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SAFETY INSPECTION CHECKLIST

Regular inspection of the workplace is the ideal method to pro-actively identify hazards and implement
changes to prevent accidents from occurring.

Each Site Manager who has responsibility for safety at the site must schedule safety inspections at the
beginning of each year and complete the Safety Inspection Form, which the local safety committee will
monitor.

The manager or supervisor of the area to be inspected will:

 Organise/arrange for the local safety representative to accompany them on the inspection.
 Arrange for a Safety Inspection Checklist to be provided.
 Complete the Safety Inspection Checklist, including categorising hazards according to the severity of
each hazard.
 Establish remedial solutions to minimalise the risk.
 When the inspection has been completed the Manager or Supervisor will forward the inspection report to
the Site Manager.

The Site Manager is responsible for:

 Forwarding the inspection report to the Safety Coordinator (Headquarters) for reporting purposes.
 Delegating identified risks or hazards to the appropriate manager, supervisor or facilities.
 Obtaining an expected date when the hazard or risk will be rectified and monitor that alterations occur.
 Monitoring that hazards have been completed on time.
 Keeping the safety committee advised of progress regarding each identified hazard.
 Rectifying hazards or potential hazards within the required time-frame.
 Ensuring that, at the completion of each inspection, the checklist is signed off by the Safety
Representative and Manager/supervisor of the area.

The Safety Coordinator will report to the Divisional Safety Steering Group regarding progress on all safety
inspections.

1. Category ‘A’ type hazard is regarded as dangerous and requires immediate corrective action
2. Category ‘B’ type hazard is less dangerous and corrective action must be taken within three
weeks
3. Category ‘C’ type hazard must be corrected within eight weeks

The following checklist is intended as a guide for Managers, Supervisors, Safety and Health
Representatives, OSH Resource Officers and the Safety Committee to assess their workplace for
hazards. The Safety Coordinator is available to assist and provide advice to Safety Reps’, OSH
Resource Officers and Managers.

Note: these items are not an exhaustive list but rather these are to be extended by people completing the
safety inspections.
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EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT Date

Vehicle parking area Yes No Comments

Entrances and exits clearly marked
Surface of parking area and driveways free from potholes and cracks
Well drained to prevent flooding and pooling of water
Drainage grates in good order
Direction of traffic well defined
Traffic and speed restrictions signs clearly defined and free from
obstructions
Adequate lighting installed and operational
Intersections and pedestrian areas identified
Potential vehicle damage areas, corners, guardrails and entrances
effectively marked
“No Parking” areas clearly identified
Parking for drivers with disabilities provided
Pedestrian Areas
Continuous clear accessible pathway i.e. no barriers
No raised curbs or changes in the pathways
Surface free of holes and projections
Well drained to prevent flooding
Adequate illumination of walkways, stairways and ramps
Anti-slip surfaces
Steps and changes of level clearly defined
Emergency entrance and exits clear, well defined and lit
Waste bins provided and regularly emptied
Walls / gates / fences
In good order
No protruding nails or loose palings
Childproof locks fitted where needed
Sun protection
Adequate protection from sun provided
Staff and clients have access to sun block if needed
Staff are encouraged to wear hats
Other
Mustering area for emergency evacuations
Gardens are in good order – debris, fallen branches removed, lawns mown
regularly
Gardens are free of sharp objects (broken glass, metal, wood splinters,
needles etc)
Containers provided for smokers (if smoking allowed)
Play equipment safe (check with child care agencies to identify criteria)
Storage sheds tidy and locked
Vehicle safety
Vehicles in good repair and working order
Vehicles regularly serviced and records maintained
First aid kit is in good order
Child seats / capsules provided
Security
Outdoor security lights triggered to operate after dark
Areas around the organisation where an aggressor could hide have been
identified
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WORKPLACE INSPECTION CHECKLIST

INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT Date:

Security Yes No Comment

Adequate locks on all external doors
Adequate locks on all external windows
Register of who has what keys
Alarm system provided
Duress alarms in offices and interview rooms
Two exits from interview rooms
Security screens for windows and doors
Valuable items such as cash and video players are stored when not in use,
e.g. hidden safes
Areas inside the organisation where an aggressor could hide have been
identified
Floors, aisles, exits
Entrance / steps in good order
Hand rails where appropriate
Floor coverings in good repair
Floors even, uncracked, no holes
Floors clean and not slippery
All entrances, doorways and stairs kept clear at all times
Cords secured and clear of walkways
Walkways free from rubbish
Stairs and landings
Lighting adequate
Good visual contrast between steps
Slip resistant strips on edge (nosing) of steps
Handrails present and at correct height
Minimal variation between step height and step depth
Indoor climate
Temperature appropriate for the workplace
Air conditioning filters cleaned regularly (if appropriate)
Air quality acceptable, e.g. free of fumes and smells, replacement
frequency adequate
Bathrooms / toilets
Adequate toilets for male / female
Toilets for people with disabilities provided
Parent rooms available
Cleaned regularly
Well ventilated
Soap and hand towels / driers provided
Sanitary facilities provided
Kitchen / lunch room
Suitable eating / tea break facilities
Stock stored appropriately
Food is stored appropriately, i.e. refrigerated
Cooking facilities clean and in good order
Work benches clean
Locked cupboard / drawer for knives and sharps
Staff are wearing protective clothing
Gloves are used when handling food
Exhaust fans over cooking units are clean
Electrical equipment is in good repair
Anti-slip floor surfaces

WORKPLACE INSPECTION CHECKLIST

INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT Date:
 PAGE 4 of 8

Lighting Yes No Comment

Lighting in the workplace suitable for the work performed
Accessible light switches
Task lighting provided for detailed work
Overhead lights shielded to minimise glare
Stairwells and exits well illuminated
Faults such as flickering globes, blown globes replaced /repaired
immediately
Glare minimised in the work area
Good natural lighting
Emergency lighting works
Exit signs are illuminated
Housekeeping
Work areas kept clean and tidy
Materials and equipment stored safely
Rubbish bins emptied regularly
Workers provided with personal protective equipment for cleaning, e.g.
gloves
Appropriate container provided for disposing of “sharps”
Procedures in place to ensure that any accidental spills or leakages are
immediately cleaned up
Hazardous substances
Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for all hazardous substances
Register of hazardous substances kept
Chemicals disposed of correctly
Locked cupboard / drawer for hazardous substances
Emergency procedures in place and communicated
Workers instructed in correct use of hazardous substances
Storage
Materials stored in racks or bins wherever possible
Storage designed to minimise manual handling
Floors in store areas free from rubbish and packing
Files stored appropriately
First aid
Cabinet easy to access for all staff
Staff aware of where cabinet is located
Cabinet clearly labelled
Adequate stocks kept
Name of first aid officer clearly displayed
Current first aid certificate held by first aid officer
Gloves used for treatment of all injuries
Register of injuries kept
Noise
Equipment regularly maintained
Noisy equipment enclosed or isolated
Workstations / office
No broken items
No sharp edges
Filing cabinets / cupboards stable or secured to walls to prevent tipping
Furniture not blocking doorways
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WORKPLACE INSPECTION CHECKLIST

INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT Date:

Chairs Yes No Comments

Height adjustable
Back rest adjustable
Seats adjusted for person using them
Work surface
Desk at correct height for work performed
Footrest provided
Sufficient leg room under desk
Workplace layout
Document holder provided for continuous keying work
Phone connections nearby
Sufficient individual storage space
All frequently used items within easy reach
Cables secured behind work surface
VDU screen at correct height
Keyboard and mouse positioned correctly
Desk uncluttered
Adequate space between furniture
Electricity
Plugs, sockets and switches in good repair
No frayed or defective leads
Adequate number of power points for the appliances in use
Earth leakage protection installed
Photocopiers
Located in a well ventilated room
Located away from workers to minimise noise
Office environment – general
Adequate space for staff and clients
Residential
Staff shift arrangements organised to prevent fatigue
Adequate staffing during shift
Staff pass on information about each shift
Secure sleeping arrangements for staff and residents
Privacy for clients and staff, i.e. no TV and stereo in same room
Kitchen safety rules displayed and implemented
House rules displayed
Residents aware of curfew times and adhere to rules
Visitors follow house rules
Drugs and alcohol policy displayed and implemented
Housekeeping adequate
Residents aware of emergency procedures
“Safe rooms”
Door with handle which can be pulled closed and locked
Double lock on door
Exit from the room other than the entry door
Telephone in the room

P.T.O.
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WORKPLACE INSPECTION CHECKLIST

INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT Date:

Fire exits and procedures Yes No Comments

Smoke detectors and alarms
Accessible fire exits
Uncluttered fire exits
Appropriate signs
Unlocked during working hours
Fire extinguishers located appropriate to risk
Appropriate to the conditions and exposures
Regularly serviced and date noted
Fire blankets provided where appropriate
Regular fire drills with documented staff attendance
Comments and review of above results (i.e. action required):

Signed: Date:
Position:
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WORKPLACE INSPECTION CHECKLIST

SAFETY & SECURITY Date:

Clients Yes No Comments

Clients of the organization are likely to be distressed or aggressive
There are written criteria for the types of clients that the service either
accepts or refers elsewhere
There are procedures for referring clients to appropriate services for
psychiatric, drug and alcohol and behavioural reasons
Written procedures are used to assess clients
Referring organizations are providing enough information
Referral information is verified
Clients are made aware of their rights and responsibilities
Staffing
There are experienced workers only in front line positions
Workers have the appropriate knowledge and skills to deal with clients
There are procedures for sole worker times
The roster avoids back to back shifts for staff
The clothing worn by staff does not increase the risk of injury during a
violent incident, e.g. earrings, ties, scarfs
Staff levels are adjusted to match times where violent behaviour is more
likely to occur
Staff meeting regularly with their Manager and other workers for support
Supervisors monitor caseload numbers of each worker to avoid overload
Shift hand-overs ensure that sufficient information is passed on from events
in the previous shift
Current staff levels prevent excessive workload and overtime
Staff training
All workers, volunteers and management trained in the following:
Induction into the organisation’s policies & procedures
Time management
How to identify, assess and resolve conflict
Negotiation skills
Techniques for diffusing violence
Armed hold-up procedures
Medication management for clients
Anger management
Crisis communication
Basic self-defence
Post trauma debriefing procedure
Accident and incident reporting
Complaints and grievance procedures
Fire drills and emergency procedure
Home visit / Call-out procedure
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WORKPLACE INSPECTION CHECKLIST

SAFETY & SECURITY Date:

Communication Yes No Comment

There is one telephone that cannot be accessed by clients
Staff members on duty have the capacity to contact each other easily
Mobile phones, intercoms, duress alarms and beepers are available and in
good working order
Telephone numbers of all emergency services are displayed prominently
above all telephones and on automatic dial
There is one telephone that can be used by clients
Office-based staff are familiar with their role in home visit / emergency
procedures
Procedures There are day-to-day procedures in the organization for:
Handling disputes between clients
Handling disputes / grievances between staff, volunteers and/ or
management
Removing from clients items that could be used as a weapon
Cash handling
Securing the premises
Responding to alarms
Issuing medication to clients, including record keeping
Post incident debriefing
Dealing with bomb threats
Management of violent incidents
Home visits and call-outs
Comments and review of above results (i.e. action required):

Signed: Date:
Position: