Workplace Safety Inspections

What is this about?	Workplace inspections are a useful method of identifying hazards and reporting them before they cause an incident.
Who has to do it?	Anybody but ideally a OHS representative and an area supervisor.
Why am I required to do this?	Identifying hazards through hazard inspections is a vital part of the risk management process at UOW.
When do I have to do this?	All areas of the University are required to be inspected at least annually.
What do I do?	1.Take immediate action to prevent further damage; 2. Report any identified hazards SafetyNET; 3. Provide information to the supervisor or OHS Unit if required.
More info...	Workplace Inspection Guideline Workplace Inspection Summary Report Form Risk Management Guidelines

What is a Workplace Safety Inspection?
Who can do an Workplace Safety Inspection?
How do you complete an Workplace Safety Inspection?
What type of inspection checklists are there and how often should they be carried out?
I have completed an inspection, what next?

What is an Workplace Safety Inspection?

A Workplace Safety Inspection is a planned event, where the workplace is inspected to identify potential hazards. It is the best way of pro-actively identifying hazards before they have the ability to cause an injury.

Download the Workplace Inspection Guidelines [pdf 170kb]

Download the Workplace Inspection Summary Report Form

Who can do an Workplace Safety Inspection?

Anybody can do an OHS inspection. Ideally though, an inspection would involve an experienced person from the area, a WAC representative and the supervisor of the area.

How do you complete a Workplace Safety Inspection?

Workplace Safety Inspections use a checklist to help identify hazards. Using the checklist and looking at the area of concern is the best way about doing an inspection.

Once hazards are identified solutions are to be put in place to ensure the hazard is controlled.

What type of inspection checklists are there and how often should they be carried out?

There are a number of checklists depending on the type of area being inspected. These checklists include a detailed list of items to inspect, however you may wish to modify the checklist to make it more specific to your area.

Inspections should be carried out on a regular basis according the level of risk.

The following checklists are available for use:

General Laboratory Checklist	Should be used for all laboratories (NB: Computer Laboratories are to be inspected using the Office Inspection Checklist).
Biosafety Checklist	If you are working with biological materials you must use the Biosafety Checklist in conjunction with the General Laboratory Checklist.
PC2 Laboratory Checklist	This checklist is for non-OGTR PC2 laboratories. Inspections should be carried out annually.
Compressed Gas Checklist	If you are using compressed gases you must use the Compressed Gas Checklist in conjunction with the General Laboratory Checklist.
Cryogen Checklist	If you are using cryogenic materials you must use the Cryogen Checklist in conjunction with the General Laboratory Checklist.
Laser Checklist	If you are working with lasers you must use the Laser Checklist in conjunction with the General Laboratory Checklist.
Radiation Checklist	If you are using radiation materials you must use the Radiation Checklist in conjunction with the General Laboratory Checklist.
Office Checklist	Used for office/administrative areas, for example computer laboratories or an area containing desks, chairs, computers, filing cabinets and shelving.
Workshop Checklist	Used for areas where machinery and tools are used as part of equipment maintenance and/or manufacturing new equipment.
General Areas Checklist	Used for any common space for example lecture theatres, tutorial rooms and foyers.
Communications Area Checklist	Used for ITS communication areas only.
Studio Checklist	Used for all studio areas including textiles, printmaking, photography and sculpture studios.
Theatre Checklist	Used for theatre areas including the performance space, black box theatre and Hope theatre.
Common Areas Checklist	Used for accommodation common areas.
Kitchen/Dining Areas Checklist	Used for accommodation kitchen and dining areas.
Recreation/External Areas Checklist	Used for accommodation recreation/external areas.

I have completed an inspection, what next?

Once an inspection is completed those items that require corrective actions should be addressed. Any hazards identified throughout the inspection should have corrective actions assigned to an appropriate person and the hazard entered through the online hazard reporting system, SafetyNet. As part of the review process the inspection team should follow-up to see whether the corrective action has commenced or is completed.

Need more information? Please refer to the Risk Management Guidelines.