Safety Inspections
Another important activity to ensure a safe work area is to conduct effective walk-around safety inspections.
Delegate the responsibility for conducting safety inspections to supervisors and employees. Who is better positioned to identify and correct workplace hazards? Remember, as agents of the employer, the basic responsibility to inspect work areas rests with supervisors.
During the inspection, look for hazards and unsafe behaviors in the five MEEPS hazard categories. Using an inspection checklist may be a good idea. But don't engage in "tunnel vision:" overlooking hazards not listed on the checklist. Another problem is that inspectors may look only for "conditions" and ignore "behaviors:" check for both when inspecting.
Everyone Inspects
Supervisors should not be the only persons inspecting for safety in the work area. Everyone should be involved. But how does the supervisor get employees to willingly inspect for safety every day? Simple, supervisors set the example by inspecting regularly, they insist that everyone inspects, and they recognize (thank) their workers for inspecting and reporting hazards.
In June 2020, at a manufacturing facility in Ohio, a tragic accident occurred involving a batch operator responsible for cleaning and operating a concrete mixer. The mixer discharged concrete through a pneumatic door, which was designed to become inoperable when its pneumatic energy was released via an exhaust valve. However, the handle of this critical exhaust valve had broken off and was neither repaired nor replaced prior to the incident.
The batch operator attempted to close the pneumatic discharge door manually due to the inoperative valve. During this process, the door closed on the operator’s head, causing severe injuries. Although the worker was eventually freed, he died five days later.
A federal investigation concluded that the employer had willfully failed to repair critical safety equipment. The company pled guilty to a workplace safety violation, received the maximum fine of $500,000, and was placed on two years’ probation with a mandated Safety Compliance Plan.
This incident highlights the potentially fatal consequences of neglecting basic equipment maintenance. To prevent similar tragedies, it is essential that:
- All damaged safety mechanisms are repaired or replaced without delay.
- Equipment inspections follow a documented maintenance schedule with clear accountability.
- Employees are trained to identify and report unsafe conditions.
- Leadership allocates resources for equipment upkeep and ensures safety systems remain fully functional.
- A proactive safety culture and strong supervisory oversight are maintained to prevent recurrence.
Job Hazard Analyses (JHA)
Sisk & Co. - Job Safety Analysis.
Unfortunately, the most serious weakness inherent in the safety inspection process is that very little time is devoted to analyzing behaviors. Another, more effective activity to ensure a safe and healthful workplace is the Job Hazard Analysis (JHA). This process may also be called a Job Safety Analysis (JSA). In the JHA/JSA process, supervisors and employees together analyze each step of a particular task and develop safe practices to make the task safer. The JHA looks at both worker behaviors and hazards associated with a job or task.
For more information on conducting a JHA, see course OSHAcademy Course 706, Job Hazard Analysis.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-7. Why is the Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) a more effective tool in preventing accidents?
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