Metal and Engineering Inspections
The need and purpose of workplace safety inspections in the metal and engineering industry
The employer is obliged to provide employees with safe and health working conditions. To know exactly how safe and healthy working conditions are or aren’t he needs to constantly monitor performance against health and safety standards and procedures as prescribed by law and company policy.
This is achieved by conducting regular safety inspections in the workplace and recording the results.
Other factors to consider in the metal and engineering industry:
As tools and equipment get older they get worn out or damaged. Such tools can be very dangerous and need to be repaired or replaced. Materials, equipment and procedures constantly change. Ignoring such changes can jeopardize people’s health and safety. Lack of the necessary skills to perform a certain job can cause injury.
Regular safety inspections will help to expose possible training needs. Safety inspections may vary in purpose from routine to maintenance inspections to inspections after a major incident like a fire or aircraft crash.
Angle Grinder Inspection Checklist
Examples of questions relevant to this type of safety inspection: Has the correct PPE (gloves, glasses and safety shoes) been issued to the operator of the grinder?
Is the correct disk available for the particular application? Has the guard been secured to the casing?
Does the operator ensure that the locknut is properly secured on the blade?
Is the correct disk available for the particular application? Has the guard been secured to the casing?
Does the operator ensure that the locknut is properly secured on the blade?
Baler Inspection Checklist
Examples of questions relevant to this type of inspection:
Are all bolts on the block secured? Are all bolts on the cylinder head secured?
Is the area behind the baler block clean? Are all bolts on the chamber secured?
Is the baler chamber inner walls free of damage?
Are all bolts on the block secured? Are all bolts on the cylinder head secured?
Is the area behind the baler block clean? Are all bolts on the chamber secured?
Is the baler chamber inner walls free of damage?
Block and Tackle Inspection Checklist
Examples of questions relevant to this type of inspection:
Are load tests conducted annually?
Is the chain on the block and tackle in the correct state and corrosion free?
Is communication regarding the lifting of heavy equipment promoted to the employees?
Are the service certificates still current and up to date?
Are all the wheels in good condition?
Are load tests conducted annually?
Is the chain on the block and tackle in the correct state and corrosion free?
Is communication regarding the lifting of heavy equipment promoted to the employees?
Are the service certificates still current and up to date?
Are all the wheels in good condition?
Bulk Gas Tank Storage Inspection Checklist
Examples of questions relevant to this type of safety inspection:
Are all pipelines for bulk tanks connected to an earth?
Are all storage vessels electrically earthed against lightning and static?
Is there a water supply of at least 10 liter/m2 over the whole surface of the storage vessel?
Is there a divisional wall in the LP gas storage area to control gas spills?
Are bulk tanks kept more than 20 m away from the building?
Are all pipelines for bulk tanks connected to an earth?
Are all storage vessels electrically earthed against lightning and static?
Is there a water supply of at least 10 liter/m2 over the whole surface of the storage vessel?
Is there a divisional wall in the LP gas storage area to control gas spills?
Are bulk tanks kept more than 20 m away from the building?
Change Room Inspection Checklist
Examples of questions relevant to this type of inspection:
Are all windows glazed with obscure glass?
Is each employee provided with a locker for the safekeeping of his/her clothes and personal items?
Have separate change rooms been provided with signs indicating the gender of the users for which they are intended?
Are all change rooms separated from rooms in which there is exposure to high risk substances?
Is there a partition of at least 2 meters high between the eating place and the showers?
Are all windows glazed with obscure glass?
Is each employee provided with a locker for the safekeeping of his/her clothes and personal items?
Have separate change rooms been provided with signs indicating the gender of the users for which they are intended?
Are all change rooms separated from rooms in which there is exposure to high risk substances?
Is there a partition of at least 2 meters high between the eating place and the showers?
Emergency Evacuation Floor Plan and Escape Route Inspection Checklist
Examples of questions relevant to this type of inspection:
Do all luminaries in emergency escape routes work and are they replaced immediately once they become defective?
Are all brake glass assemblies for emergency door locks in place?
Are all emergency staircases and fire doors unobstructed and kept clear?
Has a luminous running man sign been made available indicating the escape route? (Only applicable for dark areas)
Have all escape plans been displayed in color?
Do all luminaries in emergency escape routes work and are they replaced immediately once they become defective?
Are all brake glass assemblies for emergency door locks in place?
Are all emergency staircases and fire doors unobstructed and kept clear?
Has a luminous running man sign been made available indicating the escape route? (Only applicable for dark areas)
Have all escape plans been displayed in color?
Fire Extinguisher Inspection Checklist
Examples of questions relevant to this type of inspection:
Are all fire extinguishers placed on an asset register with a unique number?
Are all fire extinguishers still valid to point of date?
Have the fire extinguishers been inspected monthly by the appointed firefighter?
Is the service seal of the fire extinguisher intact?
Is the fire extinguisher corrosion and damage free?
Are all fire extinguishers placed on an asset register with a unique number?
Are all fire extinguishers still valid to point of date?
Have the fire extinguishers been inspected monthly by the appointed firefighter?
Is the service seal of the fire extinguisher intact?
Is the fire extinguisher corrosion and damage free?
First Aid Box and Equipment Inspection Checklist
Examples of questions relevant to this type of inspection:
Is the first aid box easily removable in an emergency?
Is there a qualified first-aider available with a valid certificate?
Is the name of the first-aider displayed on box?
Is the first aid box indicated by a symbolic sign?
Where an eye injury can occur due to sudden contact with biological and chemical hazards, has an eye wash bottle or cup been made available in the first aid box
Is the first aid box easily removable in an emergency?
Is there a qualified first-aider available with a valid certificate?
Is the name of the first-aider displayed on box?
Is the first aid box indicated by a symbolic sign?
Where an eye injury can occur due to sudden contact with biological and chemical hazards, has an eye wash bottle or cup been made available in the first aid box
Overhead Crane Inspection Checklist
Examples of questions relevant to this type of inspection:
Are all safe load indicators displayed?
Are there at least 3 full turns of rope on the hoist drum?
Is the braking system of the overhead crane in safe working condition?
Is any load limiting device fitted, and working?
Is the limiting device on the highest safe travel limit?
Are all safe load indicators displayed?
Are there at least 3 full turns of rope on the hoist drum?
Is the braking system of the overhead crane in safe working condition?
Is any load limiting device fitted, and working?
Is the limiting device on the highest safe travel limit?
Pressure Hose Inspection Checklist
Examples of questions relevant to this type of inspection:
All hoses identified?
Are all identification numbers legible?
Are all hoses listed on a register?
Are all hoses on a maintenance program and replaced when necessary?
Are storage areas identified?
All hoses identified?
Are all identification numbers legible?
Are all hoses listed on a register?
Are all hoses on a maintenance program and replaced when necessary?
Are storage areas identified?