Identifying and Controlling Hazards
Course 101
Safety Certified Supervisor Series

MODULE THREE: IDENTIFYING HAZARDS

Workplace inspections

Inspections are the best understood and most frequently used tool of assess the workplace for hazards. Much has been written about them, and many inspection checklists are available in various OSHA publications. The term "inspection" means a general walk-around examination of every part of the worksite to locate conditions that do not comply with safety standards. This includes routine industrial hygiene monitoring and sampling.

Sometimes the term, "audit" is substituted for the term "inspection." Actually, an audit is a little different. The audit is more of an evaluation tool because the process involves giving a numerical rating of some kind to items that are being audited. While inspections involve locating hazardous conditions, audits more generally involve locating ineffective or missing safety programs.

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