Regular inspections can help reduce injury and illness in the workplace by examining all aspects of the workplace to identify hazards, potential risks, and unsafe conditions. Workplace inspections are a proactive and an effective way to maintain a safe and healthy workplace.

The Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act 7.4 (5)(e) requires workplace safety and health programs to include a schedule for regular workplace inspections and work processes. 

Inspections ensure compliance with legislated requirements of the workplace by involving the employer, workers and the safety and health committee.  The inspection process provides an opportunity for all workers to be involved in the internal responsibility system (IRS).

A workplace inspection program should be comprehensive, and may include:

• Regularly scheduled committee inspections prior to a committee or representative meeting.

• Supervisors completing informal/formal spot inspections. 

• Daily inspections of equipment, tools, and personal protective equipment

• Pre-use inspections of equipment tools and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) (e.g. sling inspections, mechanical lifts, mobile equipment, etc.)

• Regularly scheduled departmental inspections

• 3rd party inspections of specialty equipment as recommended in the maintenance manual of equipment  

What are you looking for?

There are many ways to approach workplace inspections.  Reviewing your workplace safety and health program will guide you on where to focus your inspections.  For example, focusing on common tasks which workers perform, or specific concerns addressed by the program, such as safe patient handling, workplace violence, manual material handling.  Having a workplace inspection checklist will assist with identifying, documenting, and correcting all hazards observed.  

When performing inspections look at all elements of the workplace – the people, the equipment, the materials, and the environment (PEME) 

Hazards can arise from unsafe conditions and practices related to workplace elements. The type of hazards could include:

Once identified, the hazard must be controlled utilizing the Hierarchy of Controls: In the event a permanent solution is not immediately possible, a temporary solution must be put into effect.  It is important that all workers be informed of the hazard and the corrective action(s) that have been implemented.  

TIPS WHEN CONDUCTING INSPECTIONS

• Ensure all employees conducting the inspections have received appropriate training.

• Review previous inspection reports to confirm the effectiveness of corrective actions, and ensure they have not created new hazards 

• Use a checklist specific for the area being inspected to ensure all identified concerns are documented

• Talk to workers. This will help you understand the worker’s job and alert you to risks that may not have been identified previously.

• Ensure to review work processes, procedures, and maintenance records

• Look up, down, around, and inside. Be methodical and thorough.

• Perform a risk assessment for each hazard identified

• Always assign corrective action(s) to hazards identified with a date and person responsible for ensuring that the task has been completed.

• Ensure the inspection report is signed, dated, and communicated to workers