Workplace safety inspections are an important tool for identifying hazards and resolving them. A safety inspection can be a:

• periodic walk-around
• comprehensive safety audit by the safety team
• thorough inspection focused on only one area
• comprehensive inspection covering the entire operation
• weekly inspection on a construction site
• monthly inspection in a warehouse or industrial facility
• quarterly safety review of an office building
• or any other safety inspection process that works best for your organization

Where available, review prior inspection reports, injury and workers compensation records, incident investigation reports, and recent near-miss incidents. Use these to familiarize yourself with the most hazardous work areas, tasks, or activities. Focus the inspections on areas where hazards have been identified. Check to see if previously identified hazards have been eliminated or if further corrective action is needed.

As you begin a safety inspection, it may be easier to start with easily identifiable hazards, such as:

• Slip, trip, and fall hazards
• Blocked exits
• Frayed or exposed electrical wires
• Missing machine guards
• Poor housekeeping
• Poorly maintained equipment

Whenever possible, try to work with the supervisor and workers near the hazard to resolve the problem on the spot.

If you encounter more complex hazards during a safety inspection, recognize that you may need assistance. Hazards such as the following should be evaluated by a safety professional:

• Chemical hazards such as solvents, welding fumes, or toxic dust
• Noise exposure (areas where you need to raise your voice to be heard)
• Excessive heat
• Accumulations of combustible dust

For fixed worksites, such as a manufacturing facility, one effective method for conducting a wall-to-wall inspection is to start at the receiving area where materials enter, follow the materials through the process, and finish the inspection at the shipping department. This approach ensures that no area of the plant is missed. For other types of workplaces, such as offices and retail establishments, consider the layout and develop a plan that ensures that each work area is inspected.

Following the inspection, prioritize the hazards based on the severity of the potential injury and the probability that an injury might occur. Use a risk assessment matrix or other system to prioritize, track, and follow up on hazards. The highest priority hazards are those that have a high probability of occurring and have the potential for the most serious outcomes.

Share the list of hazards with management, along with an estimate of what is involved in fixing them. Schedule time to go through the list so that they understand the problem, and how it could affect operations if not addressed. Use this opportunity to secure their commitment to provide the resources needed to fix any hazards.