Who Should Inspect the Workplace

Several types of individuals should be involved in inspecting the workplace. The following sections will provide a brief overview of some of the 

Supervisors should have the responsibility to inspect their own work areas at the beginning of each shift. This can be important when other shifts use the same work area and equipment or when after-hours maintenance and cleaning are routinely conducted. In addition, supervisors should review other areas for several reasons  

All supervisors should have site-specific training on the hazards that they may encounter. In addition, training should be conducted on how to control these hazards. When supervisors are responsible for area inspections, they should have specific training in how to inspect [2]. For additional training needs, refer to Chapter 14. 

This is one of the ways to get all employees involved in the safety process allowing them to participate in the inspection process. Refer to Chapter 7 for more information on how to use employees in the process. One way to get employees involved is to form employee committees or joint employee-management committees to help conduct routine inspections. By implementing these methods, you can  

All employees should understand the potential hazards to which they might be exposed and the ways they can protect themselves and their fellow workers. Those who are involved in the inspections need training in recognizing and controlling potential hazards. They will also need written guidance, tips for inspecting, and some on-the-job training [2]. 

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