Workplace Hazard Inspection Checklists

Identify and document workplace hazards using hazard inspection checklists to implement risk controls to reduce or eliminate the risk of harm.

What is a workplace hazard?

A workplace hazard is the potential to cause harm to a person, property, equipment or the environment.

Common workplace hazards come in the following categories:

  •  biological– bacteria, viruses, insects, plants, birds, animals, humans, etc.,
  • chemical – depends on the physical, chemical and toxic properties of the chemical,
  • ergonomic – repetitive movements, improper set up of workstation, etc.,
  • physical– radiation, magnetic fields, temperature extremes, pressure extremes (high pressure or vacuum), noise, etc.,
  • psychosocial – stress, violence, etc.,
  • safety – slipping/tripping hazards, inappropriate machine guarding, equipment malfunctions or breakdowns (https://www.ccohs.ca/).

What is Hazard Identification?

Hazard identification checklists form a part of the hazard assessment process used to identify, assess, and control the risk of workplace hazards. A hazard risk assessment is essential to an organisation’s workplace health and safety management strategy.

A hazard assessment identifies potential health and safety hazards through examination of conditions or practices at the workplace.

Four Steps to manage hazards in the workplace

Use the following four steps to manage workplace hazards and reduce the risk of accidents:

  1. Spot the Hazard (hazard identification) – A hazard is anything that could hurt you, someone else, property or the environment. Identify hazards using a hazard inspection checklist.
  2. Assess the Risk (risk assessment) – How likely and how seriously is the hazard going to cause harm?
  3. Make the Changes (risk control) – Implement hazard controls to either remove the hazard or reduce the likely hood or impact of the hazard causing harm.
  4. Monitor (review controls) – Regularly review the hazard and the hazard control measures to ensure that the control measures are still adequate.

What is a Hazard Identification Checklist?

A hazard inspection checklist is developed to help identify hazards in a specific workplace. Hazard identification checklists are completed by a person adequately trained in the risk management process.

A hazard identification checklist normally captures the following information:

  • the date the checklist was completed
  • the location or address of the work area
  • the name or names of the people completing the checklist
  • a description of the work process
  • a list of potential hazards
  • a signature at completion of the checklist.
Site Safety Hazard Inspection Checklist

Digital Hazard Inspection Checklist

Some Common Workplace Hazards

Common workplace hazards include:

  • manual tasks
  • storage
  • confined spaces
  • scaffolding
  • ladders
  • excavations
  • entry, exits & flooring
  • workbenches
  • housekeeping
  • electrical
  • noise
  • ergonomics
  • machinery (plant)
  • ventilation
  • falls
  • lighting
  • hazardous chemicals
  • asbestos
  • compressed gas
  • fire
  • UV radiation
  • heat
  • cold
  • workplace violence
  • bullying
  • vehicles.

Not all hazards will be found in all workplaces. When developing a hazard inspection checklist hazards should be identified in a risk assessment for work tasks and also the workplace.

DIGI CLIP’s Top Hazard Identification Checklists

  1. General Workplace Inspection Checklist – Used to conduct a workplace safety inspection.
  2. Warehouse Inspection Checklist – Used to identify and document warehouse safety issues.
  3. Hazard Report Form – Used to report hazards in the workplace.
  4. Take 5 – Used to identify and control workplace hazards prior to starting a task.
  5. Electrical Equipment Safety Checklist – Used to check plant electrical safety prior to work.
  6. Daily Site Hazard Checklist – Used daily to identify, document and communicate construction site safety hazards.
  7. Toolbox Talk – Record of staff toolbox safety meeting
  8. Trade Site Safety Checklist – Used to identify site safety hazards and document the completion of a task.

DIGI CLIP mobile forms – What We Do?

DIGI CLIP mobile forms is an easy-to-use inexpensive safety checklist app and cloud-based software. DIGI CLIP is used across different industries to capture safety data and other information to help improve safety, compliance and operational efficiencies.

DIGI CLIP will allow you to remove paper reporting from your business – no more lost, late missing or illegible checklists. The DIGI CLIP mobile app allows for images, comments and digital signatures to be added to checklists from a phone or tablet.

Follow this link if you want to know more about what we do and how we can help or send us a message.