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Site induction: what it must cover and what to record
Everyone who works on your site should be inducted before they start, and you should be able to prove it. Here is what a good induction covers, what to record, and when to do it again.
Who has to provide it
Under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, the principal contractor must make sure a suitable site induction is provided. On projects with only one contractor, that contractor takes on the duty. In practice the site manager usually delivers it, and every new starter, including subcontractors and visitors who go beyond the welfare area, should receive it.
The regulations do not give a fixed syllabus or a set length. "Suitable" means it fits the site, the people and the risks. A two-person fit-out in an occupied building needs a very different induction from a 40-person groundworks site.
What a site induction should cover
Use this as a starting point and cut or add to suit your site.
- Who is in charge. The site manager, the person responsible for health and safety, and how to reach them.
- Emergency arrangements. Fire alarm and assembly point, first aiders and first aid facilities, and how to call for help.
- Reporting. How to report accidents, near misses and unsafe conditions, and that they should.
- Site layout and access. Entry and exit, sign-in, vehicle and pedestrian routes, parking, restricted and exclusion zones.
- Welfare. Toilets, washing, drinking water, rest areas and where to eat.
- Site rules. PPE required, behaviour, alcohol and drugs, smoking, phone use, and consequences of breaching the rules.
- The main hazards on this site. For example work at height, excavations, live services, asbestos, traffic, noise and dust.
- Permits and controls. Hot work, confined space, lifting, and any other permit that applies, and who issues them.
- Risk assessments and method statements. Where to read the ones that cover their work and the requirement to follow them.
- Environment and neighbours. Waste, spills, working hours, protected areas and anything sensitive on or near site.
- Check of understanding. A few questions, or a short conversation, to confirm they took it in.
What to record for each person
The induction is only half the job. The other half is a record you can produce later.
| Record | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Name, employer and role | Shows who was on site and who they worked for. |
| Date and time of induction | Shows they were inducted before they started work. |
| Who delivered it | Shows accountability and lets you check what was covered. |
| What it covered, and the version | Site rules change. You need to know which version they received. |
| Competence evidence | CSCS or other card type, number and expiry, plus any specialist tickets for their work. |
| Their acknowledgement | A signature or confirmation that they received and understood it. |
| Result of any check of understanding | Shows the induction was more than a sign-in. |
Where CSCS cards fit in
A CSCS card is not a legal requirement in itself, but many principal contractors and clients make it a condition of entry because it is a convenient way to show training and competence. A card is not a substitute for an induction. It tells you what training someone has had in general, not what they need to know about your site.
Check the card against the work the person will do, and check that it has not expired. Take the number and expiry date, not just a look at the card, so that your record shows the check happened.
When to induct again
- When someone returns after a long absence.
- When the site layout, hazards, emergency arrangements or rules change significantly.
- When someone moves to a different phase of work with different risks.
- After an incident that changes how the site is run.
Whatever you decide, write the rule down and apply it consistently. A site that re-inducts people only some of the time has a record that is hard to defend.
Proving it later
If there is an accident or an HSE visit, one of the first questions is whether the people involved were inducted, by whom and on what. Paper induction sheets in a folder can answer that, if the folder is complete and nobody has lost it. They are slow to search, they do not warn you that a card has expired, and they do not stop an uninducted person from starting.
If you want to see where your own set-up stands, the free 3-minute assessment asks a few questions about how you run inductions and the site register, and shows the gaps.
Induct people before they arrive
SiteHub sends a worker a link and PIN so they can watch your site-specific induction videos and confirm your induction questions before they get to site. It stores their CSCS and other cards with expiry dates, and can stop the sign-in if the induction, a card or a method statement is out of date.
No card needed. £19 a month for your first site and £15 for each extra site after the trial.
This guide is general information for contractors, not legal advice. Your duties depend on your role and your project, so check the CDM 2015 regulations and HSE guidance, or take advice from a health and safety consultant.