Christel Fouche

Workplace Inspections: Fake or Fact?

  • September 11th, 2008

Are we doing our workplace inspections (the new name for the old Health & Safety Representative inspections) to continually identify opportunities for improvement or are we doing it merely as part of our window-dressing process of complying with legislation but not really getting any results?

The latter seems to be the case currently in South Africa.

Common problems that surface are:

  • Health and Safety Representatives appointed but not trained to conduct inspections effectively - sometimes they are doing their inspections for 6 months before they receive training - I wonder what the quality of these inspections was?
  • Using a bulky inspection document of which half or more of the content is not relevant to the area to be inspected - this creates a demotivational approach to the process.
  • Inspecting the area making the “ticks” but not really looking and seeing the problems - this leads to actually sitting in an office and completing the forms without visiting the actual area.
  • Reporting of deviations to the meeting but not getting any results or feedback,
  • Postponing of meetings time and again to the frustration of the Health and Safety Representative,
  • Managers supposed to attend the meetings making excuses not to attend and sometimes go without attending one meeting in a 6 - 12 month period. Their input is needed to assist with the final decision-making and approval process,
  • Health and Safety Representatives having been appointed for more than 2 years developing oversight or tunnel-vision,
  • Health and Safety Representatives who do not want to do the inspections but there is no-one else and therefore they do it half-heartedly,
  • Inspections taking too long or rushed through in a too short period,
  • Illiteracy issues including language barriers,
  • Management not signing off inspection documents.

A suggestion towards conducting quality workplace inspections are:

  • Ensure that you have trained the reps immediately after appointment and before commencing with their appointment period (have an overlap between the current and the new Representative),
  • Customize the inspection document for the specific area and make it user-friendly, but effective,
  • Spend more time on “how to complete” the inspection document effectively and correctly,
  • Allocate adequate and dedicated time when the inspection needs to be done,
  • As a manager walk along for two or more inspections and at regular intervals to show support and to highlight neglected areas or areas of oversight.
  • Bring the results of the inspections not only to the meetings, but make them part of toolbox/safety/green area talks.
  • Emphasize approach and question techniques to assist the rep with engaging fellow employees during the inspection.
  • Ensure that the inspection document is perused and signed off by the relevant senior manager.
  • Communicate - at a level understandable to the Health and Safety Representative - the feedback on issues of concern identified in the inspection document, eg. Why are we not doing something about the problem immediately? Is it the cost, or something else?
  • Bring excitement in during the 1 - 24 month period of appointment and inspection, eg. Workshop to improve knowledge and skill, competitions, etc.

Health and Safety Representative inspections or workplace inspections fulfil almost the same function as a mini- or 3-minute risk assessment: it identifies PRO-ACTIVELY possible hazards and risks in the working environment and give the organization the opportunity to act timely before an actual incident occur.

Why do we neglect the quality of this function so much?

Why does it not receive the same recognition as risk assessments?

19 Responses to “Workplace Inspections: Fake or Fact?”

  1. Craig Carelsen Says:
    October 16th, 2008 at 11:23 am

    Hi
    I stumbled onto this website today and am very impressed with the vast span of SHEQ info that is available and yes, I do agree with the comment about safety reps “not giving their all”. I must say however, that, the ever present ‘production needs’ always seem to take precidence over that which is required in terms of safety.
    Thx
    Craig C

  2. Christel Fouche Says:
    October 16th, 2008 at 2:14 pm

    Hi Craig

    Thank you for the positive feedback.

    Regards

    CF

  3. RICHARD Says:
    November 5th, 2008 at 4:34 pm

    this article is very relevant, my first time on this website and i THINK its a very good one For Africa

  4. Natalie Says:
    November 6th, 2008 at 11:08 pm

    This is a very informative website. I really enjoyed reading the articles. Ben came to Unisa Pretoria today and said we should take a look - glad I did. Keep up the good work.

  5. Christel Fouche Says:
    November 7th, 2008 at 8:42 am

    Hallo Richard and Natalie

    Thank you for your comment. It is always important for me to hear what the client is saying and whether I am addressing actual needs or just academic issues. Should you have any specific concerns that you would like me to address - kindly bring this to my attention and we can then increase the awareness of all SHEQ professionals by sharing our knowledge and skill.

    Regards

    Christel

  6. Duncan Dhlamini Says:
    November 11th, 2008 at 4:54 pm

    Its very informative, I’m impressed now I understand where I need to improve. Thank you very much for sharing this infromation with us.
    Please in your next article show us an example of the inspection document.

  7. Nomqibelo Mahlaule Says:
    December 9th, 2008 at 3:05 pm

    Totally agree its informative, I sent it to my colleagues and they where so challenged.

  8. onyango Solomon J Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 4:06 pm

    What can i say? this is really great work Christel. As a new professional in Health and Safety, i believe i will learn a lot from your work. Keep the fire burning.

    God bless you.

  9. Sheila Says:
    January 27th, 2009 at 5:51 pm

    Hi Christel met you years ago you presented the SAMTRAC class I attended in the 90’s. i came across this website this afternoon. You touch on many difficulties we are experiencing in the work place. The information is very relevant and makes us aware that it is common challenges. Thank you for the information to address these challenges.

  10. Elias Says:
    January 30th, 2009 at 2:10 pm

    Hi Christel, this is good .I open this web monday-friday.I want to go into this profession ,what are the tips?.

  11. Ernie Carstens Says:
    February 22nd, 2009 at 1:42 pm

    With what appears to be a lack of Inspectorate resources within the RSA Labour/Manpower department would it not make sense to empower company SHE reps to raise Provisional Improvement Notices? A copy are send off to the Department immediately and if company does not resolve issue within a certain period, the regulatory inspectorate shedule a formal visit.
    No there’s a thought!

  12. adams k. braimoh Says:
    February 24th, 2009 at 1:37 pm

    This article on work place inspection- Fake or Facts is very relevant, my first time on this website this is a very good one For Africa particulaly West Africa countries where employers do not take responsibility for employees health and safety.

  13. christel Says:
    February 26th, 2009 at 9:02 am

    Hi Duncan
    Thank you for the positive feedback. I will try my best to include sections of an inspection report in future articles.
    Regards Christel.

  14. christel Says:
    February 26th, 2009 at 9:05 am

    Hallo Elias
    Very good field to enter at this stage. Please forward me your e-mail - I will then send a suggested career-path development programme to you in terms of training.
    Regards Christel.

  15. christel Says:
    February 26th, 2009 at 9:07 am

    Hallo Ernie
    Thank you for the comment. The problem we are facing is the qualifications and experience of these people. Would they be competent enough to make these decisions? Would they be mature enough to look at the facts and not finding faults?
    Regards Christel

  16. christel Says:
    February 26th, 2009 at 9:09 am

    Hi Johanna
    Thank you for your comment. By popular demand I will print an example of an inspection form in a future article.
    Regards Christel

  17. christel Says:
    February 26th, 2009 at 9:18 am

    Hallo Richard, Onyango & Adams
    Thank youf ro putting a smile on my face. I am not always sure whether I am waisting your time with irrelevant information. It is great news to see that it is appreciated.
    Regards Christel

  18. Elizabeth Says:
    February 27th, 2009 at 2:42 pm

    Hi Christel,
    I’m working for a Steel Fabrication company and I’m new on the Health and safety field. This is new in the company and I’m supposed to prepare the whole set-up. I’m busy with SHE Management courses and I want to start the implementations. Please advice

  19. christel Says:
    May 11th, 2009 at 2:33 pm

    Hi Elizabeth
    Thank you for your feedback. I believe I have answered this personally in a separate e-mail - if not could you just inform me? Regards Christel.

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