Workplace Health And Safety Inspections  

19 October 2021

The monitoring and review of preventative and protective measures is a requirement of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations for which routine workplace health and safety inspections are to be conducted to check that such measures are in place and effective. Workplace health and safety inspections cover specific selected work areas within an organisation or workplace and should not be confused with health and safety audits of a safety management system (SMS).

Where a health and safety adviser has drawn your attention to the findings of an inspection they have carried out, you should consider the matter and decide what appropriate follow-up action should be taken.

Inspecting The Workplace

The frequency of inspections will depend on the nature of the work. Inspections may be less often, for example, if the work environment is low risk, such as in a administrative office. But if there are certain areas of a workplace or specific activities that are high risk or changing rapidly, more frequent inspection may be justified, for example on a construction project.

When conducting a workplace inspection, particular attention should be given to the existence and maintenance of suitable engineering controls (rather than the reliance on use of PPE); the arrangements to deal with emergencies; the availability of adequate current information; and if necessary, warnings regarding the nature of the plant/substance hazards concerned (e.g. where and how work activities are being carried out and those potentially exposed).

The following list provides some practical guidance to help complete workplace inspections in the most effective manner:

• Throughout the inspection, refer to the interaction between: people, processes, premises, plant and substances
• Use an inspection checklist as an aide, but do not let it limit the scope of the inspection
• Review competencies and training requirements / records for staff
• Check risk assessments, equipment documentation and maintenance records
• Talk to as many personnel as possible, listen to their observations / problems and suggestions
• Expect people to be on their best behaviour; beware of false impressions
• Do not get distracted by trivial risks or issues
• Look for potential shortcuts in work procedures or deviations from good practice
• Take account of both normal and potential abnormal work conditions and activities
• Where possible, put remedial measures in place immediately

Good Practice

• Plan a programme of inspections - you can plan a programme of inspections in advance
• Consult specialists – make use of a safety adviser or independent safety consultant
• Break down tasks - for larger workplaces, it may not be practical to conduct a formal inspection of the entire workplace in a single session
• Always address the items that were raised in good time and close out the report
• Carry out workplace H&S inspections on a regular basis and record your findings

Following-up After An Inspection

After an inspection:

• Explain the reasons for any follow-up action you decide to take
• If required, inspect again to check if the issues raised got appropriate attention
• Share the follow-up action taken throughout the workplace and other relevant parts of the business, including the health and safety committee where there is one
• Records should be maintained of any workplace health and safety inspections undertaken

Alban Safety Consultants have considerable knowledge and experience in undertaking workplace Health and Safety inspections.

For further advice, please get in touch today.