Induction is the process of introducing new workers to the business, their work, their supervisors and their fellow workers. PCBUs need to provide new workers with sufficient information, instruction, training and supervision to ensure that they are competent to work safely and to comply with their positive duty of due diligence. A PCBU must conduct a work health and safety induction as soon as practically possible.

As a PCBU, you have a duty of care to your workers and you must make sure your workplace is safe. New workers (particularly young workers) are at greater risk of injuring themselves at work than existing workers. For this reason, work health and safety training should have a high priority in your induction program. A key aspect of keeping your workplace safe is making sure that workers understand your work health and safety policies. You must also make sure they undertake any necessary training before using potentially dangerous equipment or materials.

Workers returning to work after a long absence will need to revisit your work health and safety policies in case they've forgotten anything while they've been away. You will also need to train them on any new processes. Workers changing roles may need additional safety training if they are using new equipment, materials or processes.

Inducting employees properly

You should begin the induction process by:

• Introducing the worker to the role and explaining your expectations;
• Introducing the worker to the business, their co-workers and the area of business operations they will be working in;
• Introducing the worker to the workplace by taking them through the physical layout of the workplace, including amenities and facilities;
• Providing an instructions on how to use the phone and computer systems;
• Explaining your workplace policies and procedures, including your code of conduct, harassment policies, and your first aid, accident and emergency procedures (including emergency exits, fire alarms, firefighting equipment, evacuation instructions and assembly points);
• Detailing the safe work practices that are relevant to the worker’s role (e.g. the safe use of machinery, substances, or security systems);
• Providing an orientation for any special equipment such as personal protective equipment, which may require additional training; and 
• Explaining how health and safety is managed in the workplace including who is in charge and how hazards are reported.

Induction is not a ‘one off’ process. It is not enough to treat a worker signing a copy of a safe operating procedure as proof that they are competent. The overall induction process should be ongoing and documented.

Induction tips and hints:
 

1. Involve key people in the induction, for example, the new worker’s supervisor, Health and Safety Representatives and co-workers;
2. Pace the induction so you don’t overwhelm the new worker with too much information.
3. Provide clear instructions and ensure that they are understood;
4. Show (rather than tell) the new worker how to perform the tasks. Emphasise main points;
5. Encourage the new worker to ask questions;
6. Assume no prior knowledge, training or experience. Your workplace, equipment, tools and work practices may be different. Cover topics that may seem ‘common sense’;
7. Consider the language, cultural and literacy needs of your new worker;
8. Ensure that the new worker is supervised while they perform the tasks until they are competent. Correct any mistakes immediately; and
9. When the induction is complete, get the worker to confirm that they understood the training. Keep a record of all work health and safety training and check that the new worker has understood what they have been told or shown

Inducting contractors properly

An induction into the work site and its general hazards should take place for all contractors. This should cover:

• Site entry (the safe and appropriate way to enter and leave the site);
• Access and amenities (where things are kept and where/how to use the facilities);
• How work will be managed and supervised;
• Relevant safe work procedures;
• Emergency response procedures; and
• Relevant business policies, e.g. sexual harassment policy, drugs and alcohol policy.

Induction processes are essential and should be most detailed for those health and safety procedures relevant to the process, tools, or equipment that the contractor will be undertaking.