Safety inspections are one of the most effective ways to ensure a safe working environment for your employees. Completing regular inspections can help ensure that all safety hazards are controlled and will help identify potentially hazardous changes in workplace conditions. In today’s blog, we will dive into the importance of safety inspections and why you should use a well-crafted inspection checklist.
The Purpose of Inspections
There are a variety of reasons why inspections are critical to businesses and organizations. Some of the main purposes include the following:
The Importance of Regular Inspections
According to the Safety and Health Regulations for Constructions outlined by OSHA, "frequent and regular inspections of the job sites, materials, and equipment to be made by competent persons designated by the employers." Inspections should be completed at intervals that will prevent the development of unsafe working conditions for all workplaces, including buildings, structures, grounds, excavations, tools, equipment, machinery, work methods and practices. The person may include managers, supervisors, Health and Safety Representatives, Joint Health and Safety Committee members and workers.
Once regular inspections have begun it is one of the primary functions of the Workplace Health and Safety representative, Workplace Committee, and site supervisor(s) to analyze the findings as often as possible.
Building Inspection Checklists
No matter the industry, inspections are part of daily operations. However, there is no one size fits all template. With each industry and region, there are unique hazards that pose risk to your workplace and to your workers. Therefore, it is key to develop a checklist, which allows for consistency and a systematic approach to inspections. It also allows all workers to be aware of what is being monitored, as well as the policies and procedures to ensure a safe workplace.
When building any sort of inspection, break down all the elements in the process, tool, or equipment. Consider regulatory requirements or industry best practices and itemize them in your checklist. No matter the level of experience, we can forget things. However, if checklists and inspections are created properly, it will help ensure the same steps are completed each time and that nothing is missed.
It is also important to note that while checklists help with recording findings, it’s important to ensure that workers who utilize this tool don’t become complacent: “Do not allow the inspection team to become so intent on noting the details listed in the checklist that it misses other hazardous conditions.”
Inspections are a powerful tool that can be used to create a safe and healthy workplace. When conducted regularly, they help identify hazards and ensure that corrective actions are taken to mitigate the risks associated with those hazards.
If you have questions about safety in your business or organization, reach out to the Goal Zero team today. We are here to help!