Health and Safety Induction Checklist for New Starters in the UK

A good health and safety induction makes sure every new starter has the information, instruction and training they need to work safely from their first shift. At a minimum it should tell them who to speak to, how to raise concerns, what the emergency arrangements are, which hazards they will meet and how those are controlled, and who is supervising them. There is no single statutory induction form in the sources we checked, but the duties behind it are clear in law, and the checklist below turns them into practical steps.

A note on scope. The legislation and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance cited here apply in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). Northern Ireland has its own regime, regulated by HSENI, under the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000.

What the law says about induction and new starters

Three legal duties sit behind a health and safety induction in Great Britain:

• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, section 2. Every employer must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees. Section 2(2)(c) includes "the provision of such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary" to ensure that.
• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, regulation 13. Employers must take employees' capabilities into account when giving them tasks and must ensure they are provided with adequate health and safety training. That includes when they are recruited and when they face new or increased risks, for example after a transfer, a change of responsibilities, or new equipment or work systems. Training must be repeated periodically where appropriate, adapted to new or changed risks, and take place during working hours.
• Health and Safety Information for Employees Regulations 1989, regulation 4. Employers must either keep the approved HSE poster displayed where it is easily seen and read, or give each employee the approved leaflet.

HSE guidance for employers on new workers recommends providing an induction, planning it carefully, using photos of hazards where possible and plain, simple language, and walking the new worker around the site to point out the main dangers.

Induction checklist at a glance

Before the first day

• Check the new starter's capability for the role, including experience and any need for extra support such as a different language or format. HSE says to consider using visual, non-verbal methods such as pictures, signs or videos where that helps.
• Plan the induction in advance, using plain language and photos of the actual hazards where possible.
• Have the right personal protective equipment ready.
• Name the person who will supervise them in their first days and weeks.

Day-one induction checklist

People and communication

• Introduce who they should speak to about health and safety, including any safety representatives or health and safety contacts.
• Explain how to raise concerns about their health and safety. HSE notes new workers may find this difficult because of unfamiliarity and inexperience, so say it clearly and invite questions.
• Show where the health and safety law poster is displayed, or hand over the leaflet, and point to your health and safety policy.

Emergency arrangements

• Cover emergency procedures and arrangements, as HSE lists among the things new workers should know. Our guide to fire safety training requirements for UK employers covers fire-specific training in more detail.
• Give them details of the first-aid arrangements. HSE says you must provide all your employees with these.

Hazards and controls

• Walk the site and point out the main dangers such as falls, slips and any specific hazards of their area.
• Explain the risks of their particular role and the precautions that control them, then check the controls are in place and being used.
• Issue PPE, and show them how to use it.
• Explain how to report accidents and near misses.

The first weeks

• Supervise. HSE says to provide adequate supervision so workers can ask questions and raise concerns.
• Check understanding. HSE advises confirming that workers have understood their training and are acting on it, especially in the first days and weeks at work.
• Give job-specific training. The induction does not replace training for specific equipment, substances or processes. Regulation 13 requires training when new or increased risks arise.
• Include everyone who works for you. HSE says everyone who works for you needs to know how to work safely, and that this includes contractors and self-employed people. It also names new recruits, people changing jobs, young employees and safety representatives as groups with particular training needs.

Records, sign-off and refreshers

The sources I checked do not prescribe a form or a retention period for induction records. HSE does say that keeping training records will help you decide whether refresher training is needed, and that staff need extra training if you get new equipment or your working practices change. A signed record showing the date, the topics covered, who delivered it and who the new starter's supervisor is will cover most needs.

If you are deciding how often to repeat training, see our guide on how often health and safety training needs renewing in the UK. To keep an overview of who has done what, a training matrix is the simplest tool. If you also want to log professional development, Learnsignal's CPD hub is a starting point.

Frequently asked questions

Is a health and safety induction a legal requirement?

The law requires employers to provide the information, instruction, training and supervision necessary for safety, including training on recruitment. HSE guidance recommends an induction as the way to do this for new workers. The term "induction" itself is guidance rather than statute.

How long should an induction take?

None of the sources I checked sets a minimum duration. HSE says that if you run a low-risk business, simple information or instructions are likely to be enough. Higher-risk work needs more.

Does induction have to be in paid working hours?

Under regulation 13 of the Management Regulations, health and safety training must take place during working hours.

Do I need to induct agency workers and contractors?

HSE says everyone who works for you needs to know how to work safely, and that includes contractors and self-employed people. Agree with the agency or contractor who provides which elements.

Does this apply in Northern Ireland?

The legislation named above applies in Great Britain. HSENI says employers in Northern Ireland must provide clear instructions and information and adequate training, under Northern Ireland legislation.

Bottom line

Treat induction as the start of safe working, not a one-off tick box. Cover who to speak to, how to raise concerns, emergency arrangements, hazards and controls, then supervise, check understanding and keep a record.

This article is general information only and is not legal, health and safety or compliance advice. Check current guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (or HSENI in Northern Ireland) for your own circumstances.