Visitor Induction /Task Induction

This document details a check list for use with new visitors, and a procedure for ensuring
that staff who are unfamiliar with a process are given adequate supervision and training
in new tasks.

Induction checklist for visitors

Induction is the responsibility of the supervisor or host and should include the following
items listed below. The amount of detail will depend on the duration and complexity of
the visit. It is important to cover specific departmental procedures as these may vary
widely within each campus.
Location and use of facilities (e.g. common room, toilets, lockers, first aid, etc).
Building emergency procedures (e.g. emergency notification, evacuation route,
assembly point).
Safety features available in the building, such as fire fighting equipment, safety
showers, eye wash, spill kits etc
Department/School/Institute/Section policies or rules.
As it is the responsibility of the host/supervisor/colleague with whom the
visitor/postgraduate/post-doctoral fellow will be working to fulfill obligations (under
the Health and Safety in Employment Act), the host needs to ensure the safety of their
work by:
o Identifying all significant hazards that are associated with the work of the
visitor, postgraduate visitor or post-doctoral fellow.
o Reviewing the hazard control hierarchy of actions required to eliminate,
isolate or minimise any significant hazards identified.
o Advising the co-worker how to do the work safely.
Requirement to report accidents or visit or study related injury, the injury claims
process, and the rehabilitation process.
Location of lists of emergency personnel.
Identity of elected health and safety representatives or safety support personnel.
Health and safety responsibilities and designated roles.
Personal protective equipment use and maintenance.
Locking and security of premises.
After hours registers.
Confidentiality.
Relevant University policies, regulations and procedures
Record of evaluation of individual competency to manage specific hazards associated
with study or research area, for example, isotopes, infectious or hazardous substances.
Record any licensing and certification renewal, including records of process-specific
knowledge of regulatory and organizational standards.
Legislative and risk assessment approvals required for projects involving; people,
animal ethics, Genetically Modified Organisms, new organisms, hazardous
substances and so on.

363697076.doc, drafted 2001, reviewed February 2007 1

Task Induction
Introduce the work space and equipment
Explain and demonstrate the task (simplify the task as much as possible, and provide
written checklists where necessary).
Clarify what is expected by way of outputs (e.g. standards and deadlines).
Identify hazards associated with the task, equipment, material or working
environment, including hazard register documents or software that relates hazards to
tasks and areas.
Explain safety and emergency procedures associated with any hazards.
Check that the employee understands what is expected.
Ensure the person is able to carry out the task by assessing or observing.
Arrange additional coaching if necessary.
Check using bring-up reminder facility to ensure the task is being carried out
competently.

It is essential to repeat the task induction for each new task. For repetitive process
work, or work which involves static postures (e.g. keyboard use) task induction must
include hazard information to avoid conditions such as occupational overuse
syndrome.

A systematic introduction to each task is especially important for visitors, and casual or
contract personnel as they are expected to get up to speed more quickly. As a result, they
are more likely to have accidents if not adequately inducted.

Legal compliance
The primary responsibility to visitors is to take "all practicable steps to ensure that no
action or inaction of any employee while at work harms any other person".

A reliable basis for demonstrating "no action or inaction" with respect to visitors is to use
the responsibilities of an employer to an employee as a de facto standard. We can
interpret the employer's responsibilities to staff as applying to visitors, subject to the
phrase "all practicable steps".

363697076.doc, drafted 2001, reviewed February 2007 2