Conducting Workplace Safety Inspections

In California, every employer has a legal obligation to provide and maintain a safe and healthy workplace for employees, according to the California Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1973.

Conducting periodic safety inspections provides a method of identifying existing or potential hazards in the workplace, and eliminating or controlling them. Hazard control is the heart of an effective Injury and Illness Prevention Program (Cal/OSHA). Ongoing safety inspections must be performed to ensure that a safe working environment is maintained throughout the workplace.

Periodic workplace inspections (time frame varies, depending on several factors) and correction of identified hazards are required by the Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) enforced by Cal/OSHA. Two of the eight required elements in an IIPP are hazard assessment and hazard correction. Inspections can improve safety and reduce exposure to OSHA violations, not to mention other general liabilities. Inspections are needed to thoroughly examine all aspects of the workplace that have the potential to cause injury or illness, and to identify where action is necessary to control hazards.

 

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