Conducting workplace inspections

A system for inspecting workplace precautions is essential in any proactive monitoring programme. On many occasions it can form part of an organisation s arrangements for the planned preventive maintenance of plant (e.g. electrical maintenance and testing) and equipment (e.g. flashback arresters for oxy/fuel systems) which are also covered by legal requirements. 

In addition, inspections should include other workplace precautions such as the ability for a fire door to close against its rebates effectively and other aspects of the premises such as the location/obstruction of fire fighting equipment and means of escape. 

A suitable inspection programme will address all risks however, it should take into account those that 

Under each of the headings there will be a number of subquestions to confirm the adequacy of workplace precautions and management controls which can be either answered in a closed question technique es or no), or be provided with a score in relation to the level of compliance/non-compliance. 

In either of the above cases, where non-compliance is identified, there should be a mechanism for recording 

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OSHA uses workplace inspections for enforcing its rules. OSHA personnel may conduct workplace inspections unannounced. Except under special circumstances, it is a crime punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both to give an employer prior notice of an inspection. When OSHA compliance officers arrive to conduct an inspection, they are required to present their credentials. This authorizes them to enter any site or facility where work is taking place. They may inspect, at reasonable times, any condition, facility, machine, equipment, materials, etc. They may question in private any employee or other person formally associated with the company. Under special circumstances, employers may be given up to a maximum of 24-hours notice of an inspection. 

T/F) OSHA personnel may conduct workplace inspections unaimounced. 

Compliance safety and health officer—An OSH A representative whose primary job is to conduct workplace inspections. 

Under the OSH Act, OSHA is authorized to conduct workplace inspections to determine whether employers are complying with safety and health standards. Workplace inspections are performed by federal and state OSHA compliance ofl cers who are knowledgeable and experienced in the occupational safety and health field and who are trained in the OSHA standards and in the recognition of safety and health hazards. 

It could be argued that there are more than the two basic reasons previously stated for conducting workplace inspections. However, in the context of this subject all other criteria will be considered as part of these two basic reasons. 

Formal and informal inspectiorrs have already been explained in Conducting workplace inspections above. 

OSH A has the right to conduct workplace inspections as part of its enforcement mandate. OSHA can routinely initiate an unannounced inspection of a business. Other inspections occur due to fatalities and catastrophes, routine program inspections, or by referrals and complaints. These occur during normal working hours. 

Request the OSHA area director to conduct an inspection if it is believed that hazardous conditions or violations of standards exist in the workplace. 

Cooperate with the OSHA compliance officer conducting an inspection if he or she inquires about safety and health conditions in the workplace. 

Under the OSH Act, employers are required to provide employees with a workplace free from recognized hazards. Employers are also required to maintain accurate reeords of employees exposure to potentially toxie materials required to be monitored or measured, conduct periodic inspections, and notify employees if they are exposed to toxic materials at higher levels than those preseribed by existing health and safety regulations. 

Self-Inspection Program (4) Employees/supervisors well trained and conduct routine joint inspections with all finding corrected. (3) Employees trained in inspection techniques, and all routinely participate in workplace inspections. (2) Routine inspections conducted by selected personnel with appropriale corrective actions taken. (1) An inspection program exists, but few employees involved and cova-age/ corrective actions spotty. (0) No routine inspection program in place at facility. 

Inspections are generally conducted without advance notice. In fact, alerting an employer in advance of an OSHA inspection can bring a criminal fine of up to 1,000 and/or a six-month jail term. If an employer refuses to admit an OSHA compliance officer, or if an employer attempts to interfere with the inspection, the Act permits appropriate legal action. Typically a compliance officer refused entrance to a workplace or access to any part of it returns with a warrant and conducts the inspection as planned. Workplaces with a history of refusing OSHA access can expect the OSHA compliance officer to initiate the inspection with a warrant in hand. 

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is responsible for promoting the welfare of workers in the United States and improving working conditions. The department enforces laws related to workers and workplace safety and health in the public and private sector through OSHA. In 2010, OSHA announced the Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which will conduct concentrated inspections of those companies that have demonstrated significant indifference to the Occupational Safety and Health Act or have a history of repeated hazard violations. Non-compliance fees are as high as 70,000 for willful serious violation. 

The workplace inspection should be conducted in such a way that it is possible to identify variations from established work procedures. The woikplace inspection should determine the appropriateness of existing safety policies and whether these need to be enforced, modified or changed in the light of changes in technology, employee skills, industry knowledge and legislation. 

In conducting an inspection, there is an understanding that whatever is being inspected is to be compared against some estabhshed standard. If there is no criterion for comparison, you cannot inspect - you merely observe or look. A set of standards needs to be developed, if they do not already exist, on which comparisons can be made. This is the most difficult part in preparing for the workplace inspection - identifying the standard. 

Experience has shown that there have been occasions when hazards and potential accident causation factors have gone undetected because the workplace was not inspected under normal working conditions. There should not be an underestimation of the possible benefits that can be realized from having workplace inspections conducted by people who do not regularly work in the area. People carrying out inspections who are unfamiliar with a particular workplace or work system are forced to ask questions of the locals. The resulting exchange of information can lead to the identification of opportunities to improve safety levels overlooked by the locals because of either familiarity or complacency with their own work environment. 

The manner in which iirspection results are reported will depend primarify on the reason for the inspection and the person conducting the inspection. The organization s safety officer, the supervisor, the fitter and the health and safety representative could all use the same workplace iirspection checklist and produce different reports. This is a normal and expected outcome as the reasons for conducting the inspection may be... 

Determine the time available to conduct the workplace inspection. The time available to carry out the actual physical inspection is not open-ended so by defining an acceptable time-frame, such as four hours each week, it becomes easier to set priorities and draw up a checklist. 

Employee participation is common in workplace inspections. A joint committee, an employee committee that performs several functions, or a single-function inspection committee can conduct inspections, or an individual employee acting as safety observer can do so, as discussed [7]. 

Conduct a workplace inspection to make sure tools, equipment, and machinery are properly guarded and that wherever possible those hazards are controlled by engineering methods. Some ways to tell if your engineering controls are effective are to determine if they (1) do not result in less efficient operation of the equipment, (2) are able to prevent an injury or illness at all times, even when the worker is distracted, and (3) protect employees from environmental hazards. 

Safety and health inspection checklists can take many fonns however, the primary purpose is to identify potential hazards in your workplace. Inspection documentation can take many forms, including the checklist identified below, a narrative format with explanation of each identified potential hazard, a graded checklist, a dated checklist wherein the number of times the potential hazard has been identified in previous inspections is identified, and whatever format is appropriate to your operations. It is important to conduct the site inspection and completion of the inspection documents on a frequent and consistent basis. The inspection document should be customized to the operation and ensure that the inspection encompasses all of the applicable standards as well as other potential hazards in the workplace. 

The amount of special safety training needed for the safety reps is minimal. They need to know the hazards and safe work practices in their part of the plant. The safety reps should also be trained in conducting workplace safety inspections and monitoring the safety program s effectiveness. The safety reps will prove to be very useful sources of information when it comes time to update the system safety analysis or make a change in the process. 

Conduct required or necessary workplace inspections prior to implementing or requesting corrective actions. 

OSHA must be seen as an asset and helping hand that can provide guidance and resources to assist you in your attempt to provide a safe and healthy workplace for your workforce and yourself OSHA does not want to have to come to your workplace to investigate a death, address a complaint, or conduct an inspection. OSHA has limited resources and would prefer to answer your questions via the telephone or e-mail. Use them and they will have no reason to abuse you with violations and fines. 

This chapter should help you understand OSHA regulations and how they are set up and how they might apply to your operation. If you have questions related to what a regnlation means or if it applies to you, you should call OSHA and ask for clarification. Do not be afraid to call OSHA. They do not take names and numbers. An OSHA representative would prefer to answer your questions than to have to visit your facility or conduct an inspection of your facility. OSHA representatives will advise you regarding the application of a regnlation to your workplace. However, remember, the final responsibility to comply with OSHA legnlations rests with you. 

Inspections are conducted by specifically trained employees, and all items are corrected promptly and appropriately. Workplace inspections are planned, with key observations or check points defined and results documented. Persons conducting inspections have specific training in hazard identification applicable to the facility. Corrections are documented through follow-up inspections. Results are available to workers. ... 

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