Safety inspection
- (also called safety audit) is an on-site monitoring aimed at identifying potential problems
that could jeopardize the health and safety of workers at workplaces or buildings.
- A safety inspection is mostly carried out by a safety specialist and usually involves
checklists, which help the inspectors in assessing every potential issue.
- A review of safety equipment (Emergency eyewash, shower, fire extinguishers, first aid
kits, etc.) is also completed to verify proper working order.
Five types of OSHA inspections
● Programmed inspections
- OSHA selects companies within a specific industry, particularly those with
hazardous work sites. Past injury occurrences and citations can factor into the
selection.
● Imminent danger inspections
- Onte of the four types of unprogrammed safety inspections.
- It involves life threatening practices or conditions at a job site. Enforcement of
OSHA requirements can usually prevent them.
● Investigative inspection
- OSHA will conduct this type of investigation after an accident at a job site. The
incident usually involves more than three employees with serious injuries.
- The inspection attempts to determine the cause of the accident. It also aims to
reveal if it occurred due to a violation of OSHA standards.
● Complaint inspections
- These are usually reported or referred to OSHA by an employee. An employee
can lodge a complaint if their employer is violating OSHA standards.
● Follow-up inspections
- If violations are evident, OSHA will give an employer time to correct them. An
employer can also contest the findings. OSHA will then conduct a follow-up.
Who is responsible for safety inspections within an organization?
● Safety Officers
- Trained professionals dedicated to managing safety programs and conducting
inspections.
● Managers and Supervisors
- Responsible for enforcing safety policies, providing resources, and actively
participating in safety inspections.
● Employees
- Expected to report potential hazards, follow safety protocols, and contribute to
creating a safe work environment.
How to perform a safety inspection
1. Planning
- Determine the scope, objectives, and focus areas of the inspection.
2. Familiarization
- Understand relevant safety regulations, industry standards, and internal policies.
3. Checklist Creation
- Develop or select a suitable safety inspection checklist based on the specific
needs and risks of your workplace.
4. Inspection Execution
- Conduct a thorough evaluation, inspecting equipment, work areas, processes,
and safety protocols.
5. Documentation
- Record observations, identified hazards, and recommendations for corrective
actions.
6. Analysis and Action
- Analyze findings, prioritize corrective actions, and implement necessary
measures to address identified hazards.
7. Follow-up and Monitoring
- Track the progress of implemented actions, monitor effectiveness, and ensure
sustained safety improvements.
Frequency of safety inspections
The frequency of safety inspections depends on:
● Risk Levels
- High-risk areas (e.g., construction sites) may require daily or weekly checks,
while lower-risk areas may need monthly or quarterly inspections.
● Regulatory Requirements
- Laws may dictate specific frequencies for inspections depending on industry.
● Internal Policies
- Companies may set schedules based on their risk assessments and safety
objectives
Inspection priorities
1. Imminent danger situations
- Hazards that could cause death or serious physical harm receive top priority.
Compliance officers will ask employers to correct these hazards immediately or
remove endangered employees.
2. Severe injuries and illnesses
- Employers must report: • All work-related fatalities within 8 hours. • All work-
related inpatient hospitalizations, amputations, or losses of an eye within 24
hours.
3. Worker Complaints
- Allegations of hazards or violations also receive a high priority. Employees may
request anonymity when they file complaints.
4. Referrals of hazards from other federal, state or local agencies, individuals,
organizations or the media receive consideration for inspection.
5. Targeted inspections
- Inspections aimed at specific high-hazard industries or individual workplaces that
have experienced high rates of injuries and illnesses also receive priority.
6. Follow-up inspections
- Checks for abatement of violations cited during previous inspections are also
conducted by the agency in certain circumstances.
Safety inspection checklist
The examples outlined below do not list all possible items. The best checklist for your workplace
is one that has been developed for your specific needs. Whatever the format of the checklist,
provide space for the inspectors' signatures and the date.
Area/Issue Examples
1. Work Environment dust, gasses, fumes, vapors, sprays, lighting, noise, ventilation,
indoor air quality
2. Buildings windows, doors, floors, stairs, roofs, walls, elevators
3. Containers scrap bins, disposal receptacles, barrels, carboys, compressed
gas cylinders, solvent cans, paints
4. Electrical switches, cables, outlets, connectors, grounding, connections,
breakers
5. Fire protection extinguishers, hoses, hydrants, sprinkler alarm systems, access to
equipment equipment
6. Hand tools wrenches, screwdrivers, saws, power tools, explosive actuated
tools
7. Hazardous products flammable, explosive, oxidizing, gasses under pressure, corrosive,
combustible dusts, asphyxiants, health hazards, irritation,
sensitization, mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, biohazards
