Free Tool · All Australian States · No Signup Required
WHS Induction Checklist Builder
Generate a complete, custom site induction checklist for your construction project. Select your state, site type, and work types present — and get a print-ready WHS induction document in minutes.
A site induction checklist built around your project — in minutes
Generic PDF templates don't reflect the actual hazards and controls on your specific site. This tool generates a checklist tailored to your state's WHS requirements, the type of site you're running, and the specific work being carried out.
Step 1 — Enter your project details. Company name, site address, site manager, and date. This populates the induction document header.
Step 2 — Select your state. Each state has different WHS legislation, regulator contacts, and specific requirements for construction. The tool adds state-specific items automatically.
Step 3 — Select your site type. Residential, commercial, civil, renovation, or demolition. Each adds relevant checklist items — for example, demolition sites require asbestos survey confirmation and structural engineer sign-off.
Step 4 — Select work types present. Any high-risk construction work (HRCW) — excavation, scaffolding, working at heights, confined spaces, cranes, and more — triggers a dedicated checklist module with SWMS reference requirements.
Step 5 — Add site-specific hazards. Enter any hazards particular to your site (e.g. overhead powerlines, proximity to road, contaminated soil) and they're included as custom items.
Generate and print. Your complete site induction checklist is produced instantly. Print it, have workers sign the acknowledgement section, and retain it as part of your site WHS records.
What's always included — mandatory WHS induction items
Regardless of your state or site type, every checklist covers the mandatory items required by Safe Work Australia's model WHS Regulations and state equivalents:
Emergency procedures — evacuation routes, muster point, alarm signal, emergency contacts, fire extinguisher locations.
First aid — kit location, first aider contact details, nearest medical facility.
Incident reporting — near miss reporting, incident register, notifiable incident obligations.
Site rules — drug and alcohol policy, PPE requirements, mobile phone policy, housekeeping, traffic management.
Safe work documentation — safety management plan location, right to cease unsafe work, HSR arrangements, SWMS review obligations.
Acknowledgement section — worker sign-off with space for name, signature, and date. Retained as evidence of induction.
High-risk construction work (HRCW) — automatically added
When you select any work type that triggers HRCW obligations under the model WHS Regulations, the tool automatically adds a dedicated module covering the specific WHS requirements for that activity.
Excavation — Dial Before You Dig confirmation, shoring requirements for excavations over 1.5m, permit to excavate.
Each HRCW module includes a SWMS review confirmation item — ensuring the requirement to review and sign SWMS before commencing HRCW is documented in the induction.
Frequently Asked Questions
A construction site induction must cover emergency procedures, first aid, incident reporting obligations, PPE requirements, site rules (drugs, alcohol, mobile phones), traffic management, environmental controls, and the site's WHS management system. Any high-risk construction work (HRCW) present on site requires SWMS to be reviewed as part of the induction or before commencing that work. State-specific requirements — regulator contacts, legislation references, and any jurisdiction-specific rules — also apply.
Yes. The tool covers all 8 Australian states and territories: NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, ACT, TAS, and NT. When you select your state, the checklist automatically includes state-specific items — correct regulator name, legislation reference, regulator contact number, and any state-specific construction requirements. VIC operates under the OHS Act 2004 rather than the model WHS Act, and this is reflected in the VIC-specific items.
The checklist generated by this tool is a starting point, not a complete WHS management system. It is suitable for use as a site induction record when printed, completed, and signed by workers. However, principal contractors are also required to maintain a Safety Management Plan (SMP), ensure SWMS are prepared and reviewed for HRCW, and implement the full WHS management system for the project. This tool generates the induction component — consult a WHS professional for your full safety management system.
Every person who enters the construction site to perform work — employees, subcontractors, labour hire workers, and volunteers — must complete the site induction before commencing work. Visitors who will be on site briefly are generally covered by a shorter visitor induction and must be accompanied by an inducted worker. A fresh site induction is required for each new project or when a worker's role significantly changes.
The site induction should be reviewed and updated whenever: (1) a new significant hazard or work type is introduced to the site, (2) emergency procedures or site contacts change, (3) there is a significant incident or near miss, or (4) workers take on new roles or activities. For long-running projects, a periodic refresh induction every 6–12 months is good practice. WHS regulations are also reviewed annually by Safe Work Australia — check this tool for updates.
A site induction is a general introduction to the site — covering emergency procedures, rules, PPE, reporting, and the overall WHS management framework. It applies to everyone who works on the site. A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is a task-specific document that identifies the steps involved in a specific high-risk construction work activity, the hazards involved, and the controls to manage those hazards. SWMS are required for every HRCW activity and must be reviewed and signed by workers before they commence that specific task. The site induction should reference SWMS and confirm workers know they must review relevant SWMS before starting HRCW.