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PART A: GENERAL SAFETY WORKPLACE INSPECTION CHECKLIST

1 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 2 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 3 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 GENERAL Is the area tidy, clean and well kept? Are the lighting levels adequate for the tasks performed? Are all light bulbs and tubes working and are all lighting covers adequately clean? Are there adequate numbers of waste and recycling receptacles and are they well positioned? Have adequate storage facilities been provided to avoid improper storage of items (e.g., under desks or benches, on floors, on overloaded shelves or cabinets, etc.)? Are light items stored in higher locations and heavier items stores in lower locations? Is the general condition of walls, floors, floor coverings and ceilings good? Are all walking surfaces free of tripping, slipping and falling hazards? Are ventilation ducts kept clean and unobstructed? Are areas around photocopiers and other equipment well ventilated? Is general indoor air quality acceptable for the majority of occupants (e.g., temperature, humidity, air flow, etc.)? Have all staff attended mandatory health and safety training? (Refer to DOHS training page for required training, schedules and registration information: http://www.yorku.ca/dohs/training.htm) Are staff aware of working alone procedures? (Refer to DOHS Working Alone Program: http://www.yorku.ca/dohs/documents/WorkingAloneProgram.pdf) Are walkways, corridors, hallways and stairs kept unobstructed? Are stairs and passageways well lit? Are noise levels at or below acceptable levels for the work being done? EMERGENCY EXITS, PROCEDURES and EQUIPMENT Are emergency exit routes clearly marked and unobstructed? Are staff aware of these routes? Are emergency exit lights operational and clearly visible? Are emergency exit doors easy to open? Are emergency phone numbers and relevant emergency procedures clearly displayed (e.g., on or beside telephones)? Are staff aware of these procedures? Is required emergency equipment (e.g., fire extinguishers, eye wash stations, emergency showers, chemical/biological spill kits, etc.) readily available and easily accessible? ERGONOMICS Is working in an awkward or constrained posture, fixed position or standing position avoided where possible? Are repetitive movements avoided where possible? Are computer monitors positioned properly (e.g., to avoid glare, at the correct height, distance and angle, etc.)? Are equipment controls well designed and properly positioned? Are items that are frequently used easily accessible? If reaching up is necessary, is a step stool or similar device provided? Is there sufficient space for the work to be done? Are workstations adjustable to suit the size and height of the worker (e.g., via adjustable chairs, work surface heights, etc.)? Have staff been provided with information on how to optimise their workstation? (Refer to DOHS Ergonomics website for details: http://www.yorku.ca/dohs/ergonomics.htm) Have aids been provided for computer workstations (e.g., foot rests, document holders, mouse bridges, etc.)? Have manual handling issues been identified (e.g., lifting, pulling, pushing, dragging, bending, reaching, twisting, etc.)? (See Explanatory Note at the end of this checklist)

4 4.1 4.2 4.3 5 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 6 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5

STAFF LUNCH FACILITIES (if contained privately within the department) Are eating/drinking areas provided away from work areas? Are general eating areas kept clean (e.g., prompt removal of rubbish, clean and dry floors and surfaces, clean cupboards and fridges if present, etc.)? Is there adequate provision of soap, dishcloths and towels (if a sink is present)? AMENITIES (if contained privately within the department) Are toilets and washing facilities kept clean and hygienic, including doors, walls and counter tops? Is there adequate provision of soap, hand drying facilities and toilet paper? Are electric hand dryers maintained in good working order? Are waste bins clean, emptied regularly and well positioned? FIRST AID Are the names, phone numbers and locations of current first-aiders posted clearly and known by all staff? Are there adequate numbers of currently trained first-aiders in or near the work area? Are the locations of first aid kits labelled, easily visible, easily accessible, and known to staff? Are the certificates for current first-aiders posted in the area of the first aid kit or station? Is the first aid kit or station contents properly maintained by the area first-aider?

Explanatory Note (item 3.11): 1. Manual Handling means any activity requiring the use of force exerted by a person to lift, push, pull, carry or otherwise move, hold or restrain an object. 2. Hazardous Manual Handling means manual handling having any of the following: Repetitive or sustained application of force; Repetitive or sustained awkward posture; Repetitive or sustained movement; Application of high force; Exposure to sustained vibration.

PART B: HAZARDOUS AREAS / OPERATIONS WORKPLACE INSPECTION CHECKLIST


7 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 8 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) Is personal protective equipment (e.g., gloves, respirators, hearing protection, safety glasses, lab coats, hard hats, etc.) provided where necessary? Is PPE worn when necessary? Has staff been trained in the use, selection and maintenance of PPE? Is PPE stored and maintained correctly? Is PPE supplied to visitors in hazardous areas (e.g., safety glasses in labs, earplugs in shops, etc.)? MACHINERY, PLANT AND SHOP AREAS Have risk assessments been performed on all machinery (including motorized machinery)? Is all machinery and equipment in good operating condition? Have all staff been properly trained/licensed in the correct operation of machinery and equipment? Are operating manuals (or instructions) available for all machinery and equipment? Are inspection and maintenance records for all machinery and equipment (where applicable) maintained in a central location? Are guards properly positioned, effective and in good condition for all exposed moving parts (e.g., rotating parts or blades, transmissions, gears, pulleys, belts, chain drives, guillotines, presses, nip points, v-drives, chain drives, etc)? Are emergency shut down switches located within easy access of the operator, clearly marked and colour coded? Are fail safe, lock out switches provided where necessary and tested regularly? Are DANGER or isolation tags used during maintenance and repairs? Are hand-tools maintained and stored in good condition? Has portable electrical equipment been tested and tagged as appropriate? Are hazardous and/or restricted areas clearly designated? Is lighting adequate for the work being performed? Is there adequate space for the work being performed? Are noisy areas and the need for hearing protection within them clearly designated? Is vibration controlled? Are oil and waste spillage trays, cut off bins, and waste bins provided and cleared frequently? Is the work area kept as tidy as possible in order to minimize slip, trip or fall hazards? Is the indoor air quality adequately controlled (e.g., via local exhaust, exhaust hoods, local filtration, etc.) for the work being performed? HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES Have all staff who work with chemical or biological agents been trained in WHMIS level 2? (Refer to DOHS training page for schedules/registration information: http://www.yorku.ca/dohs/training.htm) Are current (i.e., less than 3 years old) Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) maintained for all substances used? Are all MSDS readily accessible to all staff (i.e., in or very near the hazardous substances being used)? Are storage and handling practices in line with WHMIS requirements and University policies? Are staff provided with the appropriate PPE for the hazardous substances being used? Are all hazardous substance containers labelled in accordance with WHMIS requirements? Are chemical/biological spills kits readily accessible? Is all other required emergency equipment readily accessible in or very near the work area?

8.7 8.8 8.9 8.10 8.11 8.12 8.13 8.14 8.15 8.16 8.17 8.18 8.19 9 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8

9.9 9.10

Are current chemical inventories maintained for each work area? Are quantities of hazardous substances (e.g., flammable or combustible materials, very toxic materials, etc.) maintained at a minimum to avoid excessive storage of such items within the work area? Are hazardous wastes (e.g., chemical and biological agents, sharps, radioactive substances, broken glass, etc.) labelled, handled/packaged and disposed of in accordance with University policies? (Refer to DOHS Laboratory Safety Manual, Waste Disposal section: http://www.yorku.ca/dohs/documents/LaboratorySafetyManual.pdf) ELECTRICAL Is all electrical equipment in good condition (e.g., no evidence of frayed, torn, broken or loose electrical leads or outlets, etc.)? Has electrical equipment been inspected or maintained? Are power boards used instead of double adaptors or piggyback plugs? Are leads secured and not potential trip hazards? Are extension leads used only for temporary power? Are any electrical leads lead away from areas that could cause damage to the lead (e.g., hot surfaces, doorways, sharp edges, corrosive substances, etc.)? Are portable power tools and other equipment in good operation? COMPRESSED GAS OR AIR Are cylinders stored in well-ventilated areas and are they properly segregated? Are cylinders adequately secured (e.g., individually chained, capped when not in use, etc.)? Are empty cylinders stored separately from full cylinders and are they adequately signed? Are all apparatus and lines attached to cylinders appropriate for the gas and pressure present? Are empty and full cylinders properly transported (e.g., secured to a cylinder dolly with the cap in place)? Are air receivers and compressors installed with pressure gauges and relief valves? Are relief valves on air receivers and compressors tested regularly? LABORATORIES Refer to the Annual Laboratory Inspection Checklist (available from Science or DOHS).

9.11

10 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 11 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 12

For further details, please contact DOHS at extension 55491.

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