Workplacelaw health and safety inspection checklist(uk)
Generic workplace health and safety inspection
What does this form include?
This form contains 25 sections:
LIGHTING
- Are all areas of the workplace, including relevant outside areas adequately lit?
- Have excessive glare and reflections been eliminated?
- Are workstations properly positioned to make the best use of natural light?
- Is local lighting provided to workstations where necessary?
- Is emergency lighting provided,with an independent power source which activates automatically when normal lighting fails?
- Does emergency lighting provide enough light?
NOISE
- Is the workplace too noisy?
- Is noise reduced at source by the provision of properly designed,well maintained and adjusted tools or machines?
- Are noise levels reduced by the use of sound-absorbent materials?
- Can the source of any excessive noise be enclosed or isolated?
- Is suitable hearing protection provided if noise levels cannot be reduced by any other means?
TEMPERATURE,VENTILATION &EXTRACTION
- Is the workplace too hot or too cold?
- Can measures be taken to control temperature extremes?
- Is there enough natural ventilation in the workplace,e.g. windows or open doorways?
- If natural ventilation is insufficient, are ventilators, fans or air conditioners provided to ensure a consistent flow of fresh air?
- Is machinery and equipment which generates heat or fumes isolated or enclosed?
- Are adequate extraction systems fitted to machinery or equipment, or is local exhaust ventilation provided where necessary?
- Are ventilation and extraction systems regularly cleaned and maintained to ensure their efficiency?
Take a photograph of the area inspected.
Is the workplace kept generally clean and tidy? (0 - Poor / 10 - Excellent)
HOUSEKEEPING AND WASTE MATERIALS
- Are appropriate and convenient storage racks provided for tools, raw materials,parts and products?
- Are oil spills and other slips, trips and fall hazards promptly cleaned up or removed?
- Are all work areas cleaned and tidied up daily (or more frequently if necessary),with all hazardous waste materials disposed of properly?
- Are there enough waste receptacles or containers of adequate size?
- Is there provision for proper drainage of waste water or other liquids?
TRAFFIC ROUTES AND PASSAGE WAYS
- Are there separate routes for pedestrians and traffic (eg fork lift trucks,etc)in the workplace?
- Are aisles,passageways and traffic routes free from obstructions and other hazards, and clearly marked for safe movement of people, vehicles and materials?
- Have measures been taken to prevent workers from being struck by moving materials or vehicles?
- Are warning notices, signs or signals posted where hazardous conditions exist?
- Are barriers placed around temporary floor openings, and used to restrict access to dangerous machines and processes?
- Are sharp,dangerous or hot objects removed,or located so that workers cannot be hurt accidentally?
EMERGENCY EXITS
- Are all fire escapes and routes to emergency exit free from obstacles?
- Are all emergency escape exits clearly marked?
- Are there enough fire extinguishers of the correct type within easy reach and near each exit?
- Have workers been instructed in the evacuation procedures in the event of an emergency?
FALLS OR FALLING OBJECTS
- Are all staircases secure and fitted with suitable handrails?
- Are ladders,platforms,crawling boards and other equipment for working at heights in good repair and suitable for the task?
- Are all fragile roofs and surfaces clearly identified?
- Have measures been taken to prevent falls into vessels containing dangerous substances?
- Are materials and objects adequately stored or stacked to prevent them from falling and causing injury?
- Are vehicles unloaded safely,without workers having to climb on top vehicles or loads?
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
- Are there any exposed, loose or entangled wires or connections?
- Are all switchboxes,panel boards and sockets provided with suitable covers?
- Is all electrical equipment effectively earthed?
- Is all electrical equipment regularly inspected for signs of wear and tear?
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
- Have all substances used in the workplace been assessed and adequately controlled under the COSHH Regulations?
- Have safer materials and substances been substituted where possible?
- Are dust or fume producing machines enclosed or isolated?
- Are sources of hazardous gases or vapours completely enclosed or sealed?
- Is local exhaust ventilation adequate? Is it regularly cleaned and maintained?
- Is suitable protective equipment provided where exposure cannot be controlled by other means?
HANDLING AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
- Is work organised to eliminate or minimise the handling of hazardous materials?
- Where direct handling is unavoidable, are workers provided with suitable personal protective equipment,clothing and gloves?
- Are there emergency procedures and facilities for dealing with chemical spillages and other accidents?
- Are all hazardous substances and materials properly labelled?
- Is suitable protective equipment provided with the full information, instruction and training on the hazards of the materials?
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
- Has the need to use personal protective equipment been minimised by the introduction of other risk control measures?
- Is the protective equipment provided (eg safety glasses, face shields, masks,ear defenders, safety footwear,helmets,gloves, etc)suitable for the task?
- Has all protective equipment which is used only at work been provided at no cost to the worker?
Is all protective equipment in good condition and well maintained? - Insert Photograph of PPE inspected
Take a photograph of the equipment inspected.
MACHINE SAFETY
- Are all moving parts of machines and equipment fitted with appropriate guards?
- Are all machinery guards securely fastened to the machines?
- Do machines have safety cut-out switches or other safety devices to prevent the operation of machines while workers hands are in danger?
- Can emergency stop controls be easily reached by all machine operators?
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
- Are tools and work equipment suitable for the job?
- Are tools of appropriate size,and shaped for easy and safe use?
- Are locking devices (or similar)fitted to tools to reduce gripping or handling force and vibration?
- Are all tools and equipment kept in good repair and properly maintained?
- Has the location where the equipment or tools are being used been assessed to identify any particular risks which may arise? For example,working in confined spaces or a flammable atmosphere?
- Is training provided for those who use tools and work equipment,and also for their managers and supervisors?
LIFTING AND HANDLING
- Have all work tasks been assessed to determine whether the handling of loads can be avoided altogether?
- Have manual handling assessments taken account of factors other than weight, such as the size and shape of the load and the condition of the work environment?
- Is mechanical equipment, such as lever,conveyors,vacuum lifters, cranes, lift trucks and trolleys used to avoid manual handling?
- Can the load be altered(for example,by reducing the size or weight or providing handles)to reduce the risk of injury?
- Are workers properly trained in lifting and other manual handling techniques?
WORK DESIGN
- Does the layout of working surfaces,controls and equipment cause workers to bend, stretch or adopt awkward postures?
- Are footstands or platforms provided for standing workers to avoid the need to work with raised hands or arms?
- Are workbenches or tables for seated workers positioned at the correct height to avoid awkward hand and are positions?
- Are frequently operated switches and controls easily distinguishable from each other by clearly identified sizes,shapes,colours and positions?
- Are all racks, storage bins and materials within easy reach of workers?
SEATING
- Could work which is carried out standing be done just as well whilst seated?
- Are all seats individually adjustable to suit the height of the work surface and posture of the worker, and are footrests provided when necessary?
- Are seats in good condition,with comfortable surfaces and cushions?
- Do chairs have correctly sized and positioned backrests to provide lower back support?
FIRST AID FACILITIES
- Is there at least one fully equipped first aid box provided in all workplaces?
- Where necessary, is there a first aid room with adequate facilities and equipment (taking into account the type of work or workplace,the numbers employed,etc)?
WORKPLACE FACILITIES
- Are there sufficient toilet facilities near to work areas,with separate hand washing facilities and an adequate supply of hot water,soap or hand cleaners?
- Are toilet and washing facilities regularly cleaned and in a sanitary condition?
- Is a clean locker room provided for changing clothes,with facilities for separating soiled working clothes from personal clothing?
- Is there a comfortable separate room for workers to take rest breaks?
- Is there a separate rest room (or area of the rest room)for nonsmokers?
- Is there a rest room for pregnant women and nursing mothers,near to sanitary facilities and with somewhere to lie down?
- Is there an adequate supply of fresh drinking water?
- Is there a separate,hygienic and comfortable eating area which is adequate for the numbers employed?
Inspection Carried out. Date
Signature of person carrying out this inspection
Signature of person consulted
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