Site induction procedure
Site induction for workers, subbies, visitors: verify white card, brief on site hazards, explain emergency procedures, capture signed acknowledgement.
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Every worker, subbie, and visitor on a construction site MUST receive a site induction before doing any work. Under WHS Reg 317 (NSW) and equivalents in other jurisdictions, the induction must cover site-specific hazards (excavations, plant, fall zones), emergency procedures, and site rules. A generic online “national WHS induction” satisfies the general construction induction (white card) requirement but does NOT satisfy the site-specific induction duty. The procedure: verify the white card, brief on site-specific hazards, explain emergency procedures, communicate site rules, capture signed acknowledgement in the sign-on register. Documented, repeatable, 10-15 minutes per worker.
The two-tier induction structure
Australian construction WHS recognises two distinct inductions:
| Induction | When | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| General Construction Induction (white card) | Once in career; ≥2 years validity | Generic WHS, national framework |
| Site-specific induction | First entry to each new site | Hazards, plant, rules, emergency at THIS site |
The white card is national, RTO-issued, and proves the worker has completed CPCWHS1001. The site-specific induction is the builder’s responsibility AT EACH SITE.
Step 1: Verify white card
Before any site induction proceeds:
- Sight the worker’s white card (physical card or digital).
- Read the card number and issue date.
- Confirm validity (cards may lapse after 2 years out of the industry; check the card or worker’s recent site history).
- Note discrepancies: if the worker can’t produce a white card, REFUSE site access for construction work.
Visitors not doing construction work (clients, sales reps, designers visiting briefly) typically don’t need a white card; they still need site-specific induction if entering the active work area.
Step 2: Brief on site-specific hazards
The site-specific brief covers:
| Hazard category | What to brief on |
|---|---|
| Excavations | Pier holes, slab cuts, services trenches; depth, location, edge protection |
| Falls from height | Scaffold, roof, ladders, stair voids, mezzanines; control measures |
| Plant on site | Excavator, crane, hiab, scissor lift, EWP; operator competency, exclusion zones |
| Hot work | Welding, grinding zones; permit required if applicable |
| Confined spaces | Tanks, ducts, basements without ventilation; permit required if applicable |
| Manual handling | Heavy materials, awkward positioning |
| Electrical | Overhead lines, live work zones |
| Noise / dust / RCS | Cutting zones, dust extraction, ear protection required |
| Asbestos / lead | Existing structures, identification, control |
| Vehicle traffic | Driveway, loading zones, hand signals |
| Public interface | Pedestrian zones, hoarding, signage |
| Site amenities | Toilet, water, first-aid kit location |
Don’t recite from a generic template. Walk the worker through THIS site’s actual hazards: excavation depths today, plant on site this week, falls risk specific to the trade’s work zones.
Step 3: Explain emergency procedures
The worker must know:
- Site address and emergency vehicle access (in case they need to call 000).
- Closest emergency exit and assembly point.
- First aid kit location and first aider identity.
- Fire extinguisher locations (if applicable).
- What to do for medical emergency (000, first aid, builder contact).
- What to do for incident / near-miss reporting (chain of report).
- Power isolation point (main switchboard location).
Step 4: Communicate site rules
Site rules cover:
- Site access hours.
- PPE requirements (high-vis, hard hat, steel cap, safety glasses, hearing protection).
- Sign-on at start of day; sign-off at end.
- Tobacco / smoking zones (if any allowed).
- Alcohol and drugs: zero tolerance.
- Phone use policies.
- Speed limits on site (typically 10 km/h).
- Children / pets / family visits policy (typically prohibited).
- Site clean and tidy expectations.
- Behaviour standards (no harassment, no discrimination).
Step 5: Capture signed acknowledgement
The worker signs an induction record confirming they have:
- Sighted their white card by you / the supervisor.
- Received the site-specific hazard brief.
- Understood emergency procedures.
- Acknowledged the site rules.
- Will report incidents / near-misses promptly.
The signed record goes into the site sign-on register with the date, worker name, card number, supervisor signature, and the day’s work tasks.
Why generic online inductions don’t suffice
Some builders try to satisfy site induction with a generic 30-minute online module. This DOES NOT satisfy the WHS Reg 317 duty because:
- Site-specific hazards can only be communicated by walking the actual site.
- Plant on site today can change daily.
- Emergency procedures are site-specific (address, exits, contacts).
WorkSafe inspectors who find generic-only inductions on residential sites issue improvement notices or even prohibition notices depending on the gravity. Document a proper site-specific induction for every worker.
Common builder errors
| Error | Cost |
|---|---|
| No induction recorded | WHS prosecution risk; improvement notice |
| Generic online induction only | Doesn’t satisfy duty; improvement notice |
| Same induction re-used week-after-week without site updates | Hazards change; outdated induction |
| Visitor (designer, client) enters active zone without brief | Liability exposure for incidents |
| Subbie’s worker not inducted (subbie assumed responsibility) | Builder still owes duty via contractual chain |
Quick checklist
- White card sighted, number recorded
- Site-specific hazards walked through
- Emergency procedures explained
- Site rules communicated
- Acknowledgement signed in sign-on register
- First-aid kit, exits, assembly point pointed out
- Worker’s specific work task and tools confirmed
For builders
- Run an induction for every new worker, subbie, or visitor. No exceptions.
- Make it 10-15 minutes, focused on this site’s hazards, not generic content.
- Keep the sign-on register current: every entry, every day.
- Update the induction weekly with current hazards (plant changes, scaffold goes up, etc.).
- Audit the register monthly to confirm coverage.
References
- WorkSafe Australia site induction guidance: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au (verified 2026-05-15).
- SafeWork NSW general construction induction: https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au (verified 2026-05-15).
Related
See also
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(Chalkline app: site induction generator. Coming soon.)
Last updated: 2026-05-15. Verified: 2026-05-15.