According to Health and Safety regulations monthly workplace inspections are required, and completing them is one of the primary functions of the Health and Safety Committee. Using a workplace inspection checklist is considered a proven practice since it ensures nothing is missed.

To help you get started, here are five of the most commonly overlooked workplace inspection items that you should include when creating an inspection checklist:

1. Fire Extinguishers

Check for anything blocking the nozzles of the fire extinguishers in your facility, and ensure that all of the tags show the current year. Check the needle to ensure it's in the green section of the dial. Move anything that is blocking access and make sure nothing is covering the extinguishers.

2. Non-Work Areas

Areas where work does not commence are often overlooked; however, they are a part of the workplace. Ensure to thoroughly inspect your break rooms, lounges, lunch areas, kitchens, stairwells, and parking lots.

3. Hidden Hazards

Everyone is aware of such health and safety risks as working at height, with moving machinery, with electricity, or with dangerous chemicals. Since these types of hazards are common and easy to add to your inspection checklist, you may risk overlooking the less obvious ones. Make sure to look into the ventilation system, check behind doors and shelving, and test ground fault circuit interrupter outlets (GFCI's) where applicable and safe to do so. Be attentive and do more than superficial inspecting of the surfaces.

4. Ergonomic Hazards

When conducting your inspection, be mindful of your personnel, their working conditions, and work spaces. Check if they're reaching too far for materials, if they use broken chairs or drawers, or if they can't reach the ground with their feet. All of these are just some examples of potential ergonomic hazards.

5. Seasonal Hazards

Every season brings some new hazards; winter brings snow and slippery ice, spring brings rains and mud, summer brings harsh sunshine, and autumn brings all kinds of weather. Slips and falls can always happen, so ensure that your Health and Safety Committee is prepared to account for the seasonal hazards in their inspections.

Takeaway

A workplace inspection checklist, particularly one that is specific to your facility and operations, is the best practice you can use to ensure the health and safety of your personnel, clients, and customers. Now with the help of The Checker, you don't have to worry that creating a customized inspection checklist will take too much of your valuable time. Most of all, the long-term benefit of having such a checklist is a more efficient and consistent health and safety procedure.

Make sure to add these five items to your customized workplace inspection checklist to ensure they are never overlooked and that your workplace is safe and healthy for everyone. All of our checklists are available as software or Checklist Books. Feel free to browse our checklist library to find the inspections you want.

Tags: workplace safety, mobile inspections, inspection basics

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