What should a Queensland contractor cover in a site induction?

What the law asks for

Section 39 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 requires information, training and instruction to be suitable and adequate, having regard to the nature of the work, the risks at the time it is given and the control measures in place. So far as reasonably practicable, it must be provided in a way the person can readily understand.

WorkSafe says new workers must be trained before they start work, to become familiar with their tasks, their place of work and the people around them, and each should demonstrate they understand.

For a construction project, sections 309 and 310 also require the principal contractor to prepare a written WHS management plan before work starts and, so far as reasonably practicable, make each person doing construction work aware of its contents and their right to inspect it before they begin. Build that briefing into the site induction where these project duties apply.

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Checklist, with the source of each item

Items marked WorkSafe come from its induction topics. Items marked ours are additions for multi-trade sites.

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Keep the record and repeat when needed

WorkSafe suggests using a checklist and keeping it on file as a record of training, and has a downloadable induction checklist. It says workers returning after a long absence should repeat the induction. The law requires training records for some tasks, such as confined spaces and certain hazardous chemicals, and WorkSafe calls it good practice to keep records of all training including induction.

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An induction is not task training or a licence

Workers also need supervised, hands-on training in the tasks they will do, and some tasks need offsite training and a high risk work licence. General construction training such as the white card is a separate topic.

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Site induction record you can copy

This record is our example, not a WorkSafe form. Replace every square bracket.

SITE INDUCTION RECORD

Site: [address]   Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]
Worker: [name]   Employer: [business]
Inducted by: [name]

Covered (tick when done):
[ ] Worker responsibilities
[ ] Hazards and risks on this site and their controls: [list]
[ ] Safe work procedures and equipment: [list]
[ ] Safe access, parking and other trades: [notes]
[ ] SWMS for this worker's tasks, where applicable: [titles, where kept]
[ ] Emergency procedures, assembly point, exits: [location]
[ ] First aid kit location and contacts: [names]
[ ] Site rules: [list]

Worker showed understanding by: [question, demonstration]
Worker signature: [signature]   Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]
Inductor signature: [signature]   Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]

Sources[1][2]

Common questions

What should be included in an induction checklist?

WorkSafe lists worker responsibilities, hazards and risks and how to control them, safe work procedures and equipment use, emergency procedures, and where to find the first aid kit, plus contact details for people with safety responsibilities. Add site-specific items such as access and other trades.[1]

What is an induction checklist?

It is a list used to cover and record the topics a new worker is told about before starting. WorkSafe suggests using one and keeping it on file as a record of training. The checklist records the induction but does not by itself show the induction was suitable and adequate.[1][2]