Safety Inspections
Employees play a critical role in identifying, controlling, and reporting hazards that may develop or already exist in the workplace. Because employees are most familiar with their job tasks, equipment, and work areas, their involvement in safety inspections greatly increases the likelihood that hazards will be recognized early and addressed before an incident occurs.
Walk-around safety inspections should be conducted by two experienced and knowledgeable workers whenever possible. Using more than one inspector helps provide different perspectives and reduces the chance that hazards will be overlooked. These inspections should focus not only on physical conditions, but also on work practices, equipment use, housekeeping, and changes in the work environment.
Safety inspection reports documenting potential hazards are an effective tool for triggering a closer evaluation of specific equipment, operations, or job procedures. In addition to identifying hazards, inspection reports can also include practical suggestions for eliminating hazards or improving existing controls.
The frequency of walk-around safety inspections should be determined by the nature of the work being performed and the level of risk present in the workplace. Worksites that involve rapidly changing conditions, hazardous materials, heavy equipment, or a higher potential for serious injury or illness require more frequent inspections.
At oil and gas wellsites, daily safety inspections are essential due to the dynamic nature of operations, multiple contractors, changing equipment configurations, and evolving hazards. These inspections help ensure that new or emerging hazards are identified and controlled before work begins or continues.
At small, fixed worksites, the entire site should be inspected during a single inspection whenever feasible. Even at the smallest worksites, safety inspections should be conducted at least quarterly. If hazardous materials are used, hazardous procedures are performed, or conditions change frequently, inspections should be conducted more often to maintain effective hazard control.
Sound Safety Inspection Policy: All employees should inspect their area of responsibility at the beginning and end of each shift and continuously monitor conditions throughout the workday. Inspections should be bridged with ongoing observation so that hazards are identified as soon as they arise. If a hazardous condition is observed, employees should eliminate it immediately if it can be done safely, or report it promptly so that appropriate corrective action can be taken.
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4-5. What factors determine the frequency of a walk-around inspection?
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