Site Inductions: What They Must Cover and Who Needs One

A site induction is the first thing a worker should get on a new job, and it is the thing most often done badly. A rushed five minutes at the gate with a clipboard does not count. Here is what the law expects, what a good one covers, and who actually needs one.

What the law says

Under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, the principal contractor must make sure a suitable site induction is provided to everyone who works on the site. On a project with only one contractor, that duty sits with the contractor. The key word is suitable, which means it has to fit the site and the people. A generic talk that could be given anywhere does not meet the bar. If you want the wider picture of who holds which duty, my guide to CDM 2015 duties for small contractors covers it.

What a good site induction covers

Keep it short enough that people take it in, but specific to the job in front of them. At a minimum I would expect to see:

  • Site rules: access and exit routes, parking, working hours, PPE requirements, smoking areas and the drugs and alcohol policy.
  • Emergency arrangements: what the alarm sounds like, where the assembly point is, where the fire points and first aiders are, and who to tell.
  • Welfare: toilets, washing facilities, drinking water and the rest area.
  • Site-specific hazards: overhead lines, buried services, asbestos, excavations, traffic routes and any areas where work at height is going on.
  • Reporting: how to report accidents, near misses and unsafe conditions, and who the site manager is.

It should also point people to the RAMS for their task, so they know where it is kept and that they are expected to read and sign it. If you are not sure yours would stand up to a site manager's review, that guide explains why sites reject the wrong one.

Who needs one

Everyone who will work on the site. That includes subcontractors, agency labour, self-employed trades and anyone else who is going beyond the welfare area. Delivery drivers do not need the full talk, but they do need a short briefing on routes, speed limits and where to report. Anyone returning after a long gap, or when site conditions change significantly, should be briefed again.

Common mistakes I see

The first is the generic slide deck with nothing about the actual site. The second is treating a CSCS card as a substitute. The card shows someone has the right training and qualifications, but it tells them nothing about the hazards on your particular job. The third is language: if someone cannot follow the briefing, they have not been inducted, so check understanding rather than just asking if everyone is happy.

Keep a record

If the HSE visits after an incident, one of the first things they will ask for is proof that the person was inducted. A simple sign-in sheet with the name, date, company, who delivered it and what was covered is enough. It takes a minute and it can save you a great deal of trouble.

Emergency arrangements are only as good as the fire risk assessment behind them. If you want that done properly, take a look at Tony Carlyon's fire risk assessment service on Fiverr.
And if you want a quick way to check where you stand across the basics, grab the free UK landlord and small business compliance checklist.

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