Generally powerpoint but try maybe putting a video of the CEO or MD telling the workforce in his/her own words what they expect and show leadership in action. Reduce those slides man people will fall asleep, the video will make it personal and powerful

It is one of those things that its easy to say what it should be, but difficult to pull off.

You can't go through everything by rote and still keep them interested - think brevity and focus on key points/ issues. Hammer home a few key points well, and you will have a willing audience next time you deliver something. I'm not saying make it all fun and hand out chocolate bars. Sometimes, especially it you are in a high risk industry, then hard-hitting can be more effective. Ultimately it needs to be memorable. Think of any training/ inductions, etc you've done and what was memorable and why?

An induction is another chance to raise the profile of H&S. For your new staff a load of PP showing rules and procedures is not enough, they have seen it all before.

Think marketing -how would you promote H&S if it was a product.  People ignore safety information when it is same old same old - how many people do you see listening intetntly to the safety instructions at the beginning of a plane flight any more?

When someone promotes a product they don't go over the entire instruction manual, they pick out the key parts/functions and draw you in. To me thats what an induction should be - letting people know enough and making them feel that they want to know more, and where to go to do this.

Like I said, easy to preach how it should be done.

I have been doing H&S inductions for at least 15 years and been subjected to them for many years before that. I have the following points to add:

1. Induction is a form of training but only the first taster (maybe indoctrination is a better word). It should set the tone for how the newbie will perceive H&S in the organisation. A boring self- important presentation will turn off the inductees and you never get them back. A presentation which makes people realise that H&S is an important relevant part of their working lives will make things easier in the long run.

2. Inductions should be as short as possible-just an introduction to what it is about. 90 slides is definitely death by power point.

3. PowerPoint is unfortunately inevitable given the time constraints. I’d love to be given time to set up ice breakers and games and things to get people really thinking about H&S but you will only have a short slot and remember that they will also have to do things like, where the canteen is, how they get paid, holidays and sickness absence and other things which may seem more immediately relevant.

4. As well as short is has to be relevant- don’t do a long introduction to COSHH when many people will be just office based or PUWER for shop floor workers. You may mention this but the more detailed stuff should be delivered as part of its own training. Similarly don’t get involved in on the job stuff; leave that for the line managers. Sell the big picture.

5. Finally give a good enthusiastic impression that the organisation thinks that H&S is the most important subject out there. Don’t be negative and focus on rules and what happens when there is a failure to comply. Show the inductees that H&S is something that they can contribute to-set the ball rolling for establishing a positive H&S culture.