Induction Training Topics for New Employees

Why a Thorough Induction Matters

New starters are among your most vulnerable employees. They don't yet know your site, your routines or the shortcuts that are actually safe. Statistically, people are far more likely to have an accident in their first few months than at any other time in the job. A well-planned induction is your best chance to set the right habits from day one, and it's also a legal expectation under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

The induction doesn't need to be a full day of lectures. What matters is that it's specific to your workplace, that the new starter has a chance to ask questions, and that someone records that it happened. Below are the core topics every small business should cover, along with the practical detail that makes them stick.

Fire Procedures and Emergency Arrangements

Walk the new starter to the actual places, rather than pointing at a diagram. Show them the nearest fire exit, the alternative route in case that one is blocked, and the assembly point outside. Let them hear the alarm if you can trigger a test, so they know what they're listening for.

• Raising the alarm: where the call points are and how to use them.
• Evacuation: the route, the assembly point, and who takes the roll call.
• Fire wardens: introduce them by name and explain what they do.
• Fire doors: explain why they must never be wedged open.
• Extinguishers: show where they are, but be clear that staff should only attempt to fight a fire if they are trained, it is small, and they have a clear escape route.
• Personal emergency evacuation plans: if anyone needs assistance, explain how that's arranged.

Finish by reminding them that fire drills are not optional and that the fire action notices around the building say the same thing.

First Aid Arrangements

People rarely need first aid in their first week, but if they do, they need to know exactly who to find. Cover this before they start work, not afterwards.

• Who the first aiders are: names, job titles and how to reach them.
• Where the first aid kit lives: and who restocks it.
• Emergency contact: how to call 999 and what information the operator will ask for, including the postcode of your premises.
• Defibrillator: if you have one, show its location and confirm whether it's in a cabinet with a code.
• Lone working: if the role involves working alone, set out how they call for help.

Make sure the new starter knows that reporting a small cut or a bumped head is expected, not an inconvenience. Early reporting catches infections and concussion, and it gives you a record if symptoms develop later.

Manual Handling

Manual handling causes more than a third of all workplace injuries reported in the UK, and the damage often builds up over time rather than happening in one dramatic moment. Under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, you must avoid hazardous manual handling where reasonably practicable, assess what can't be avoided, and reduce the risk.

Explain what that means in practice for their role:

• Avoid: use trolleys, sack barrows or delivery to the point of use where you can.
• Assess: talk through the load, the distance, the route and their own capability.
• Reduce: team lifts, split loads, clear the route first, and adjust the height of the task.

Demonstrate a safe lift, then watch them do one. Cover the basics of keeping the load close, bending the knees rather than the back, avoiding twisting while loaded, and never carrying something that blocks their view. Emphasise that asking for help is always the right call and that no one will be criticised for it. If their role involves prolonged display screen use, mention the DSE assessment too.

Accident Reporting and Near Misses

New starters often stay quiet about incidents because they don't want to look clumsy. Say clearly, on their first day, that you want to hear about everything.

• The accident book: show them where it is, or how to complete it electronically, and what details to include.
• Near misses: explain that a trip that didn't quite happen is worth reporting because it points to a hazard you can fix.
• Who to tell: their line manager, in person, on the same day.
• RIDDOR: explain that certain serious injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences must be reported to the Health and Safety Executive, and that their report feeds into that.
• No blame: be explicit that reporting is about prevention, not punishment.

Keep the message simple: if it hurt, or nearly hurt, write it down.

Making the Induction Stick

Don't rely on a single session. Walk the routes with them, introduce the first aiders and fire wardens by name, and give them a short written summary they can refer back to. Ask them to sign to confirm they've received the induction, and keep that record on file.

Then check in again at the end of their first week and again at the end of probation. Ask what they're unsure about, and whether anything they were told matches what actually happens on the shop floor. New starters notice things that longer-serving staff have stopped seeing, so their questions are genuinely useful to you. A thorough induction protects them, protects your business, and quietly shows that you take their safety seriously from the very first morning.