Workplace

Inspection

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 Important to note

1.Legal Framework of workplace inspections

2.Roles and Responsibilities of the Department of Occupational Health and
Safety (OHS)
3.Importance of Workplace Inspections
4.Planning and Conducting an Inspection
5.Examples of workplace inspection points
6.Documentation and Findings
7.Examples of work hazards
8.Sample workplace inspection forms

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International Labour Organization
(ILO)
• One of ILO’s strategic focus is to promote and realize standards and
fundamental principles and rights at work.

• Uganda has been a member state of the ILO since 1963 and has
ratified 28 conventions to date among them is convention No. 81 on
Labour Inspection

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Occupational Safety and health
(OSH)

• Uganda does not have OSH standards of her own but uses a mixture
of ILO standards and those of the United States

OSH policy whose objective is to ensure the protection, maintenance

and promotion of safety, health and well-being of all workers, in all
occupations and that the working conditions and environment are
conducive to good health and productivity.

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 Labour administration

• The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) is

the lead Ministry responsible for labour administration in Uganda

• The Department of Occupational Safety and Health is charged with

the responsibility of workplace inspections

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Roles and Responsibilities of the
Department of OSH

Roles
•To ensure the existence of safety and health at all workplaces and
work environments.
•To evaluate and control the physical, chemical, psychological,
physiological, social and technical factors that affect a person at work
and the working environment.

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 …cont.
Responsibilities
•To minimise occupational accidents, diseases and disabilities

•To promote good health of the worker at the workplaces

•To promote good working environment

•To promote the construction of environmentally friendly workplaces

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…cont …
• Protection of workplaces for persons at work against contamination
arising out of or in connection with the activities of persons at work

• Control the keeping and use of chemical substances which may be

explosive or highly flammable or toxic, otherwise dangerous
substances or generally preventing the unlawful acquisition,
possession and use of such substances at work

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…cont

• Control the emission of dangerous levels of physical forms of energy

such as radiation, heat, noise, vibration and light that are likely to
be harmful and dangerous to health

• Encourage a worker to participate in his/her own safety and health

care

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…cont
• To ensure that all new work methods, processes, construction,
machinery and substances in an undertaking be it indigenous or
imported are assessed for safety, health and environmental effects
before they are allowed to be used in the country

• To educate the worker, employer and public about occupational

safety and health matters

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…cont.
Labour officers
•They inspect the workplace and investigate
potentially hazardous situations, accidents and work
refusals.

•An inspector may issue orders where there is a

contravention of the Act, and may provide advice
where there are disputes between workplace
parties.

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…cont

• Engage in labour inspection activities including

securing the enforcement of legal provisions
relating to conditions of work
• Supplying technical information and advice to
employers and employees.
• According to the National Employment Policy for
Uganda 2011, labour officers also arbitrate between
workers and employers on undesirable working
conditions.

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Laws that covers organization and
functional composition of OSH

• Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2006

• Employment Regulations, 2011
• Employment Act, 2006
• National Employment Policy for Uganda 2011
• Public Health Act 1935
• National Environment Act 1995
• Factories Act 1953 etc.

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 Definition: Workplace

The Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act defines a workplace as any
land, premises, location or thing at, upon, in or near which a worker works .
(The Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act)

•A workplace could be a building, mine, construction site, vehicle, open field,

road or forest.

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 What is an Inspection?

• An inspection is part of workplace monitoring

• It checks for substandard acts and conditions

• It checks the people, environment, physical conditions,

machinery/materials and equipment.

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 …cont

• It is not an audit although inspections and audits are often used

interchangeably

• An audit is an examination of the whole Health and Safety System and

inspection is a portion thereof.

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Why are workplace inspections
important
• Maintain a safe work environment
• Control unsafe acts and conditions
• Identify existing and potential hazards
• Determine underlying causes of hazards
• Monitor hazard controls (personal protective equipment,
engineering controls, policies, procedures)
• Recommend corrective action

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WHO CAN CONDUCT INSPECTIONS

• Employees
• Supervisors
• Safety Coordinators
• Management
• Safety Committee Members
• Outside Vendors/insurance companies

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Types of Inspections

• Informal
• Formal
• Regular
• Intermittent / Surprise

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Planning an Inspection
• Determine what you wish to inspect with your team
• Who will be on the team
• Why you wish to inspect
• When you wish to inspect
• How you will go about it ie. How to rate/rank hazards, what
checklist to use and/or if you have to create one
• Allocate enough time so you can be effective
• Ensure enough resources are provided so the corrective actions can
occur in a timely manner
• Assemble the checklist, materials and the team

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Principles of Inspection
• Draw attention to the presence of any immediate danger.

• Shut down and "lock out" any hazardous items that cannot be
brought to a safe operating standard until repaired.

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Conducting the inspections
• Discuss the planned inspection route before undertaking the
inspection.

• Review where inspection team members are going and what they
should look out for.

• Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) where required.

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Observations during the inspection
• Look for deviations from accepted work practices
• Talk to the employees
• Draw attention to any immediate danger
• Clearly describe each hazard and its location on
checklist as it is found to avoid forgetting
• Record what you have and haven’t inspected in
case the inspection is interrupted.
• Do not operate equipment. Ask the operator for a
demonstration.
• Take a photograph if you are unable to clearly
describe or sketch a particular situation
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Inspection Report
• State exactly what has been observed and
accurately identify its location.
• Assign a priority level, for example;

A = major – requires immediate action

B = serious – requires short-term action
C = requires long-term action

• Take immediate action as needed. When

permanent correction takes time, take temporary
measures, such as roping off area, tagging out
equipment or posting warning signs.
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…cont
• After each listed hazard, specify the recommended corrective action
and establish a definite correction date.

• Each inspection team member should review for accuracy, clarity

and thoroughness.

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Follow up after inspection

• Discuss findings with area Manager if required or take immediate

corrective action.
• If unsafe acts are discovered, explain hazards to the worker and/or
supervisor as appropriate and advise on corrective action.
• Ask for an update from area supervisor or worker upon resolution
of the problem. Give a written deadline for the resolution.

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