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900 Oil and Gas Safety Management
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Safety Inspections

Employees play a key role in identifying, controlling, and reporting hazards that may occur or already exist in your workplace. Walk-around inspections should be conducted by two experienced and knowledgeable workers when possible. Safety inspection reports of potential hazards can be an effective tool to trigger a closer look at a piece of equipment, operation, or how work is being performed. Reports of potential hazards can also provide suggestions to eliminate a hazard.

Overhead view of safety inspector
Safety inspections help to identify and control hazards.

The frequency of a walk-around safety inspection depends on the nature of the work and workplace. Worksites that experience more change and a higher risk for serious injury or illness require more frequent inspections. For wellsites, daily inspections are a must because of the rapidly changing nature of the site and its hazards.

At small fixed worksites, the entire site should be inspected at one time. And even for the smallest worksite, inspections should be done at least quarterly. If the small worksite uses hazardous materials or involves hazardous procedures or conditions that change frequently, inspections should be done more often.

Sound Safety Inspection Policy: All employees should inspect their area of responsibility at the beginning and end of each shift, and bridge the inspections with continual observation. If a hazardous condition is observed, eliminate it if you safely can, or report it immediately.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

4-5. What factors determine the frequency of a walk-around inspection?