Safety Inspections
A comprehensive SAFETY inspection is a critical part of all construction sites
in which the site is examined closely on a daily or regular basis for the
purpose of:
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identifying and recording potential and actual hazards associated with
buildings, equipment, environment, processes, and practices
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identifying any hazards which require immediate attention, whether they are
unsafe conditions or unsafe acts
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ensuring that existing hazard controls are functioning adequately; and where
appropriate, recommending corrective action
Within any Safety Inspection, there may in fact be a variety of types of
inspections, for example:
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spot inspections may be undertaken on a random basis as part of general safety
responsibilities;
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pre-operation checks of special equipment or work processes are often necessary
before work is carried out;
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critical inspections are regular planned inspections of a critical piece of
equipment, or system which have a high potential for serious accidents. They
are often part of planned or preventive maintenance procedures, or hazard
control programs;
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new equipment inspections are thorough inspections and checks before operations
begin;
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regular planned inspections are done on a regular basis in a defined workplace
and cover all conditions including work practices and procedures.
There is no more important skill to the safety professional than the ability to
discover and remedy hazards before they can injure workers.
A sample of Items and Areas inspected, and reviewed at a construction site:
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Review Related Safety Plans, Programs, Policies, and Procedures
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Site Specific
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Task Specific
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Machine Specific
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Person Specific
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Sanitation
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Safety Training and Education
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Employer Posting
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Record-keeping
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Machine Guarding
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Power-operated Tools and Equipment
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Flammable and Combustible Liquids
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Abrasive Wheel Equipment and Grinders
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Personal Protective Equipment and Clothing (PPE)
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Portable Ladders
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Fixed Ladders
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Welding, Cutting and Brazing
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Lockout and Tagout Procedures
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Hazard Communication
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Housekeeping
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Safety Committees / Meetings
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Electrical (General)
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Assured Equipment Grounding
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Scaffolds
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Demolition
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Fire Protection and Prevention
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Floor Holes and Wall Openings
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Stairs and Stair Railings
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Standard Guardrail
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Forklifts (Powered Industrial Trucks)
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Fall Protection
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Excavation
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Competent Person Requirements
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Confined Spaces
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Traffic Control
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Cranes
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Slings
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Personnel Platforms
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Safety-monitor Systems
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Safe Work Distances
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Control of Health Hazards
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Safety Inspection Forms
View a Sample Checklist:
Sample
Checklist - Microsoft Word version (*.doc)
Sample
Checklist * - Adobe Acrobat version (*.pdf)
* adobe acrobat reader (free) is required to view this document.
