First Week Construction Site Checklist for New Workers

In your first week on a construction site, the most important things to do are to complete the site induction, find out where welfare and first aid are, check your PPE, learn how to report hazards and ask questions whenever you are unsure. This checklist walks you through the first week in a sensible order, alongside HSE's guidance for construction workers.

Key takeaways

Do not start work until you have had the site induction, and ask for it if nobody has mentioned it.
On day one, find out where the welfare facilities, first aid and emergency exits are, and what the alarm sounds like.
Check that your PPE is the right type, fits properly and is in good condition, and ask if it is not.
Workers have a duty to look after their own safety and that of others, follow instructions and training, and report anything likely to cause harm.
Never use equipment, plant or access methods you have not been trained and authorised to use.
Asking questions is part of working safely, and a good supervisor would rather answer a lot of questions than deal with one accident.

Before you arrive

A little preparation makes the first morning easier.

[ ] Confirm the start time, the site address and who to report to.
[ ] Ask whether there are any entry requirements, such as a particular card or training certificates.
[ ] Bring your card, if you have one, and any training certificates your employer asked for.
[ ] Wear suitable clothing and footwear, and bring the PPE your employer told you to bring.
[ ] Plan your journey so that you can arrive in good time and not rush.

If you are unsure what the site expects of you, ask your employer before your first day. Do not wait until you are standing at the gate.

Day one: induction and orientation

Most site procedures require an induction before work starts (general site practice). HSE's guidance for workers explains the roles and responsibilities that apply to you, and the induction is where you learn the site-specific information that makes those responsibilities practical.

During the induction, listen for and write down:

the site rules, including where you can and cannot go
the emergency arrangements: alarm, assembly point and how to raise the alarm
where the first aid arrangements are and who the first aiders are
where the welfare facilities are, such as toilets, washing facilities and rest areas
the main hazards on this site, such as excavations, traffic routes or work at height
the PPE the site requires and where it applies
how to report hazards, near misses and accidents
who your supervisor is and who to ask if you are unsure

If something is unclear, ask. If the induction is short and does not cover these points, ask your supervisor to fill the gaps. Keep in mind that a card, however good, does not replace this induction. See our guide to site induction for more detail.

Days two and three: learn the routine

Once you have been through the induction, spend a couple of days getting to know the site.

[ ] Walk the routes you will use every day and note the pedestrian and vehicle routes.
[ ] Look at where the nearest fire point, first aid kit and emergency exit are from your work area.
[ ] Learn who is working near you, and how your task might affect theirs.
[ ] Ask your supervisor to show you the plan or method for your task, including any risk assessment or method statement that covers it.
[ ] Check that you have been shown how to use any tools or equipment properly, and that you are allowed to use them.
[ ] Watch how experienced colleagues work, but do not copy shortcuts that look unsafe.
[ ] Tell your supervisor about any health condition or limit that could affect the safety of your work, in confidence if you prefer.

If you are asked to do something you have not been trained for, say so. Telling a supervisor you are not trained is not a failure. It is how new starters stay safe.

Your PPE

PPE is the last line of defence, but it still matters. Check it every day.

Check	What to look for
Fit	Does it fit you properly and stay in place?
Condition	Is it clean, undamaged and working as intended?
Suitability	Is it the right type for the task and the hazard?
Training	Have you been shown how to wear, adjust and look after it?
Replacement	Do you know how to get a replacement if it is worn or damaged?
Site rules	Do you know where and when the site requires you to wear it?

If your PPE is damaged or does not suit the task, tell your supervisor. Do not carry on and hope for the best. The control measures on site, such as edge protection and exclusion zones, work together with PPE, so never remove or interfere with them.

Reporting hazards and incidents

HSE's construction safety topics page covers hazards including work at height, mobile plant and vehicles, electrical safety and fire. You are not expected to know everything in your first week, but you are expected to report what you see.

Report:

anything that looks unsafe, such as missing guardrails, damaged equipment, blocked exits or poor housekeeping
near misses, where something nearly caused harm
any injury, however minor, and any damage to property
conditions that change, such as weather, a new trade starting or an area being altered

Report to your supervisor, or follow whatever process the site explained at induction. You should not be criticised for reporting in good faith. If you feel that nobody is listening, raise it with the site's safety team, your employer or a safety representative.

Day four and five: check in and review

By the end of the week you should feel more settled. Use this time to review.

[ ] Can you explain the emergency arrangements without looking them up?
[ ] Do you know who your first aiders and your supervisor are?
[ ] Have you been trained for every task and piece of equipment you are using?
[ ] Are there any gaps in your induction or training that you should raise?
[ ] Do you know how to report a hazard or an accident?
[ ] Have you asked the questions that came up during the week?
[ ] Have you looked after your own welfare, including taking breaks and staying hydrated?

Talk to your supervisor about how the week has gone. Most supervisors welcome a short conversation and will use it to fix anything that has been missed.

What the law expects of you

Under section 7 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, you must take reasonable care for your own health and safety and that of others, and co-operate with your employer. HSE's worker page says you must report anything likely to endanger health and safety. Read the HSE page for the full detail, and see our page on worker responsibilities on site.

If you are getting ready for the CITB operatives test, our free practice questions can help. The test has 50 questions, lasts 45 minutes and has a 90% pass mark (at least 45 of 50). This site is independent and not affiliated with CSCS or CITB, and practice here is not an official result.

Worked example: a new starter's first morning

Consider a new operative, Jo, who arrives at a site for a first day. This is an illustration of how the checklist works in practice, not a description of any particular site.

Jo reports to the person named by the employer, shows a card and is asked to sign in. The induction follows. Jo notes down the alarm, the assembly point, the first aider and the welfare area, and asks where the vehicle routes run because the induction did not mention them. The inducting manager adds that detail, which is exactly what the question was for.

After the induction, the supervisor gives Jo a first task: stacking materials near the work area. Jo asks three things before starting. Is there a method statement or plan for this task? Is there anything I should not touch without training? Where should I stack so that routes stay clear? The supervisor answers, and also says that a nearby area is closed off for other work, so Jo knows to stay out.

Mid-morning, Jo sees a colleague from another trade working without a part of the required PPE. Jo does not lecture anyone, but mentions it to the supervisor at the next break. Later Jo notices that a barrier has been moved and the walkway beside it is now narrower than before. Jo reports that too, since conditions that change are on the list of things to report.

At the end of the day Jo jots down what went well and what was unclear, and checks the next day's start time and task. By the second morning, Jo already knows the routes, the people and the rules.

The lessons are straightforward. Jo asked questions early, did not assume the induction covered everything, and reported what looked wrong without waiting.

Common questions on site

New starters often hesitate over small things that matter. Use this as a quick reference.

Question	Sensible approach
Nobody has mentioned an induction	Ask your supervisor before you start work
Your PPE is the wrong size or is damaged	Tell your supervisor and get a replacement before carrying on
You are asked to use a machine you do not know	Say you have not been trained and ask for training or for a trained person
You are unsure where to go in an emergency	Ask for the assembly point to be shown, and walk the route
A colleague suggests a shortcut that looks unsafe	Do not copy it, and raise it with your supervisor if it worries you
You do not know whom to tell about a hazard	Ask who to report to and note the answer

None of these questions are silly. Supervisors generally expect them in the first week, and asking early is far cheaper than fixing an accident.

How the week links to the other guides

This checklist sits alongside two other guides. To understand what a good induction covers and why it matters, read site induction explained. To see your duties as a worker in more detail, read worker responsibilities on site. Use the checklist for the week itself, the induction guide to judge what you were told, and the responsibilities guide to understand why speaking up and reporting are expected of you.

FAQ

What should I do on my first day on a construction site?

Report to the person you were told to see, complete the site induction, and find out where the welfare facilities, first aid and emergency exits are. Check your PPE and ask about anything you are unsure of. Do not start work until you have been inducted.

Do I need an induction even if I have a CSCS card?

Yes. A card shows you have met a scheme's test or qualification requirement. It does not tell you about the hazards, rules and emergency arrangements on this particular site, which the induction covers.

What if I am asked to do something I have not been trained to do?

Say so and do not start the task. Tell your supervisor that you have not been trained, and ask to be shown the safe way or to have someone suitable do it. Using plant or equipment you are not trained and authorised to use puts you and others at risk.

Who do I tell if I see something unsafe?

Tell your supervisor, or use the reporting process explained at your induction. If the danger is immediate, keep people away and raise the alarm first. Reporting in good faith is part of your duties as a worker.

Sources

Independent guide, not affiliated with, authorised by, approved by or endorsed by CSCS or CITB. Last updated 2026-10-08.