Site inductions are an essential part of the construction industry, offering new starters all the essential information they need to perform their role as effectively as possible, as well as keeping themselves and their fellow workers safe.
However, despite them being a legal requirement, site inductions aren’t always the in-depth informative tool they should be, and are often completed in rapid time with the assumption new workers have enough common sense or pre-conceived knowledge to act safely and professionally.
But with more than 20% of fatal workplace accidents in the EU in 2021 taking place in the construction sector, according to data from Eurostat, the need for stringent, safety-imperative site inductions has never been more important.
With this in mind, here are just a few of the dangers of ineffective site inductions – along with potential measures that can be taken to make improvements.
Potential results of poor site inductions
Increased accidents or fatalities
As we’ve already discussed, the very nature of the construction sector makes it prone to accidents and fatalities – but the chances of accidents and fatalities occurring are extrapolated for every worker who is unfamiliar (or not familiar enough) with safe working practices.
As site inductions are often used to hammer home important safety protocols, they remain a massive line of defence between workers and serious injury or worse. But when these inductions are brushed over or aren’t as in-depth as they should be, site workers can be left with insufficient knowledge of what to do in a moment of crisis, or the right knowledge to avoid a moment of crisis in the first place.
To solve this, companies may consider onboarding online site inductions, which workers can complete from the privacy of their own home before their first day. These online inductions can be used to deliver essential safety documents, with candidates unable to move forward until they have read through all provided documents.
This progress can be tracked in the platform and reported back to the site manager, to guarantee a worker has at the very least viewed the required information, offering a degree of peace of mind and reassurance for site managers in the event of legal issues later down the line.
Decreased productivity due to poor working practices
Along with safety guidance, site inductions can also be used to deliver useful details on effective working practices, which can be catered depending on the type of site in question. However, these can often be overlooked if the new starters have experience in working on other sites – it can easily be assumed they’re familiar with best practices already.
This can lead to a decrease in site productivity when it begins to occur in larger numbers, potentially costing precious time and putting the pre-agreed completion date at risk of being missed. But with online site inductions, work practices can be presented as a matter of priority for new starters, no matter their experience level, and can be backed up with assessments the candidate needs to complete before they begin – proving they’re familiar with the material in question and saving wasted productivity down the line.
Unsuitable workers gaining access to sites
On the subject of assessments, such tools can be useful in determining exactly which workers are suitable to fulfil their duties on specific sites. Even if a worker seemingly has all the qualifications they need for entry, site managers are still able to make assessments part of the online inductions to guarantee they know what they’re doing – rather than relying solely on a new starter’s work history and certificates.
If a new starter doesn’t perform adequately during this initial assessment, it is a good indicator that further training may be required if they are to successfully follow safety procedures and work in a productive yet professional manner. It is at this point site managers can decide whether or not to offer such training, or to replace the candidate with someone more suitable to the role.
Online site inductions are an effective information delivery tool
If you’re looking for a way to save time on your construction site, while also boosting productivity and overall site safety, substituting lengthy in-person inductions with online inductions may be the change you’re looking for.
