Health and Safety Inspection Checklist
- September 15th, 2009
Due to popular demand, we return to an example of a section of a health and safety representative inspection checklist.
It is important to notice that there is a BIG difference between an inspection and an audit. The differences are:
- Inspection takes place more frequently (hourly, daily, weekly) whereas an audit takes place less frequently (every 3 or 6 months).
- Inspection is done by the employee and an audit is done by a senior employee.
- Inspection covers detail and everything while an audit is a sampling process to verify that inspections where done correctly.
Successful completion of health and safety representative inspections, require application of these basic principles:
- Enter full names and surnames, not nicknames.
- Enter full dates and times, in a logical sequence, such as the format dd, mm, yyyy, am/pm or 13:00.
- Fill all spaces in ink, to prevent tampering with the checklist.
- Enter words, like Yes, No, N/A (not applicable), or cross out the finding that is not applicable. Do not use tick marks, since tick marks could be changed to crosses.
- Write neatly and legibly.
- Explain ‘No’ in the comment column. Describe what is wrong, where the problem is, and what is required.
- Allocate sufficient time.
- Remain calm and relaxed during inspection.
- Find facts, not faults, and avoid arguments.
- Give compliments where due. Bear the importance of the inspection in mind.
- Vary inspection times to avoid routine window-dressing. Do not inspect during peak job times.
- Keep your cell phone off.
- Wear appropriate PPE and follow site safety rules.
- Obtain permission and support from the site manager in advance.
Health and safety representatives are part of the Sheq management system, and act to pro-actively identify possible loopholes in the system. They are on your side, looking for opportunities for continual improvement to keep the workplace free from manageable hazards and risks that may affect your health, safety and profitability. Give them your full support.
Checklist or inspection forms must be customised according to the requirements of the industry, the site, and the specific area to be inspected. An example of a section of an inspection checklist is illustrated here.
Additional loop-holes to keep in mind are:
- Balancing “health” and “safety” requirements in the checklist and not only focusing on “safety” issues.
- Continually upgrading the checklist to reflect changes in the working environment.
- When inspecting offices - an ergonomics checklist should be added to the standard checklist to include the area specific requirements.
- Customization of checklists are a must to ensure:
- That the content is applicable
- That unnecessary time is not wasted on irrelevant issues
- An oversight of critical elements are not encountered
- The developers of the checklists must be competent and one person MUST NOT design and develop this tool on his/her own.
- To be on the look-out for patterns:
- Ticking exercise that was done quickly as in yesterday, but for the whole year.
- A problem area that has not been attended to for 3 or more months in a row.
- Management not signing the inspection checklist (commitment).
The Health and Safety representative inspection is the first line of preventive action to pro-actively determine possible problems in the system. It MUST NOT be neglected or downplayed.
29 Responses to “Health and Safety Inspection Checklist”
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September 15th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Good solid advice, as always,
Thanks very much
September 15th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Hi Christel
I have a Q that doesn’t realy relate to this post. I hope I am not being greedy.
I have to often wondered about facilities on construction sites. I eventually convinced our company to designate an emoloyee to clean the toilets on our construction site on a daily basis. These are normal household toilets. So we are trying to provide sufficient facilities.
What I am uncertain about is the fact that the Construction Regulations refer to quantity of toilets and showers. Does a normal site have to provide showers for every laborer,even sub-contractors, or only for workers sleeping on the premises. If we are to provide showers at all times, does this need to include hot water and soap? It’s not always very clear what the legislator had in mind while writing the requirements.
I would realy appreciate your feedback.
Blessings,
Anton
September 16th, 2009 at 9:03 am
Thank you Riette.
September 16th, 2009 at 9:07 am
Hi Anton
Thank you for your enquiry. You have to provide showers for normal workers - it does not distinguish between workers sleeping on the property and just normal workers. It also does not specify hot water and soap to be provided, but this is industry standard. I am worried however that you have workers sleeping on the property? Regards Christel.
September 16th, 2009 at 9:13 am
Thank you for replying
We do indeed have workers sleeping on site. Is this a concern?
September 16th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Hi
If you are running a 24 hour operation then these workers should be catered for within the legal requirements. So you are responsible and liable for anything that happens to them during this 24 hour period. Kitchens, bathrooms, etc. are all your responsibility. Regards Christel
September 16th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
I am going to take this up with management.
Thanx a million!!!!
September 29th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Hi Christel
Please can you send me a mail about all the course information that is available. I am spesific looking for SHEQ MAN.
Thanks
September 29th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Hi Meliesa
I have asked Tania to make contact with you and send the information through. Keep a lookout for it in your e-mail inbox. Regards Christel.
October 2nd, 2009 at 11:34 am
Please send me information of all the courses available on SHEQ. Kindly include their dates and costs. If you have anything specific to Geothermal SHEQ issues I will truley appreciate.
Kind regards, Barbara.
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Hi Barbara
I have asked Tania to send the information to you. Good luck - Regards Christel.
October 19th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
To Whom it may Concern.
I am in a confused situation here with regards to SHE Rep certificate, I understand that for First Aiders the training turn around period is 36 months, but I haven’t come across the regulation that stipulates the turn around training period for SHE Reps.
Please help……
Cyprian Zulu
October 20th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Hi Cyprian
Thank you for your enquiry. The requirement has just changed for First Aid trainers - the certificate/training is valid for 24 months/2 years only - not three anymore. In terms of SHEQ Reps the law is not prescriptive, but the norm is two years as well - some companies make it 3 years, but not less.
Regards Christel
October 27th, 2009 at 11:57 am
Hi Christel
i wonder if you can assist me.
i am looking for tips of teaching our staff about Health & safety.
i am a bit nervous coz its my first time as a HESIO rep.
please advice,
Thank you
Tebogo
October 27th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Hi Tebogo
Start simple. Topics I would suggest would include:
duties of the employer - section 8 of the OHSAct
Duties of the employee - Sect 14 of the OHSAct
objectives of management towards H&S
Hazards & risks and what is the difference & examples on your site
the importance of training & knowing how to perform the work
Perosnal Protective Equipment
Following procedures - why is this important
H&S reps and their duties and functions
H&S comittees and their role
looking after the environment
personal hygiene
occupational hygiene
Hope this helps? Regards Christel.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Hey There Christel
I’m a SHEQ officer at a recycling company. We recycle and export ferrous and non ferrous materials. My question is what type of courses are compulsery to have in this tpe of industry. And where i can enroll for such courses. I have 3 years experience in the OHS environment but haven’t had any formal training.
Your feedback will be greatly anticipated
Regards Pieter
November 10th, 2009 at 8:53 am
Hi Pieter
The basic courses as per law include: induction-, H&S representative-, HIRA-, Incident Inv-, Supervisors training, however there are specific training such as first aid and fire fighting that also might be applicable to you. I am sending you a whole bunch of information to peruse. Good luck. Regards Christel.
November 30th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Hi Christel
Would you help me with a copy of the Regulations in terms of the Minerals Act that are still in force?
Regards
Andries
November 30th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
HI Andries
I have sent you a personal e-mailer. Kindly check. Regards Christel.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Hi Christel
Could you please explain to me the difference between a SHEQ representative and SHEQ manager.THANX
December 8th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Hi Christel
I see you have already touched on the subject ref. Cyprian Zulu.
My Q is were is it stipulated that a Safety Rep. must undergo certfied training and if so, who is setting the standards and what is the minimum requirements of this course. Will realy appreciate your view on this. I know that training is a requisition. Would it be a problem if inhouse training is given with reference to site specific conditions as well as responsibilities and functions etc.
December 10th, 2009 at 11:02 am
Hi Samantha
A SHEQ representative needs to be nominated and elected from the workforce/employees and represents them on SHEQ matters. This person (legally) may not be a manager. This person also has a normal occupation in industry such as being a driver, clerk or lab. assistant - they only do their inspection once a month and form part of the comittee meeting once a month - it is not their main job to be a rep. A SHEQ Manager is not at employee level and is a person who is in this SHEQ manager occupation full time. The rep reports to the manager or through other managers to the SHEQ manager. If you appoint a manager as a rep he or she will be a management rep and not a SHEQ rep.
Regards Christel.
December 10th, 2009 at 11:24 am
Hi Johan
THe laws stipulates under section 17 - 20 of the Occupational H&S Act that reps needs to be nominated, elected, appointed and trained. The law is not prescriptive in terms of what training and by whom. However the SETA/SAQA process kicks then in. You can train your own employees if you have a competent facilitator and assessor to do it. If you want to claim your moneys back from the Skills levy you however need to make use of an accredited training provider who is using registered facilitators and assessors. The questions are: do you want to claim back? If so, is your training division accredited with the SETA as well as your trainers competent facilitators and assessors through the ET&DP SETA? If you do not want to claim you still need to use a competent person to do the training in order to cover yourself legally should something go wrong.
Hope this helps? Regards Christel.
December 22nd, 2009 at 3:16 pm
please sir i wish to have details about the duties of a h ans s cordinator in any company involve in the above domain.Thanks ROLAND
December 23rd, 2009 at 8:13 am
Hi Roland
The role of a H&S Coordinator depends on the size and nature of the business as well as the manpower and assistance available to the person. In short, here is a few examples of what the person should be able to do as a minimum:
- do risk assessments with a team
- inspections
- audits
- training
- communication in meetings and with management and employees
- ID needs and act on them, eg. PPE requirements
- investigations of incidents
- completion and maintenance of documentation
- liason with clinic and fire station
- managing team of first aiders and fire fighters, etc.
Hope this helps. Regards Christel.
January 4th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Hi Christel,
I would like like to start up a consultancy firm in my country, Uganda in areas of health, safety and ergonomics. Please would you help me
identify the most critical areas I should tackle. And how can I get more
knowledge from your organisation, in form of trainings and expertise.
January 4th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
Hi Christel I’m a ohs rep at work and studying towards safety Management, I’m interested in this field and request advise on how to grow in this field.
January 13th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
Hi Joseph
Good for you and keep up the determination to complete your studies. I am sending you the SHEQ Manager/Director career-path development programme as a suggestion. Kindly peruse and inform me if this is what you were looking for. All of the best - Christel.
January 13th, 2010 at 6:31 pm
Hi Danny
Thank you for your confidence in our knowledge and experience base. To be effective in this field you need to have the correct knowledge and skill in training of various courses; implementation of systems (both legal and ISO/OHSAS); auditing of systems (both legal and ISO/OHSAS) as well as effective management and project management attributes. The golden cow remains training - so you need to decide what you want to do, how fast you want to grow and of course where your passion lies. Without passion for SHEQ you will not be successful. The market needs and demands will also have to be investigated to see what their requirements are. In terms of equipping you with the knowledge and skill - I am forwarding various option to you. Good luck - Christel.