Workplace Inspections
Element 9: Workplace Inspections are a legislative requirement in most jurisdictions. This statutory requirement is one key activity that focuses on accident prevention when conducted regularly with workplace parties and you will need to inspect all your work areas. The specific content of these inspections is outlined in Section 14(3) of the Ontario Construction Regulations, however, here are some primary points you should consider:
Effective and periodic Workplace Inspections provides a quality verification of your work activities and if done thoroughly can identify hazards. Noncompliance and work practices that are unsafe and if not immediately corrected can lead to an injury or property damage.
These inspections should involve a cross selection of workplace parties, such as, supervisors, workers and your safety representative.
Workplace Inspections must be documented, and most companies use a form that has been designed to capture their specific work activities. This will help ensure that inspection teams hone in on specific risk created by the work activities.
Corrective action should be generated so that they are recorded, tracked to completion and closed out.
The current COR audit tool verifies that an organization being audited meets the implementations and use requirements of workplace inspections. A COR Auditor will examine and evaluate the following:
Does your organization have a documented workplace inspection procedure? And, Does the procedure define the inspection frequencies and responsibilities?
Does the procedure define requirements for conducting and recording pre-use inspections of vehicles, machines, tools and equipment?
Does your organization use a specific form or checklist for recording inspections?
Your company will need to show records of these inspections and that assigned personnel are performing the inspections on a scheduled basis and are these frequencies being adhered to.
It is important that workers are involved in these inspections. Also, all non-conformance needs to be identified along with timely corrective actions taken to close out the findings.
Communication of these inspections need to be shared with senior management and all other relevant workplace parties.
Does your organization have an effective workplace inspection program that identifies, records and address any non-compliance? Also, are non-compliances, that could lead to an accident or workplace injury, corrected immediately?
Presented by Roger Belair and Jason Colucci - Approved COR Associate Auditors.
