SAFETY INSPECTION
ALBERT L. ASPREC, M.D., M.O.H.
Changes come in various forms
Sudden
Gradual
Safe conditions can turn into
hazardous conditions as a result
of these changes.
Two kinds of inspections:
Planned (formal)
Unplanned (informal)
Quantitative
Qualitative
We call these …
CHECKLISTS
Creating Checklists:
1. Write down every potential hazard
within the category that you know
exists in your work area
2. Check the written sources you
have available to add any
hazards that you did not think of
Written records:
• Previous inspection reports
• JHA
• Maintenance records
• MSDS
• Accident investigation reports
• Work environment monitoring
3. Examine the work area itself to
see if you overlooked any
conditions that need to be
checked, and note the locations
of the hazards already listed.
A sketch or layout
allows you to distinguish between
)similar pieces of equipment
)similar safety devices
)other checklist items
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4. Have employees review your list
to make sure you have included all
the hazards and identified the
locations of each one
Scheduling
1. Determine how much time is
required for each type of
inspection
Fire extinguisher inspection
9 Gauge
9 Tank
9 Hose / nozzle
9 Pin
9 Seal
9 Tag
9 Signage
9 Location Time to inspect ?
2. Inspect as often as possible.
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Daily
Weekly
Bi-weekly
Monthly
3. Make sure each inspection is
thorough
4. If conditions do not improve, or
if hazards occur between
inspections, increase the
frequency
5. If no hazardous conditions are
found, do not decrease the
frequency of inspections.
6. Stick to the schedule
Involving Employees
• Increases total manpower
• Increases the chance that the
hazards are corrected quickly
• Increases the amount of attention to
SHE conditions in the area
Conducting the Inspection
Stay on the task
Take notes
Complete and specific remarks
make your inspection efforts
useful in the future as a health
and safety resource
Recommending Corrective
Actions
Aimed toward reducing or
eliminating the hazard
Priority-based
Hazard Priority
Class A – Total Disability,
loss of equipment
Class B – Partial disability,
interruptive mechanical failure
Class C – minor injury,
non-disruptive equipment failure
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Patterned as:
What to do (Action Plan)
Who is responsible (Accountability)
When is it due (Target Date)
What to expect (Output)
Communicating Inspection
Results
~ Discuss them at safety meetings
~ Post the completed checklists
~ Submit a brief report
Hazard Recognition
ÎPhysical
ÎBiological
ÎErgonomic
ÎMechanical
ÎElectrical
ÎChemical
Physical hazards
Those that affect the quality of the
general work environment
Biological hazards
Those that affect the quality of the
health of the worker
Mechanical Hazards
Those associated with the
operation of machinery
Electrical hazards
Those associated with electric
circuits and components
Chemical hazards
Those related to the storage,
transfer, production or use of
chemicals
Physical hazards
¾ Noise
¾ Light
¾ Temperature extremes
¾ Vibration
¾ Poor Housekeeping
Biological hazards
¾ Infectedpeople
¾ Unsanitary surroundings
¾ Breeding places for pests
Mechanical hazards
9 Points of operation
9 Power transmission
9 In-running Nip points
9 Shear points
9 Other moving parts
Points of operation -
Actual work is performed on the
material
Ex. Milling, blending, drilling
Point of operation
Power transmission points -
Where energy or motion is
transferred from source to
destination (point of operation)
Ex. Gears, pulleys, belt, chains
Nip points -
Two or more components.
Running in opposite directions,
come in contact with each other
In-running or Nip point
Shear points -
Where one moving component of
a machine runs past one which
is stationary
Shear points
Machine guards & safeguards
These are components that
protect the worker from direct
contact with mechanical hazards
Guards
Protective implements that have
no effect on the workers
(barriers, fences & enclosures)
Safeguards
These prevent the machine from
operating if the guards have
been moved or are out of
position
Automatic doors
Robotics
Samples:
 Fixed guards or barriers
 Automatic guards
 Interlocks
 Presence sensing devices
 Hand positioners
 Guardrails, gates & fences
Inspecting for Mechanical
Hazards
c Check each guard and
safeguard to see that it is in
place and operating correctly
d Inspecteach guard for signs of
abuse, tampering or damage that
could affect its performance
e Testeach alarm, warning
indicator or emergency system
f Check to see that permanent
guards are in place and in good
condition
g Examine the ventilation holes or
hatches in guards. They should
be dirt-free and not at risk of
overheating
h Formoving mechanical parts,
check presence of appropriate
signage
Electrical hazards
±Wiring
±Grounding / Bonding
±Power Panels
±Outlets / Switches
Chemical hazards
Ê Injuriesand illnesses
Ê Fire and explosion
Ê Environmental contamination
Gases
Inspection should concentrate on
any condition that could lead to a
leak or other unintentional
release of those gases in the air.
Liquids
Depending on their flash points,
can create ignitable vapors even
at normal work area temperature
Solids
Many solid materials, even those
that you would not ordinarily
consider combustible, can burn
or explode as fine dust or
powders.
Reactives
This group of chemicals has the
ability to ignite or explode
spontaneously when:
0mixed with other substances
0exposed to high temperature
0extreme pressure
0mechanical shock
Environmental contamination
Areas of concern are:
1 storage
1 use
1 disposal
Inspecting for Chemical
hazards
Check containers and labels
MSDS
Use recommended Personal
Protective Equipment
Observe proper ventilation,
specially in chemical storage,
transfer areas, and workstations
Have the necessary emergency
equipment available and a
trained staff to use it
Summary
Regular inspection and Follow-
up on corrective actions make for
an effective Safety Inspection
Program
Keys to effective inspection
• Create checklists
• Schedule inspections (v.v.)
• Focus on one hazard at a time
• Modify checklists as needed
• Follow-up corrective actions
• Communicate & Involve Employees
• Acknowledge participation
Mechanical hazards
Chemical hazards
Electrical hazards
Physical hazards
Biological hazards
Ergonomic hazards