Sussexsafety.net is a new organisation set up to help you comply with all your health & safety requirements and have easy access to competent health and safety advice.
Inspections
Health & Safety Consultancy, Information & Management
Safety Inspections
What does the HSE say?
Formal inspections can take different forms and you will need to agree the best methods for your workplace.
Here are some of the ways inspections can take place.
• Safety tours - general inspections of the workplace
• Safety sampling - systematic sampling of particular dangerous activities, processes or areas
• Safety surveys - general inspections of particular dangerous activities, processes or areas
• Incident inspections carried out after an accident causing a fatality, injury, or near miss, which could have resulted in an injury, or case of ill health and has been reported to the health and safety enforcing authority.
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 like in a predominantly administrative office.
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.
It is good practice to:
• Plan and co-ordinate a programme of inspections - in advance
• Assess the frequency of inspections - e.g. higher risk areas monthly, lower risk areas twice yearly
• Draw up an inspection report containing recommendations, actions, responsibilities and a time frame for completion
• Break down tasks - for larger workplaces, it may not be practical to conduct a formal inspection of the entire workplace in a single session
Following-up after an inspection
Share any follow-up action taken with staff and other relevant parts of your business, including the health and safety committee where there is one.
You remain responsible for taking decisions about managing health and safety, but by explaining the reasons for actions and being open with your employees you can show your commitment to the health and safety of your staff
Sussexsafety.net can assist you in carrying out Safety Inspections of your premises by:
• Designing a bespoke checklist for your organisation/business - recording that an inspection has taken place and what has been inspected
• Creating a bespoke report form - listing any unsafe or unhealthy conditions, areas of concern, actions for improvement
• Assisting you in carrying out your Safety Inspections
Sussexsafety.net
• Invite employee representatives - it will help build staff relationships if you inspect together. It shows that you value their contribution and health and safety experience
• Consult specialists - if there is a safety officer or specialist advisers then they should be available to give technical advice on health and safety matters that may arise during an inspection
• Keep records to help evidence continual improvement of your health and safety management systems