S.H.E.A.T.

Safety, Health, Environment, Audit & Training.

Health & Safety is a Contiual Process

Safety Inspections & Tours

As with audits, Safety Inspections are a useful tool for gathering information.

The general principles underlining the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 is that such steps as are reasonably practicable should be taken to secure the health, safety and welfare of people at work and to protect people other than those at work against risks to health or safety arising out of/or in connection with, the activities of those at work.

It is the essence of present legislation that expects employers to: -

Identify hazards;

Assess the risks;

Devise controls; and

Monitor the workplace as far as reasonably practicable.

The formal inspection of the workplace is an important part of managing health and safety, therefore a formal inspection regime should be set up within a company to ensure health & safety policies and current legislation is being adhered to.

This type of workplace inspection is in addition to other safety inspections required by various sets of regulations e.g.: -

Inspection of local exhaust ventilation (LEV) - under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1999 (COSHH);

Visual examinations of wiring - under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989; and

Inspection of lifting equipment - under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER).

These are just a few of the additional types of safety inspections required by law, however to go into these in depth would require more than this website, therefore this page is only looking at "Workplace Safety Inspections at present.

Workplace

The term ‘Workplace’ is general in its meaning and does not necessarily indicate a specific or limited working area.  In addition to actual places of work, such as: -

Workshops;

Warehouses;

Offices;

Construction Sites etc.

It should include areas where employees visit on a frequent basis in the course of their work e.g. staff canteens.

Carrying Out the Inspection

Any safety inspection should be carried out by competent people, who are able to identify hazards and assess the risks, this must also include employee appointed Safety Representatives (see below).  A working knowledge of acceptable standards and statutory requirements is also a must.

Safety Representatives have a right to inspect workplaces, or part of it, at 3 monthly intervals or sooner, if there are particular health and safety problems, such as poor housekeeping.

Typically the inspection should be carried out by, but not necessarily: -

Safety Advisor;

Departmental Manager/Supervisor; and

Safety Representative, or if there are none in the workplace, an employee.

Safety Inspections Checklist

The inspection should look at all aspects of the workplace, ideally a checklist should be made up which should inform what is to be inspected, under specific headings such as: -

Housekeeping e.g. General cleanliness of all areas, Gangways clearly defined, unobstructed and width adequate for needs;

Warehousing/Storage e.g. Racking systems for overloading/poor stacking practices, Segregation of reactants;

Hand/Power Tools e.g. Defective tools, Use of unauthorised tools;

Electrical Hazards e.g. Safety of electrical systems and sub-systems, Authorised access to switch rooms/distribution boxes etc.;

Fire/Emergency Evacuation e.g. Evacuation routes are free from obstructions, Emergency equipment e.g. fire extinguishers;

Ladders/Scaffold Towers e.g. Ladder inspection program is being maintained, For correct ladder usage and storage;

Cranes/Lifting Equipment e.g. Safe working loads are clearly marked, compliance with statutory test and examination;

Internal Transport e.g. Maintenance of vehicles e.g. fork lift trucks, unsafe practices e.g. travelling with raised loads or use as improper access platform;

Machinery e.g. All dangerous parts guarded, Emergency stop controls are accessible and working and are clearly identified;

Environmental/Welfare e.g. Lighting/heating/ventilation/humidity/dust suppression/fume extraction etc., Sanitation/washing facilities;

Chemicals/Flammables e.g. Storage areas for security/correct hazard warning sign, Emergency first aid facilities e.g. eyewash/showers etc.;

Compressed Air e.g. Compressors/air receivers are correctly marked with safe working procedures, Test/inspection records for compliance with statutory requirements;

Work/Protective Clothing and Equipment e.g. For suitability and comfort, Correct usage/care and maintenance.

Records of safety inspections should be kept, with adequate information regarding the area, plant or work process, which is the subject of an inspection.  These records provide essential information to Safety Auditors as part of a safety audit system. 

Inspections should be carried out at regular intervals, whether this be monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly etc.  

S.H.E.A.T. provide guidance/advice and training in the setting up of a system of safety inspections, individually tailored to each business.  We can also carry out such safety inspections if so required, we can also carry out all other types of safety inspections.

 

Health & Safety is a Continual Process