Describe in detail about the types and objectives of plant safety inspection

Q 7. Describe in detail about the types and objectives of plant safety inspection

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Types of Safety Inspections

There are several ways to perform safety inspections of a workplace, task or job.

The most popular ways include using checklists, general knowledge, and risk mapping. To be effective, safety inspections must be individualized or tailored to meet the needs of a specific workplace, task or job. 

Safety Checklist Inspections

A checklist is very good for the regular inspection of specific items. However, they may not be as useful in identifying previously unrecognized hazards.

Many different checklists are available from a variety of sources. Unfortunately, since these readymade checklists are generic, they rarely meet the needs of a specific workplace, task or job. However, you may find them useful to inspect a part of your area. For instance, the owner's manual for a table saw may have a checklist that works perfectly for inspecting the saw in a department shop. Taking parts of several ready-made checklists and putting them together may be an easy method of beginning the development of your customized checklist.

General Knowledge Safety Inspections

Another way of conducting inspections is to use the information you have in your head and just walk around looking at what is going on. You do not use a pre-made checklist for this type of inspection. This method keeps you from getting stuck looking at the same things every time. However the effectiveness of this inspection method is dependent on the individual's level of knowledge about workplace related safety practices. It is important to document the results of the inspection and any action taken in resolving or addressing safety hazards.

Risk Mapping Safety Inspections

The third inspection method is called risk mapping. It is a good method to use at a safety meeting where everyone there is familiar with the workplace or process. This technique uses a map/drawing of the workplace or a list of steps in a process. People in the group then tell the leader the hazards they recognize and where they are located in the workplace or process. The leader uses different colors or symbols to identify different types of hazards on the map or list of steps. This type of inspection is valuable for involving all employees in identifying and resolving safety hazards.

What is the purpose of a safety inspection?
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The primary purpose of a safety inspection is to help safety leaders to identify potential hazards that pose a risk to employee safety and wellbeing, with the ultimate aim of preventing workplace accidents, injuries and illnesses.

Therefore, a safety inspection may include an examination of a plant, equipment, and vehicles, including how they are utilised in the workplace and the safeguards that are in place to mitigate the risks attached to their use.

A safety inspection will also evaluate workplace practices and how these contribute to employee safety, or whether they create workplace risks.

At the same time, a safety inspection will also provide positive feedback as to where effective safety practices are being enacted and will highlight safety behaviours that make a positive contribution to the overall safety culture of the workplace.

Plan for regular safety inspections

In order for safety inspections to fulfill their role of preventing workplace accidents, injuries, and illnesses, it is important that they are scheduled to be carried out at regular intervals. This is so that any changes in operations or procedures are able to be scrutinised and in order for any patterns or trends relating to workplace incidents to be identified.

It is often the case in busy workplaces that elements of the SMS become neglected, or it may be that safety procedures are not always being fully or correctly implemented. Having regular safety inspections, therefore, helps to prevent unsafe practices creeping in and identifies new areas of operation that might not have been included in the existing SMS.

Is everything covered in your safety inspection?

Safety inspections should also be scheduled to take place regularly so that a variety of shifts and workdays are covered, and all equipment is able to be inspected. Therefore, a safety inspection may need to take place over an extended period of time so that all aspects of operations, including less visible working practices, can be assessed.

A safety inspection should also be planned so that it provides opportunities for discussions with employees and enables a wide variety of views and perceptions on workplace safety to be considered. A high-performance safety culture can only be achieved when supported by appropriate safety behaviours, and so an inspection needs to not only look at plant and procedures but people as well.

Regular inspections will also be able to note any changes in safety behaviours over time (perhaps as personnel change) and the degree to which an organisation’s safety culture is being maintained.