Relevant Legislation and Guidance Work Health and Safety Act 2011: Part 2 Health and Safety Duties Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011: Chapter 3 General Risk and Workplace Management Worksafe ACT

Quick Links

• Workplace Inspection Procedures
• Workplace Inspection Schedule form
• Workplace Inspection Hazard Identification Sheets
• Rectification Action Plan
• Notice of Compliance form

Workplace inspections are a regular, systematic way of identifying hazards,assessing their risks and implementing corrective/preventative control measures. 

During inspections, health and safety issues can often be identified and resolved before any harmful incident occurs. Regular inspections of the workplace also allow for discussion of health and safety issues with staff.

Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 the University has a legislative obligation to monitor the work safety of staff, students and others, and the conditions at the workplace, to ensure that work-related illness and injury are prevented.

Workplace Inspection Process Flow Chart

 

Who can do a workplace inspection?

Anybody can do an workplace inspection. ideally though, an inspection should include two or more of the following:

• A staff member familiar with the work area
• The relevant Manager or Supervisor
• An employee representative, i.e. Health and Safety Representative (HSR) or deputy
• An employer Representative or WHASAC member
• Another staff member

Frequency of Inspections

The frequency of inspection is dependant on the level of risk associated with the nature of the work environment. A risk assessment should be conducted by the Faculty/Business Unit controlling the area to determine the risk and frequency of inspections required. At a minimum inspections should be conducted on a annual basis with high risk areas being inspected more frequently.

Completed a inspection, what next?

Once an inspection is completed those hazards that require corrective actions should be recorded on the Rectification Action Plan (RAP) and addressed. Any hazards identified throughout the inspection should have corrective actions assigned to an appropriate person.

Note: Areas may choose to consolidate all corrective actions onto a single RAP for submission.

Workplace Inspection Hazard Identification Sheets

The Hazard Identification Sheet is a widely used instrument and is ideal as a starting point in workplace inspections. The sheets provide a standard format for use by all members of the inspection team.

The following Hazard Identification Sheets are available for use:

Office	Used for office/administrative areas, for example an area containing desks, chairs, computers, filling cabinets and computer laboratories.
Laboratory	Used for all laboratories (NB: Computer Laboratories are to be inspected using the Office Inspection Checklist)
Studio	Used for all studio areas.
Workshop	Used for areas where machinery and tools are used as part of equipment maintenance and/or manufacturing new equipment.
Library	Used for the open public accessible areas of the Library (NB: office areas/staff workstations are to be inspected using the Office Inspection Checklist)
Staff Dining/Kitchen Areas	Used for staff meal areas including staff kitchenettes.
Interior Corridors/Stairs	Used for common areas of buildings
Chemical Store	Used for specific designated chemical store areas.
Fitness Centre/Gym	Used for Fitness centres and Gynasiums
Cafe & Restaurants	Used for Cafe and Restauant areas
Warehouse/Goods Stores	Used for a warehouse or goods store environment