A site induction is the process of briefing every person who enters a construction site for the first time about the hazards, rules, and emergency procedures specific to that site. Under CDM 2015, the principal contractor has a legal duty to ensure that no one works on site without a suitable induction. It is not optional.
A good site induction should cover the following: an overview of the project, the site rules (PPE requirements, working hours, welfare facilities), the specific hazards on site (such as live services, asbestos, working at height), the emergency procedures (fire assembly points, first aiders, accident reporting), and how to report unsafe conditions or near misses.
Keep the induction practical and relevant. Workers who sit through a 90-minute generic slideshow will not remember anything useful. Focus on the hazards that will actually affect them today. Use photos or a site walk to make it real. Ask questions to check understanding rather than just ticking a box.
Every person who receives a site induction must sign a register confirming they have attended and understood the content. This register is a legal document. If something goes wrong on site and the HSE investigates, the induction register is one of the first things they will ask to see.
Running inductions manually takes time that site managers rarely have. FORGE Command includes induction templates tailored to different project types, automatic register tracking, and the ability to share induction materials digitally before workers even arrive on site.