Site Induction Requirements

A site induction is the mandatory safety briefing every person must receive before they are permitted to work on a construction site.
CDM 2015 requires the principal contractor to ensure all workers receive a site-specific induction before starting work.
The induction must cover site-specific hazards, emergency procedures, welfare facilities, site rules, and reporting arrangements.
Inductions must be delivered by a competent person who understands the site hazards and can answer questions from attendees.
Every attendee must sign the induction register confirming they attended, understood, and will comply with the site rules.
Visitors, delivery drivers, and short-duration workers require an abbreviated induction covering the essential safety information.
The induction content must be updated whenever significant site hazards change or new phases of work commence.
Language and literacy barriers must be addressed — visual aids, translated materials, and interpreters may be required.
A site induction does not replace task-specific briefings — workers must also receive method statement briefings for their activities.
The induction register must be maintained and available for inspection by the HSE, client, or principal contractor at any time.

First line of defence	The induction is a worker's first exposure to site hazards — a thorough briefing prevents the incidents that occur in the first days.
Legal requirement	CDM 2015 mandates site induction for all workers — sites found inducting inadequately receive HSE improvement notices.
Emergency knowledge	If a worker does not know the alarm signal, escape route, or assembly point, they cannot evacuate safely in an emergency.

Do

Don't

Deliver a comprehensive site induction to every person before they start work.
Cover site hazards, emergency procedures, welfare, site rules, and reporting.
Ensure the induction is delivered by a competent person who knows the site.
Require every attendee to sign the induction register before accessing the site.
Provide a shortened induction for visitors and delivery drivers covering essential safety.
Update the induction content when site hazards or work phases change significantly.
Use visual aids and translation where language or literacy barriers exist.
Follow up the induction with task-specific method statement briefings for each trade.
Maintain the induction register for inspection by the HSE or client at any time.
Test understanding by asking questions during the induction, not just presenting slides.

DON'T allow anyone onto the site without completing the induction first.
DON'T rush through the induction — cover every topic thoroughly with time for questions.
DON'T use an unqualified person to deliver the site safety induction.
DON'T let people bypass the sign-in process — the register tracks who is inducted.
DON'T let visitors roam the site without at least a basic safety briefing.
DON'T use the same induction throughout the project without updating for new hazards.
DON'T assume everyone understands English — provide support for non-English speakers.
DON'T treat the induction as a substitute for detailed task-specific method statement briefings.
DON'T lose the induction register — it is a legal record of who was briefed.
DON'T deliver the induction as a tick-box exercise — engage the audience and check understanding.

See also: Welfare Facilities Standards | CDM 2015 Awareness

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