. - **Equipment, tools and machinery**, including electrical equipment — safe use, emergency stops, training requirements and other health risks such as hand-arm vibration and repetitive strain injuries. - **Health, safety and wellbeing awareness training** — a mandatory course for all employees. Record the type of induction completed, the employee name, the number of employees inducted and the date of induction. Note any additional comments or observations, give the session an overall satisfaction score from 1 to 10, and sign to confirm completion as set out in the completion instruction.

How to carry it out

1. Before the session, complete the identifying details: 'Conducted on', 'Prepared by' and 'Location'. 2. Open with the job introduction, so the new starter understands how the work is done safely and who to contact. 3. Cover the areas in the order they appear on the checklist. Walk to the relevant places where you can — the fire exit, the assembly point, the first aid kit, the equipment they will use — rather than describing them from a desk. 4. For each area, give a clear answer of Yes, No or N/A. If something has not yet been covered, mark No and arrange for it to be completed; the point of the record is to show what has actually been done. 5. Complete the record: the employee name, the type of induction completed, the number of employees inducted and the date of induction. 6. Note any additional comments or observations, including anything that needs follow-up. 7. Record the overall satisfaction with induction from 1 to 10. 8. Follow the completion instruction and obtain the signature. 9. Record the 'Finished At' and the 'Inspection real start date' and 'Inspection real end date'. 10. Retain the signed form as the record of the initial instruction. > Keep the completed form where it can be found again. Its value comes from being a retrievable record of what the worker was told, not just a document that was filled in on the day.

Frequently Asked Questions

The inspection was conducted on the date recorded at the top of the form. The form records when the induction took place, who prepared it, and where it happened so that the record can be identified and retrieved later.

The record identifies the location of the induction, the employee name, the number of employees inducted, the type of induction completed, and the date of induction. A signature and completion instruction are also recorded. 'Conducted on', 'Prepared by', the inspection start and end dates, and the number of employees inducted are completed at the start and end of the session.

Your induction should cover the practical essentials: emergency arrangements including fire exits and assembly points, alarm points and first aid provisions; how and to whom accidents, incidents and near misses are reported; manual handling training and the safe use of lifting aids; hazardous substances including risk assessment, safe handling and disposal, and vaccinations where relevant; personal protective equipment, which must be assessed, provided, used and stored correctly, with failures reported; hazard awareness and housekeeping, so people know what to look for and to whom to report it; and equipment, tools and machinery, including electrical equipment, emergency stops, training requirements and other health risks such as hand-arm vibration and repetitive strain injuries. The checklist lists each of these areas with a Yes, No or N/A response so you can confirm what has been covered.

The induction also covers how to perform the work safely, including welfare arrangements, HR contacts, emergency contacts and training requirements. It covers employee responsibilities, the policies and procedures that apply, and awareness of risk assessments so new starters understand their duties. Health, safety and wellbeing awareness training is a mandatory course for all employees.

The person completing the checklist records the type of induction completed, notes any additional comments or observations, records the number of employees inducted and an overall satisfaction with induction from 1 to 10, and signs to confirm completion. Complete the form and retain it as a signed record of the initial instruction. Keep it so you can show what was covered and who received it, for example for new employees, temporary workers and subcontractors.

Written by

Arne Reis

Founder

Process optimizer with 25 years of expertise, focused on operational excellence in quality, maintenance, EHS, and commissioning. Emphasizes innovative solutions and top-quality standards.

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