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Safety induction checklist template

New workers are injured at a higher rate than experienced ones, and under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 a PCBU must provide the information, instruction and supervision needed for them to work safely. This checklist covers the first day and the first week, and ends in a signed record.

Who it's for: Managers and supervisors inducting new starters, contractors, labour hire workers and returning workers.

Free to use and adapt · Last updated 2026-07-27 · No email required

Worker and induction details

Worker name
Role and department
Start date
Employment type Employee, contractor, labour hire, volunteer, work experience
Inducted by (name and role)
Emergency contact Next of kin name and phone number

Before day one

  • Role risk assessment reviewed and current
  • Licences, tickets or registrations verified, where the role requires them
  • Pre-existing conditions or adjustments discussed, where disclosed
  • PPE ordered in the correct sizes
  • Workstation, vehicle or equipment ready and checked
  • Buddy or supervisor assigned for the first week
  • System access and ID arranged
  • Monitored safety device or app provisioned, if the role involves lone or remote work

Day one - site and emergency basics

  • Site walk-through: work areas, no-go zones, pedestrian routes
  • Emergency exits, assembly point and evacuation procedure shown in person
  • How to raise the alarm, and when to call 111 directly
  • Location of fire extinguishers and how to raise a fire alarm
  • First aid kit locations and names of trained first aiders
  • Amenities: toilets, drinking water, break areas
  • Incident and hazard reporting: what to report, to whom, and the form or system used
  • Site rules: smoking, phones, speed limits, visitor sign-in
  • Introduction to the health and safety representative or health and safety contact, where one exists

First week - role-specific safety

  • Risk assessments for the worker's tasks walked through, not just handed over
  • Safe operating procedures for equipment demonstrated, then observed in return
  • Manual handling technique for the actual loads in this role
  • Hazardous chemicals used in the role: labels, safety data sheets, storage
  • PPE issued, fitted and its use demonstrated
  • Lone work, check-in and escalation procedure, including the monitored safety device or app where issued
  • Client, patient or customer interaction risks and de-escalation basics, where relevant
  • Fatigue, breaks and maximum shift arrangements explained
  • What the worker must not do until further training is signed off

Sign off

Worker declaration: the items above were explained to me, I was given the chance to ask questions, and I understand my responsibilities. Signed [worker] on [date].

Inductor declaration: I completed this induction and confirmed understanding through questions and observation, not just delivery. Signed [inductor] on [date].

Supervisor to review at the end of week four: any gaps observed, refresher needed, restrictions lifted. Signed [supervisor] on [date].

How to use it

Getting the most out of this template

  • Complete the before-day-one section in the week prior, so day one is about the workplace, not paperwork.
  • Show, don't tell. Walk the exits, point at the assembly area, open the first aid kit.
  • Spread role-specific items across the first week rather than cramming everything into day one.
  • Check understanding by asking the worker to explain items back, and record the sign off.
  • Book the week-four review when you file the form, or it will not happen.

This template is general information, not legal advice. Requirements differ by jurisdiction and industry; check the guidance published by WorkSafe New Zealand and seek advice for your specific circumstances.

Questions

Frequently asked

Do contractors and labour hire workers need the same induction?
Yes. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, the duty of a PCBU extends to anyone whose work it directs or influences, which includes contractors and labour hire workers on site. Their agency may have inducted them generally, but only you can induct them to your site, your hazards and your emergency procedures.
How long should an induction take?
Day one basics take one to two hours for most workplaces. Role-specific items are best spread over the first week alongside supervised work, because a worker retains little from a single marathon session. The week-four review catches whatever did not stick.
What if a worker was inducted at another site of ours?
General policies carry over, but site-specific items do not. Exits, assembly points, first aiders, local hazards and site rules differ per location, so run the site sections again at each new location and record it. It usually takes under an hour for an experienced worker.

The template covers the paperwork. Duress covers the response.