EMPLOYEE SAFETY INDUCTION GUIDE A safety induction is the first formal safety conversation between your organisation and a new worker. It introduces them to the hazards, rules, emergency procedures, and safe work practices relevant to their role and your workplace — before they ever touch a tool, chemical, or piece of equipment. Done well, it sets the tone for your entire safety culture. Done poorly, it leaves new workers guessing — and that is when incidents happen. 01 EMPLOYEE SAFETY INDUCTION GUIDE Who this guide is for: EHS managers, Safety Officers Team Leads HR teams responsible for onboarding Why it matters Reduces incident risk Ensures legal compliance Protects the business Builds safety culture Boosts retention Note: The templates/guides in our Content Library were created by the SDS Manager Team to help you manage site operations effectively. They are provided as reference tools and should be tailored to match your specific project needs, company policies, and industry standards. SDS Manager does not guarantee that these templates meet legal, regulatory, or contractual requirements. Users are responsible for reviewing and adapting each template to ensure compliance with their operational and legal obligations. 02 01. BEFORE THE INDUCTION — PREPARATION CHECKLIST For EHS Managers / Safety Officers A safety induction is only as good as the preparation behind it. Run through this checklist before the new employee's first day. 02. THE 8 CORE TOPICS EVERY SAFETY INDUCTION MUST COVER These are the non-negotiables. Regardless of industry or role, every safety induction should cover all eight of these areas. Adapt the depth to match the specific risks of your workplace. Start here. Before covering specific hazards, employees need to understand your organisation's overall approach to safety — what the rules are, who enforces them, and what happens when they are not followed. EMPLOYEE SAFETY INDUCTION GUIDE Review the role — identify specific hazards tied to the new employee's tasks and workspace. Update your hazard register — confirm it reflects current site conditions. Pull relevant SDS documents — gather all Safety Data Sheets for chemicals the employee may encounter. Prepare the induction pack — this guide, emergency procedures, site map, and sign-off sheet. Book a buddy or mentor — assign a go-to person for the new employee's first week. Check PPE stock — ensure the right equipment is available and sized correctly. For HR and Team Leads Send a pre-arrival welcome email — include a brief overview of what to expect on Day 1. Schedule induction time — block at least 2–3 hours — do not rush this. Prepare the workspace — ensure it is clean, labelled, and free of immediate hazards. Notify the wider team — introduce the new hire so they are not a stranger from the start. 1. Company Safety Policies and Rules • Health and safety policy statement • Reporting lines and who to call in an emergency • Disciplinary consequences for safety breaches • Drug and alcohol policy • Mobile phone and distraction policy on-site