Safety Inspections

Safety Inspections

This workbook was developed by the: Certification Services Worker & Employer Services Division WorkSafeBC P.O. Box 5350 Vancouver, B.C. V6B 5L5

This is a health and safety related document. It is not copyrighted and you are encouraged to copy the document as necessary.

For more information contact the WorkSafeBC Information Line at 604-276-3100 or toll free at1-888-621-7233.

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February 2009 (Revised)

Table of Contents
Section
Introduction Planning Meeting the Legal Requirements for Safety Inspections General Requirements Developing an Inspection Program Guidelines for Inspectors Inspectors Management Supervisors Workers Qualified Inspectors Frequency of Inspections Inspection Procedures Recording the Safety Inspection Hazard Ratings Follow-upMonitoring Conclusion Safety Inspection Program (flow chart) Appendix 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Sample Inspection Checklist Guidelines Sample Inspection Checklist for Offices Sample Driver’s Daily Checklist Sample Cleaning Area Checklist Sample Loading Dock/Warehouse Inspection Checklist Sample Checklist for Hazardous Materials Sample Office Inspection Hazard Rating List Example Inspection ReportSample Inspection Report Form 19 21 23 25 26 27 28 30 33 3

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February 2009 (Revised)

Introduction
Effective safety and health inspections are one of the most important incident/accident prevention tools in a company's safety and health program. Using properly trained inspectors in a planned inspection program will reduce incidents andproperty damage. An effective safety inspection program will improve worker communication, company morale and, over time, save the employer money.

Too often, safety inspections are aimed primarily at finding and recording unsafe conditions. This narrow focus tends to ignore other causes of incidents, such as unsafe actions and personal factors. In addition, workers and supervisors are generallywell aware of the inspection teams arrival a day or two before the inspection. This warning system sometimes creates a preparatory atmosphere before the inspectors arrive. That means the inspectors often observe the workplace and those within it only on a superficial basis. The result is that safety inspectors rarely see the actual situations that are causing the incidents, injuries and propertydamage. In order for your inspection team to be effective, they must inspect the workplace in its day-to-day status. They must see the activities and the conditions in which incidents, injuries and property damage occur.

An inspection program takes planning, preparation and training. For inspectors to do a good job, they must receive training in what to look for and what to look at. There mustbe a guidance system in place to maintain consistency of inspections. A provision for recording and reporting any deficiencies to management, the safety committee and supervisors. The last part of the system should provide a means of follow up and the monitoring of any deficiencies identified.

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February 2009 (Revised)

Planning
Safety and health inspection programs require planning. Itis important that employers have adequate policies and procedures in establishing their safety inspection programs. Responsibility and accountability must be assigned, identifying who inspectors are and when inspections will be done. The primary focus of this program should be accident prevention, through the maintenance of safe working conditions and the removal of any potential hazards thatarise in the workplace. Good inspection programs will also identify the items to be inspected and then set standards to be maintained in the workplace by supervision and workers. The program should include a system that will record inspections done and ensure that any problems identified are corrected by a responsible person who has the ability to carry out the necessary changes. A follow-up system,...