Top 10 HSEQ training modules for new workers in Australia

A new worker should complete ten HSEQ (health, safety, environment and quality) training modules before they work unsupervised: site orientation, hazard identification and risk assessment, emergency evacuation, first aid, personal protective equipment (PPE), manual handling, fire safety, chemical and asbestos awareness, working at heights, and the policies that cover privacy and IT use. The first nine are WHS training. The last one is good business practice, not a WHS duty. Deliver them early, record each one, and check that the worker can use what they learned.

New people are the most likely to be hurt. They don't know the site, the equipment or the way the crew works, and they often don't like to ask questions on their first day. Training fills that gap, and the paperwork shows you did it.

What the law expects

Under section 19 of the WHS Act, a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must do what is reasonably practicable to keep workers safe. That includes giving them the information, training, instruction and supervision they need. Section 28 then requires workers to take reasonable care and follow reasonable instructions. A worker can only do that if they have been shown how.

Training is not a one-off. Refresh it when the work changes, when a new hazard appears, or when an incident shows a gap. Check your state's regulator for any extra requirements, such as licences or certificates for specific work.

The ten modules

1. Site safety orientation

This is the foundation. Cover your safety policies, how to report hazards and incidents, who the safety contacts are, and where the first aid kit, fire extinguishers and exits are. Walk the site with the new worker rather than handing them a handbook.

Useful documents:

• Induction checklist: a list to tick off with the worker on day one.
• Worker training and induction register: a record of what each worker has completed and when.

2. Hazard identification and risk assessment

Teach workers to spot a hazard, rate how serious it is and pick a control. Use real jobs from your own site. Show them the hierarchy of controls, so they know that removing a hazard beats wearing PPE against it.

3. Emergency evacuation

Workers should know the alarm sounds, the assembly point, the roll-call process and who is responsible for each area. Run a drill at least once in the first month and record the time it takes to clear the building.

A general emergency response procedure gives the crew one set of steps to follow.

4. First aid and CPR

Show new workers where the first aid kit is, who the trained first aid officers are, and how to call for help and give the site address clearly. Workers who hold a current first aid or CPR certificate should show it on their first day, and you should keep a register of it.

The first aid worker register helps you track who is qualified and when their certificate expires. The first aid policy sets out how your site responds.

5. PPE

Cover which PPE the task needs, how to fit it, how to check it for damage, and how to clean and store it. Show them the replacement process too. A worker who doesn't know when a hard hat is past its life will keep wearing it.

The PPE policy sets the rules, and the PPE register records what each worker has been issued.

6. Manual handling

Teach workers to plan the lift, check the load, get help with heavy or awkward items, and use mechanical aids where they exist. Practise the technique with a real load, not a textbook diagram.

The manual handling risk assessment form helps you record the tasks that need controls. The manual handling SOP gives the steps for each task.

7. Fire safety

Cover how fires start on your site, how to use each type of extinguisher, when to fight a fire and when to leave, and how to raise the alarm. Keep the training short and practical. Show the extinguisher types on the wall where they hang.

8. Chemical and asbestos awareness

Workers need to read a safety data sheet, know the hazard symbols, store chemicals safely and know what to do after a spill. Asbestos is a separate and serious risk in older buildings. Anyone who may disturb building material should be able to recognise it and stop work if they suspect it. Removing asbestos needs a licence and specialised training, so new workers should never start that work on their own.

The asbestos management plan and the chemical spill emergency response plan give your crew a single reference for these risks.

9. Working at heights

Falls from height are a serious risk on many jobs. Train workers to inspect ladders and scaffolds, choose the right platform, use fall-restraint or fall-arrest equipment, and rescue a suspended worker. Don't let anyone work at height until they have been trained on the equipment they will use.

Use a working at height risk assessment checklist before each job, and check the falls prevention checklist on site.

10. Privacy and IT use

Workers need to know how your business handles their personal information, what they can and can't do with company devices, and how to spot a phishing email. This is not a WHS requirement, but it protects the business and your staff. Cover it in the same induction so it doesn't get skipped.

The training policy sets out how your training is planned, delivered and recorded.

Build a training plan that works

Run the induction before the worker starts any task. Keep the modules short, and mix talking with doing. Test understanding with questions such as "What do you do if the extinguisher is empty?" and watch the worker perform the task rather than relying on a signed form alone.

How SafetyDocs helps

SafetyDocs has over 1,250 expert-written templates, including induction checklists, training registers, emergency procedures and policies. The job, client and site details fill themselves in, so the paperwork takes minutes, not an afternoon.

Workers can sign the induction on any phone from a text, link or QR code, with no app or account. A site tablet in kiosk mode works for workers without a phone. If you change a document, everyone who signed is asked to sign the new version, so you always know who has seen the current one. Each job also keeps a dated activity log of who read and signed what.

Start free and set up your induction pack in one sitting.

Common questions

Do new workers need training before they start?

Yes, if they will work on your site. Give them the information, training and supervision they need before they start any task that could hurt them. A worker who has not been trained should not be doing the work unsupervised.

How often should training be refreshed?

Refresh training when the work changes, when new equipment or a new hazard arrives, or after an incident. Some tickets, such as first aid, have their own renewal period. Keep a register so you can see when each one expires.

Do I have to record training?

The law doesn't set a form for it, but you need to be able to show what each worker was trained on. A training register is the simplest way to do that.

Is online safety training part of HSEQ?

It is part of good business practice, but it is not a WHS duty. Include it if it helps your team, and keep it separate from the safety modules so it doesn't crowd out the training that matters on site.

This is general information, not legal advice. Check the current law with your WHS regulator.