Induction Checklist

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What an induction checklist is and its purpose

An induction checklist lists the introductory briefings a new employee should receive when they start — health and safety, emergency procedures, key policies, the workplace layout and the people and systems they will work with. It is the front end of a wider onboarding process.

Its purpose is to make sure essential, often safety-related, information is delivered consistently to every new starter. For the employer it supports compliance and a safe workplace; for the employee it provides the orientation needed to work confidently from the start.

When an induction checklist is used

• On a new employee’s first day or first few days.
• When someone moves to a new site, location or department.
• When introducing temporary, seasonal or agency workers to a workplace.
• When contractors or visitors need a safety and site briefing.
• When a workplace changes its premises, equipment or key procedures.
• Whenever essential health-and-safety information must be confirmed as delivered.

Elements a well-formed induction checklist includes

• The new starter’s name, role, start date and induction owner.
• Health-and-safety briefing, including emergency and evacuation procedures.
• A tour of the workplace, facilities and key locations.
• Introductions to the team, manager and key contacts.
• An overview of essential policies and where to find them.
• Setup of basic equipment, accounts and access needed to start.
• Role basics, first tasks and who to ask for help.
• Sign-off confirming each briefing was given and understood.

Common mistakes

• Skipping or rushing the health-and-safety and emergency briefing.
• Treating induction as the whole of onboarding rather than its first step.
• Failing to confirm the new starter actually understood key information.
• Cramming every policy and detail into a single overwhelming session.
• Forgetting site-specific risks when someone moves location.
• Not recording sign-off, leaving no evidence the briefing took place.

Best practices

• Cover safety and emergency procedures first and confirm understanding.
• Pace the induction so information is absorbed, not just delivered.
• Pair the new starter with a contact they can ask questions of.
• Tailor the checklist to the specific site and role where needed.
• Capture sign-off and keep the completed checklist as a PDF on file.
• Connect induction clearly into the longer onboarding plan.