Work site safety inspection - Part 3

Work Site Safety Inspection


18. Fire protection

• Does your workplace have a written fire-prevention plan?
• Does the plan describe the types of fire protection equipment and systems that are available?
• Have you established practices and procedures to control potential fire hazards and ignition sources?
• Are employees aware of the fire hazards of the materials and processes to which they are exposed?
• If your workplace has a fire alarm system, is it tested at least annually?
• Do metal guards protect sprinkler heads where they could be physically damaged?
• Is proper clearance maintained below sprinkler heads?
• Are portable fire extinguishers provided in adequate numbers and types?
• Are fire extinguishers mounted in readily accessible locations?
• Are fire extinguishers recharged regularly, with dates noted on the inspection tags?
• If employees are expected to use fire extinguishers and fire protection procedures, are they trained?
• If employees are not trained to use fire extinguishers, are they trained to immediately evacuate the building in a fire emergency?

19. Floor and wall openings

• Are floor holes or openings guarded by a cover, guardrail, or equivalent on all sides (except at entrance to stairways or ladders)?
• Are toeboards installed around the edges of a permanent floor opening (where persons may pass below the opening)?
• Are skylight screens constructed and mounted to withstand a load of at least 200 pounds?
• Is the glass in windows, doors, and glass walls which may be subject to human impact appropriate for its use?
• Are grates or similar covers over floor openings such as floor drains designed so that the grate spacing will not catch foot traffic or rolling equipment?
• Are unused service pits and portions of such pits covered or protected by guardrails or the equivalent?

20. Hazard communication/WHMIS

• Have you compiled a list of hazardous substances that are used in your workplace?
• Is there a written hazard communication/WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) program dealing with material safety data sheets (MSDSs), labeling, and employee training?
• Is someone responsible for MSDSs, container labeling, and employee training?
• Is each container for a hazardous substance (vats, bottles, storage tanks) labeled with product identity and a hazard warning that communicates specific health and physical hazards?
• Is there an MSDS readily available for each hazardous substance used?
• Do you inform other employers whose employees share a work area with your employees, where hazardous substances are used?
• Do you have an employee training program for hazardous substances?
• Does this program include the following:
• An explanation of what an MSDS is, and how to obtain and use one? An explanation of “Right to Know?”
• The contents of the MSDS for each hazardous substance or class of substances?
• Informing employees where they can review the employer’s written hazard communication program, and where hazardous substances are located in work areas?
• The physical and health hazards of substances in the work area, how to detect their presence, and specific protective measures to be used?
• Hazard communication program details, including labeling system and MSDS use?
• How employees will be informed of hazards of non-routine tasks and hazards of unlabeled pipes?

21. Industrial trucks

• Do industrial truck operators meet the requirements for industrial truck operator training adopted?
• Is substantial overhead protective equipment provided on high-lift rider equipment?
• Are the required lift-truck operating rules posted and enforced, and is the capacity rating posted in plain view of the operator?
• Is directional lighting provided on each industrial truck that operates in an area with less than two foot-candles per square foot of general lighting?
• Does each industrial truck have a warning horn, whistle, gong, or other device that can be clearly heard above the normal noise in the operation area?
• Are the brakes on each industrial truck capable of bringing the vehicle to a complete and safe stop when fully loaded?
• Will the industrial truck’s parking brake effectively prevent the vehicle from moving when unattended?
• Are industrial trucks operating in areas of flammable gases or vapors, combustible dust, or ignitable fibers approved for such locations?
• Are motorized hand and hand/rider trucks so designed that the brakes are applied and power to the drive motor shuts off when the operator releases his/her grip on the device that controls the travel?
• Are industrial trucks with internal combustion engines that are operated in buildings or enclosed areas checked to ensure such operations do not cause harmful concentrations of dangerous gases or fumes?

                                               ------ Continued in next post

                                                          work site safety inspection part 4