Workplace Inspections

Administrative areas are spaces assigned and inspected by faculties or departments including but not limited to: offices, reception areas, internal corridors, conference rooms, photocopier rooms, storage areas/rooms, and kitchen alcoves/rooms, etc.

Frequency: Although these spaces are generally deemed less hazardous than others, it is recommended that inspections occur at intervals of at least one per month, or as needed as hazards are reported.

Documentation: It is recommended that any inspections are documented as a way to demonstrate due diligence should there be a workplace incident. Using a template checklist and saving the completed file is recommended, but supervisors may document in a way that best suits them from a note in a notebook or electronic calendar, to formal inspection reports at team meetings. Findings of inspections should be communicated to those who work in the space.

Support: A request can be made to HSE or the JOHSC for support in developing and implementing a local inspection program. Members of the JOHSC or HSE are also available to participate in these types of inspections, upon request.

Faculties/units are responsible for developing their own faculty/unit specific inspection checklists and conducting inspections to address the activities and equipment that are specific/unique to their faculty/unit. Some examples of where unique area or specific equipment inspections may be required at the university include, but are not limited to: recreation facilities, mechanical rooms, electrical rooms, backflow prevention systems, vehicles, forklifts, cranes, etc.

Frequency: The supervisors of these spaces needs to take into account the activities, the risks associated with the activities and layout of the space when determining the frequency of these inspections. These inspections should occur at intervals of at least one per month, anytime the use of the space or it’s occupants change, or as needed as hazards are reported.

Documentation: It is recommended that any inspections are documented as a way to demonstrate due diligence should there be a workplace incident. Using a template checklist and saving the completed file is recommended, but supervisors may document in a way that best suits them from a note in a notebook or electronic calendar, to formal inspection reports at team meetings. Findings of inspections should be communicated to those who work in the space.

Support: A request can be made to HSE or the JOHSC for support in developing and implementing a local inspection program. Members of the JOHSC or HSE are also available to participate in these types of inspections, upon request.

Faculties/units are responsible for developing their own faculty/unit-specific inspection checklists and conducting inspections in workshops that they manage to address the activities and equipment that are specific/unique to each workshop.

Frequency: The supervisors of these spaces needs to take into account the activities, the risks associated with the activities and layout of the space when determining the frequency of these inspections. These inspections may be performed by those working in the space and/or supervisors and should occur on a daily basis whenever the space is being used, when occupants or equipment change, or as needed as hazards are reported.

Documentation: It is recommended that any inspections are documented as a way to demonstrate due diligence should there be a workplace incident. Using a template checklist and saving the completed file is recommended, but supervisors may document in a way that best suits them from a note in a notebook or electronic calendar, to formal inspection reports at team meetings. Findings of inspections should be communicated to those who work in the space.

Support: A request can be made to HSE or the JOHSC for support in developing and implementing a local inspection program. Members of the JOHSC or HSE are also available to participate in these types of inspections, upon request.

Laboratory inspections are an independent program and thus are not within the scope of the Campus General Inspection Program. Labs must register with HSE’s Hazardous Waste Information System (HWIS) and then perform inspections to the required frequency for their type of lab (i.e. may not necessarily be annual). Additional less-formal inspections by lab users an lab supervisors should be performed daily, taking into account the activities being performed and layout of the space.

Public indoor and outdoor spaces on campus that will be inspected by JOHSC members; includes classrooms, lecture theatres, walkways, sidewalks and stairwells.