Health and Safety Compliance Inspections

Health and Safety Inspections are procedures whereby a workplace is assessed, by Health and Safety Compliance Inspectors, to identify risks and hazards. The inspectors also evaluate control measures implemented to achieve a health and safe working environment.

Health and Safety Compliance Inspections are done with view to:

• identify and record actual and potential hazards posed by buildings, people, equipment, the environment, processes and practices.
• recording any hazards requiring immediate attention.
• determining whether existing hazard controls are adequate and operational recommend corrective action where appropriate

Health and Safety Compliance Inspections should be conducted by somebody who has knowledge and technique on how to identify hazards. It is, therefore, essential that this person is going for training regularly to ensure that this person is aware of the latest developments and knowledge about possible dangers. This is important as not all workplace hazards are obviously visible. Companies can, however, plan and conduct their own Health and Safety Inspections in the workplace.

Types of Health and Safety Compliance Inspections

• Spot inspections: carried out occasionally. These inspections focus on a specific hazard associated with a specific work area, e.g., noise made by a shredder, operation of a pump, etc.
• Pre-operation inspections of special equipment and processes: before the operation of any machinery, machinery can be checked if they are in a good condition to perform a task.
• Critical parts inspections: regular inspections of pieces of equipment or systems that has high potential of causing serious accidents. Checklists can be used for forklifts, cranes etc.
• New equipment inspections: series of specific tests done before commissioning the equipment. Prior to operation, check to ensure that all parts are in the right place and are working properly, that packaging material has been removed, etc.
• Routine inspections: inspections carried out on a regular basis in a given work area. They cover all working conditions in this specific area (work hazards, processes and practices.)

When implementing Health and Safety Compliance Inspections program please consider the following:

1. Plan the action to be taken by assessing

a) the nature of industrial processes
b) tasks and operations
c) the relevant safety requirements and standards
d) the full range of hazards associated with equipment, machines, processes and the work environment
e) previous accidents and work areas that are problematic from the standpoint of work place health and safety

2. Physically inspect premises by accessing

a) operations or tasks to be inspected;
b) hazardous equipment requiring inspections at fixed intervals;
c) processes that pose a significant hazard,
d) areas requiring separate or more frequent inspections;
e) the number of work shifts,
f) introduction of a new process or new machine in the workplace requiring a special inspection.
At least one of the persons responsible for reviewing Health and Safety Compliance Inspections reports should have the authority to determine the necessary corrective measures and to delegate. Concerns that pose an immediate danger may rise during Health and Safety Compliance Inspections. These concerns should be immediately reported to the responsible authority and corrective action should be taken.
MAKROSAFE specializes in conducting a variety of workplace inspections. We can certainly help you with the entire scope of Health and Safety Compliance Inspections and help you implementing one in your workplace.