For any type of business, a safety inspection checklist is essential.
Safety checklists protect workers and guarantee that all of your operations, standards, and procedures are in compliance with OSHA laws.
Here are 7 steps for creating a safety inspection checklist for your staff whether you already use a paper-based checklist or want to convert to digital tools.
1. Find common issues
Before you begin drafting your safety inspection checklist, take some time to identify potential issues that are common in your industry.
This list will be the foundation for your final checklist.
For example, if your business is in the hospitality sector, you may want to consider things that could pose a danger to guests or cause damage to property.
2. Review current checklists
Now that you have identified some common hazards and risks specific to your industry, review current paper checklists or Excel spreadsheets used for inspections at other organizations within your field.
What types of items do these lists include? Are there any items on these lists that don’t make sense for your organization?
3. Share information with employees
One of the top benefits of safety inspection checklists is that they allow employees to actively participate in identifying hazards and risks within the workplace.
Engage your teams by asking what types of issues they encounter on a regular basis and which safety equipment can best address these concerns.
4. Map out potential issues
Now you are ready to take all of this information and draft specific items for your checklist based on common safety issues, industry standards, and input from employees.
Don’t forget to include emergency response procedures as well as any upcoming changes or updates to your safety management system (SMS) that need to be addressed (such as new training requirements).
5. Test, update & implement
After you finalize your safety inspection checklist, pilot with members of at least three different teams in your organization.
Make updates to the checklist as necessary and develop a plan for how you will roll this out to all employees throughout your business.
6. Track & measure
Once you have implemented your safety inspection checklist, make sure it is working.
Use checklists from time-to-time to ensure that new employees are aware of what is expected of them.
Regularly assess whether the procedures on the list need to be updated or if any additional changes need to be made within your SMS.
7. Hold yourself accountable
Above all, remember that the ultimate goal of implementing a safety inspection checklist at your organization is to create a safer work environment and prevent loss in productivity due to common hazards, injuries, and near misses.
If you find that you are struggling to meet these goals, don’t hesitate to seek help from safety professionals who can assist you in creating and implementing an effective safety management system.
The bottom line is that a well-constructed safety inspection checklist can be an extremely valuable tool for your organization.
By taking the time to create one that is specific to your industry and employees, you can ensure that everyone is aware of the hazards and risks present in your workplace and knows what they need to do to keep themselves and their colleagues safe.