EFFECTIVE PLANNED

WORKPLACE
SAFETY INSPECTIONS
THE
INSPECTION
PROCESS
 PRETEST
IDENTIFICATION OF WORKPLACE
HAZARDS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF
THE INSPECTION PROCESS.
TRUE/FALSE

INSPECTIONS MUST BE CONDUCTED

BY THE SAFETY OFFICER ONLY.
TRUE/FALSE
 PRETEST
HAZARDS FOUND IN THE WORKPLACE
SHOULD BE CORRECTED AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
TRUE/FALSE

INDOOR AIR QUALITY ISSUES ARE PART

OF THE INSPECTION PROCESS.
TRUE/FALSE
 GOALS
CREATE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING
OF THE INSPECTION PROCESS.
LEARN HOW TO IDENTIFY SAFETY
HAZARDS.
LEARN HOW TO CONTROL
IDENTIFIED HAZARDS.
DID YOU KNOW?
WORKPLACE HAZARDS-
Can cause:
Death
Injury
Damage to equipment
INSPECTIONS HELP…
Maintain a safe work
environment
Control unsafe acts and
conditions
Ensure operational
efficiency
WHAT TO INSPECT?
 The entire workplace

 Both interior &

exterior work
environments.
SAFETY INSPECTION
•Provides a reliable way for identifying,
correcting and eliminating conditions
and behaviors that could cause or
contribute to injuries, illnesses and
damages.

•Inspections are needed because nothing

is completely risk-free
Things wear out
Conditions change
People are not perfect

•Usually a proactive approach

PURPOSE OF SAFETY
INSPECTION
PRIMARY PURPOSE

•Detect and correct hazards

•Assess Effectiveness of OSH Program

•Display visible management commitment to OSH

•Identify Training Needs

•Fulfill Legal Obligations

SECONDARY PURPOSE

•To improve operations, increase efficiency,

effectiveness and profitability.
TYPES OF INSPECTION

•Continuous Inspection
•Periodic/Interval Inspection

Regular Inspections
General Inspections
•Emergency Inspection
CONTINUOUS INSPECTION
•An inspection conducted as part of the
workers job responsibilities in noting and
correcting potential danger.

•Itinvolves noting an apparently or

potentially hazardous conditions or
unsafe procedure and either correcting it
immediately or making a report to
initiate corrective action

•Sometimes called informal inspection

because it does not conform to a set
schedule, plan or checklist.
EMERGENCY INSPECTION

•Aninspection focused on the

components of machinery,
equipment, materials, structures or
areas likely to result in an immediate
unwanted incident

•Anunscheduled inspection may be

needed to correct unsafe conditions.
SAFETY INSPECTION
PROGRAM

An effective program begins with

analysis and planning. Before
instituting an inspection program, a
number of questions should be
answered:

•What is the purpose of inspection?

•What aspects of each item need to be
examined?
•How often/frequent must items be
inspected?
•Who will conduct the inspection?
ELEMENTS OF AN EFFECTIVE
SAFETY INSPECTION PROGRAM

The inspectors must:

•Have sound knowledge of the
facility/workplace;
•Be knowledgeable of the relevant
standards, codes and regulations;
•Be familiar with the organization’s
accident experience and potentials;
•Possess the ability to make
intelligent decisions for corrective
action;
•Exercise diplomacy in handling
personnel and situations.
WHAT & WHERE TO
INSPECT?
Physical Condition
•Equipment, apparatus, appliances
you are working with
•Your work area
•Areas surrounding your work area
•High risk areas

1. Processes
2. Behavior (acts)
3. Other items and areas
CHECKLIST CATEGORIES
•Building Safety
•Office Safety

•Fire Safety

•Electrical Safety

•Emergency Equipment

•Storage Methods
WHAT TO LOOK FOR?
•Indoor air quality

•Fire Code & Safety Compliance

•Housekeeping practices
MORE OF WHAT TO
LOOK FOR…
•Equipmentoperation and
maintenance practices

•Unsafe conditions

•Unsafe acts (practices)

TYPES OF INSPECTIONS

•Formal Inspections

•Daily/Weekly Inspections

•Special Function Inspections

WHO CAN CONDUCT
INSPECTIONS

•Employees

•Supervisors

•Safety Coordinators
•Management

•Safety Committee Members

•Outside Vendors/insurance
companies
OSHS RULE 1047 (5)
One of the duties of a
Safety Man (Safety
Officer:

“Conducts health and

safety inspection as
member of the
committee”
INSPECTION TOOLS

COMMON INSPECTION TOOLS

•Inspection forms/sheet/checklists
•Clipboards
•Pens/pencils
•Lock-out/tag-out equipment
•Measuring tape/ruler
•Flashlight
•Cameras, video cams and/or tape
recorder
•Personal Protective Equipment
INSPECTION TOOLS

OTHER EQUIPMENT MAY ALSO BE

USED
•Electric testing equipment

•Sampling devices (air, noise, light,

temperature)
•Sampling containers

•Calipers, micrometers, feeler gauges

•Stop watch

•Other equipment depending on the

need of the inspection.
INSPECTION SHEET
ADVANTAGES OF USING SAFETY
INSPECTION CHECKLISTS

•Prevent overlooking hazards during an

inspection.
•Ensure consistency of every inspection.
•Allow different people to conduct equally
thorough inspections.
•Provide written documentation that an
inspection was done and which hazards were
discovered.
CREATING CHECKLISTS:

1. Write down every potential hazard

within the category that you know
exists in your work area
2. Check the written sources you have
available to add any hazards that
you did not think of
 PLANNING &
PREPARATION
Includes review of the following
Accident reports
Equipment inspection and
maintenance records
Procedures
Previous inspection reports
Other documents
Coordination
With affected persons (if not a surprise
inspection)
With inspection team (including pre-
inspection meeting)
Preparation of materials needed.
SO,
YOU
COMPLETED
YOUR
INSPECTION?
WHAT YOU FOUND

Unsafe Conditions

Unsafe Acts
WHAT NEXT?

•Correct unsafe conditions

•Correct unsafe acts

•Implement controls
 FOR SAFE ACTS AND
CONDITIONS:
 Praise the safe acts and conditions you
observed and compliment the employee. Give
personal praise and thanks.
 Engage the employee in a conversation about
the job and its safety aspects, including any
safety concerns.
 Be specific; consistent, match recognition to the
accomplishment.
 Listen to reactions.
 Thank or reward the employee for his/her
commitment to working safely.
 Personalize the feedback
FOR UNSAFE CONDITIONS:
 Ask questions to explore or clarify what you
observe.
 Discuss the possible consequences of the unsafe
condition.
 Identify safer ways to improve or repair the
condition.
 Call Action Line to have it fixed immediately.
FOR UNSAFE ACTS:

 When it is unsafe to do so, stop the work

immediately. Give it one-on-one.
 Identify the observed at-risk behavior(s)
 Ask questions to explore or clarify what you have
observed.
 Discuss the possible consequences, express
concern for individual welfare.
 Identify safe behavior. Help the observe identify a
new method or solution. Offer suggestions, if
needed, and get agreement.
REVIEW THE FORM FOR YOUR SITE OR
AREA AND RECORD:

 The date, time, area observed, and the

participants.
 Safe acts, unsafe acts, and conditions observed.
 Corrective actions required, owners, and
estimated completion dates.
 A tally of observations and deviations from the
expected.
IMPLEMENTING CONTROLS

•Engineering Controls

•Administrative Controls

•Protective Equipment
DOCUMENT YOUR
FINDINGS

•Document your corrective

action

•Document your controls

THE INSPECTION REPORT

 Write clearly or, when possible, have

the report type written.
 Coding of item is of benefit.
 Additional contacts frequently help.
 Simply follow-up reports.
 File report properly.
HAZARD CLASSIFICATION

Class “A” Hazard –

A condition or practice with the potential for
permanent disability, loss of life or body part, and/or
extensive loss of structure, equipment or material.

Example 1 - barrier guard missing on a large

press brake for metal shearing operation.

Example 2 - maintenance worker observed

servicing large sump pump in unventilated deep pit
with gasoline motor running
HAZARD CLASSIFICATION

Class “B” Hazard –

A condition or practice with the potential of serious
injury or illness (resulting in temporary disability) or
property damage that is disruptive, but less severe
than Class “A”.

Example 1 - Slippery oil condition observed

in main aisle way.
Example 2 -Broken treads at bottom of office
stairs.
HAZARD CLASSIFICATION

Class “C” Hazard –

A condition or practice with the potential for minor
(non-disabling) injury or illness or non-disruptive
property damage.
 Example 1 -Carpenter observed handling
rough lumber without gloves.
 Example 2 -Strong rancid odor from cutting
oil circulating in bed of large lathe.
KEYS TO EFFECTIVE
INSPECTION

•Create checklists
•Schedule inspections

•Focus on one hazard at a time

•Modify checklists as needed

•Follow-up corrective actions

•Communicate & Involve

Employees
•Acknowledge participation
WRITTEN COMPONENTS…

•Include
in operational safety
plan/manual

•Includeprocedures to identify
& correct hazards

•Cover “good” housekeeping

THE “INSPECTION EFFECT”

•Measures employee’s safety

performance
•Reinforces importance of safety
& management’s commitment
•Encourages employees
INSPECTION
DOCUMENTATION

Checklist recommended
Systematic
Site-specific
Revise as needed
QUESTIONS?