The first day in a new job is when safety habits are set. A clear health and safety induction tells new employees how to stay safe, who to ask and what to do in an emergency, before they ever pick up a tool or step onto the floor. Here is how to get it right.
Need awareness training ready for new starters? Enrol them in an online course they can finish on day one.
Why induction matters
New starters do not yet know your hazards, your layout or your rules. A structured induction closes that gap quickly and shows you took reasonable care from the outset. It also helps people feel welcome and confident.
What to include in a safety induction
- Site orientation - exits, assembly points, first aid and welfare facilities.
- Key hazards and the controls in place for them.
- Emergency procedures - alarms, evacuation and reporting.
- Roles and contacts - supervisors, safety reps and first aiders.
- Relevant awareness training such as manual handling or fire safety.
Online awareness courses are an efficient part of induction, building understanding before practical work begins. They do not replace a site-specific walkthrough, task-specific training or supervision, which remain essential.
Blending online learning with a site walkthrough
A practical approach is to assign short online courses for theory and awareness, then run a focused on-site walkthrough for the things that can only be shown in person. New starters arrive informed, and your supervisors spend their time on what matters. Employers can plan the wider programme using our guide for employers.
A sample induction checklist
Use this as a starting point and adapt it to your workplace:
- Welcome, key contacts and how to ask for help.
- Tour of exits, assembly points, first aid and welfare facilities.
- The main hazards in their area and the controls in place.
- Emergency procedures: alarms, evacuation and how to report.
- How and when to report hazards, near misses and incidents.
- Any PPE required and how to use and store it.
- Assigned awareness courses to complete, such as manual handling or fire safety.
Day one versus the first week
Not everything has to happen at once. Day one should cover the essentials someone needs to be safe immediately: exits, alarms, key hazards and who to ask. The rest of the first week can layer in role-specific awareness, deeper procedures and any practical, supervised training. Spreading it out improves retention and avoids overwhelming a new starter on a single morning.
Inductions for contractors and visitors
New employees are not the only people who need an induction. Contractors working on your premises should receive a focused briefing on site rules, hazards and emergency procedures, and visitors should at least know how to evacuate. Keeping a short, repeatable induction for non-employees protects them and reduces your risk.
Recording induction properly
Always keep a record of what was covered and who delivered it, and store any course certificates the new starter earned. This shows that induction happened and what it included - useful for both audits and your own peace of mind. Employers can fit induction into the wider plan using our guide for employers.
Why first impressions shape safety habits
The habits a new starter forms in their first days tend to stick. If safety is treated as an afterthought, that attitude is learned quickly; if it is presented clearly and taken seriously from the start, people carry that mindset into their work. A confident, well-structured induction does more than transfer information - it signals that this is a workplace where safety genuinely matters, which is exactly the culture you want everyone to absorb.
Refreshing induction when things change
Induction is not only for brand-new employees. When someone moves to a different role, a new machine arrives, or a process changes, a short re-induction keeps them safe in the new situation. The same applies after a long absence, when procedures may have moved on. Treating induction as something you revisit, rather than a one-time event, closes the gaps that often appear when work evolves. Build this into the wider plan in our guide for employers.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should a safety induction happen?
Before or as a new employee begins work, so they understand the hazards and rules before they are exposed to them.
Can induction training be done online?
The awareness and theory elements work well online. Combine them with a site-specific walkthrough delivered in person.
Who should deliver the induction?
Usually a manager, supervisor or safety representative who knows the site and can answer questions and show key areas.
Should I keep a record of induction?
Yes. Record what was covered and keep any course certificates so you can show new starters were inducted.
Get new starters trained from day one
Assign clear online courses before their first shift and keep certificates on file automatically.
Explore induction-friendly courses or ask about onboarding whole teams.
