Formal Worksite Inspections
What are some purposes of formal inspections?
1. Identify violations of safety rules
2. Identify existing and potential hazards
3. Determine underlying causes of hazards
4. Determine corrective actions necessary to minimize or eliminate hazards
5. Monitor the control of hazards
6. Reinforce and promote safe work practices
What piece of legislation outlines the minimum standards for Alberta employers to provide healthy and safe working environments?
The Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Legislation
What does JWHSC stand for?
Joint Worksite Health and Safety Committee
What kind of hazard would cords on the floor be considered?
Tripping hazard
Why are site specific inspections necessary?
To find additional hazards and unsafe processes that may not be found in formal inspections, more frequent than formal inspections, observe workers
What are the two types of inspections?
Formal and Informal inspections
What must you consider when meeting due diligence?
1. Foreseeability
2. Preventability
3. Control
Who are our co-chairs?
1. Jim Cook
2. Tanya Pattullo
What two animals terrorized patrons and workers this past summer?
Wasps and deer
What should be done to ensure a positive inspection process is held? (name at least 2)
1. Follow up (with workers, inspectors, committee)
2. Communicate with workers
3. Using monitoring equipment
4. Taking detailed notes
5. Communicating with supervisors
What are the three factors that determine the degree of risk for a hazard?
Probability
Severity
Frequency
What are a workers three rights?
1. Right to know
2. Right to participate
3. Right to refuse
How frequent should meetings be held?
Must be held at least quarterly (after formal worksite inspections are conducted) but can be held more often
What are some examples of PPE?
1. Gloves
2. Safety Glasses/goggles
3. Boots/closed toed shoes
4. Tyvek's suits
5. Hard hats
6. Face mask
What needs to be considered when planning inspections? (name at least 3)
1. What hazards are likely to be encountered and where
2. What needs to be inspected
3. What aspects of each item need to bee looked at and how
4. What conditions and work practices need to be inspected
5. How often must the HSC/HSR inspect these items, conditions and work practices
6. Who will conduct the inspections (Co-chairs, experienced workers or outside experts)
What is the hierarchy of controls?
1. Elimination
2. Substitution
3. Engineering controls
4. Administrative controls
5. Personal protective equipment
When do workers have the right to refuse work?
1. Unsafe work
2. Dangerous conditions
3. Danger to the worker's health and safety or to the health and safety of another worker/person
4. Has not been properly trained or feels they have not been properly trained
What are the committee's expected duties? (name at least 2)
1. Receiving and addressing workers concerns
2. Hazard identification and control (hazard assessment)
3. Worksite inspections
4. Incident reporting and investigations
How can changes to safety and hazards be communicated?
1. Toolbox/team meetings
2. Verbally from shift lead/supervisor
3. Newsletters/bulletin board
4. Emails/memos
5. Group chats
6. Communication books
What are the four things that need to be inspected regularly?
1. People
2. Vehicles, tools and equipment
3. Chemicals and biological substances
4. Work environment
What should you be looking for when conducting inspections? (name at least 4)
1. Environmental Conditions
2. Tasks
3. Deviations from safe work practices
4. Vehicle and equipment
5. Critical equipment parts
6. Structural, functional and/or ventilation problems
7. Personal protective equipment
8. Housekeeping
9. Signage
What is the purpose of the OHS Act? (name at least 2)
1. The promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, psychological and social well-being of workers
2. To prevent work site incidents, injuries illnesses and diseases
3. The protection of workers for factors and conditions adverse to their health and safety
4. To ensure that all workers are afforded their three OHS rights
How do inspections assist the Health and Safety Committee? (name at least 3)
1. Compare existing conditions with standards, such as regulations and industry practices
2. Determine if gaps exist between workplace practices and standards set by your organization, industry or legislation
3. Identify the root causes for any gaps
4. Develop recommendations for corrective action
What piece of legislation protects us and workers from being yelled at or hurt from patrons/other workers
Workplace violence and harassment
How should you go about handling the results of corrective actions needed?
1. Assessing inspection findings for urgency
2. Finalize inspection report and submit to supervisor/manager
3. Discuss in JWHSC meetings
4. Follow inspection processes