CDM 2015 requires every person arriving on a construction site to receive a site induction before they start work. The duty falls on the principal contractor. A site induction that is poorly delivered, covers the wrong information, or is not recorded exposes the principal contractor to enforcement risk and, more critically, leaves workers on site without the information they need to stay safe.
This guide covers the legal basis for site inductions, what a suitable induction must cover, who is responsible for delivering them, and what records to keep.
The legal basis
CDM 2015 Regulation 13(4)(a) states that the principal contractor must ensure "a suitable site induction is provided." This is a direct legal duty on the principal contractor — not a general recommendation and not delegable without retaining the underlying obligation.
CDM 2015 Regulation 15(9) adds detail. Contractors must provide workers with information that includes:
- a suitable site induction (Regulation 15(9)(a))
- the procedures to be followed in the event of serious and imminent danger (Regulation 15(9)(b))
- information on the risks to their health and safety identified by the risk assessment (Regulation 15(9)(c))
- any other relevant information they need before starting work
The site induction is the mechanism through which most of this information is delivered before the worker is exposed to site hazards.
CDM 2015 Regulation 13(4)(a) is where the site induction actually sits: the principal contractor must ensure that "a suitable site induction is provided". Separately, Regulation 14(b) requires the principal contractor to "consult those workers or their representatives in good time on matters connected with the project which may affect their health, safety or welfare, in so far as they or their representatives have not been similarly consulted by their employer" — note that closing limb, which the duty is qualified by. Inductions are part of this — they are the starting point of the ongoing consultation obligation.
CDM 2015 Regulation 15(7) says a contractor "must not employ or appoint a person to work on a construction site unless that person has, or is in the process of obtaining, the necessary skills, knowledge, training and experience to carry out the tasks allocated to that person". That second limb matters: an apprentice or a trainee part-way through a qualification is lawfully employable, so this is not an absolute possession test. What an induction can properly surface is a worker who has neither the competence nor a route to it for the task they are about to do — or who is unaware of site-specific hazards such as buried services or restricted zones. That is a trigger to change the allocation or supervise it, rather than an automatic bar on the worker.
Who must receive a site induction?
Every person working on the construction site must receive a suitable site induction before they start work. This includes:
- Subcontractor employees and operatives — the most obvious group, but induction records must be held for each named operative, not just each company
- Self-employed operatives — the induction obligation applies regardless of employment status
- Supervisors and site managers from subcontractors — supervisors have specific responsibilities for directing operatives and must understand the site rules they are responsible for enforcing
- Specialist contractors and engineers on short visits — a condensed visitor induction at minimum
- Inspectors, surveyors, and client representatives who regularly access the construction area
Workers who return to site after an extended absence — particularly if site conditions have changed significantly — should receive a refresher induction covering the specific changes. A CSCS card from a previous visit does not substitute for knowledge of changed conditions.
What a suitable site induction must cover
"Suitable" in CDM 2015 terms means appropriate to the hazards present on the specific site, not a standard checklist applied uniformly to every project. A site induction for a fit-out project in a fully enclosed office building is not suitable for a live civil engineering site with traffic management hazards, excavations, and adjacent occupied properties.
The construction phase plan is the primary source for induction content. CDM 2015 requires the CPP to be prepared before construction starts and to address the specific hazards on the project. A site induction that does not draw on the CPP is not engaging with the project-specific risks.
A suitable site induction for a typical multi-contractor project should cover:
Site boundaries and access. Where the site boundary runs, how to access the site, where deliveries are received, and the rules for vehicle movements within the site.
Emergency arrangements. Where the assembly point is, what the emergency alarm looks like and sounds like, who the first aiders are and where the first aid kit is, what to do in the event of a fire or other evacuation trigger, and who to call if the site phone is not reachable.
Hazards specific to this site. Buried services locations (gas, electricity, water, telecommunications), any areas of known contamination, proximity to live rail or live highway infrastructure, overhead power lines, and any structures with known instability.
The construction phase plan. Workers must know the CPP exists, how to access it, and that they are required to comply with it. Key sections relevant to their trade should be highlighted — they are not expected to read the entire document but must know how to access it.
Restricted zones and permit areas. Any area that requires a permit to work before entry — confined spaces, excavations, roofing work areas, areas near energised electrical systems — must be identified and the permit process explained.
Welfare facilities. Where the toilets and washing facilities are, the location of rest areas, and the site's policy on eating, drinking, and smoking on site.
PPE requirements. The mandatory PPE for general site access (hard hat, high-visibility vest, safety footwear as a minimum on most projects) and any elevated requirements for specific areas or activities.
Reporting. What to do if an operative identifies a hazard, an unsafe condition, a near miss, or an incident. Workers must know who to report to and understand that reporting is expected, not penalised.
CDM duty holder contacts. The name and contact details of the principal contractor's site manager. On notifiable projects, workers should also know that a principal designer exists and has CDM responsibilities during the pre-construction phase.
How long should a site induction take?
There is no prescribed duration in CDM 2015. An induction should take as long as is needed to cover all material relevant to the site. For a straightforward fit-out project on a medium-complexity site, 30-45 minutes is typical. For a major civil engineering project with multiple hazard zones, concurrent trades, and complex traffic management, a 60-90 minute induction covering all the above areas is appropriate.
Inductions that are nominally delivered in five minutes are almost always inadequate. If the induction is so brief that workers cannot retain the specific emergency arrangement information, the restricted zone boundaries, and the CPP access instructions, it is not "suitable" for CDM purposes.
Induction records
The site induction record should capture:
- Date of induction
- Full name of the person inducted
- Company (employer or self-employed status)
- Trade or role
- Signature confirming the induction was received
Attendance registers rather than individual signatures are common in practice, but individual signatures are preferable — they confirm the individual received the information and create a record the individual can be held to.
If an investigation follows an incident, the induction record is the primary document showing the worker received specific site information before the incident. A register with illegible signatures, a register showing the worker was not inducted, or no record at all each create significant liability exposure.
The site induction register should be retained for the duration of the project and, for notifiable projects, should be available for inspection if HSE visits.
Inductions and subcontractor management
Site inductions sit within the broader subcontractor compliance obligation. Receiving a CSCS card and checking EL insurance are pre-appointment steps. The site induction happens at the point the operative arrives on site — and it is the last gate before they are exposed to live site hazards.
The principal contractor must not allow operatives to start work who have not received an induction, regardless of the subcontractor's assurances that the operative is competent. Competence verification and site-specific hazard briefing are separate obligations; the induction delivers the second.
For the document collection and verification steps that happen before operatives arrive on site, see our subcontractor onboarding documents guide. For the construction phase plan that induction content should draw from, see our guide to construction phase plans.
SubComply tracks induction records alongside document compliance — so your site register is always accessible and tied to the subcontractor records for each operative.
Sources
- The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/51), Regulations 13, 14, 15
- HSE L153 — Managing health and safety in construction: CDM 2015. Guidance on Regulations
- HSE — CDM 2015 guidance
This guide is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. For project-specific compliance questions, consult a qualified health and safety professional.
Last reviewed: 2 September 2026