7.0     Inspections and Hazard Assessments

Work site hazard assessments and safety inspections are key activities in the prevention of accidents. Their purposes are to:

• Identify existing and potential hazards.

• Increase awareness leading to the prevention of workplace accidents and illnesses.

• Ensure compliance with standards and regulations.

WorkSafeBC requires that hazards to the safety and health of workers are identified and brought to management's attention. It is the workplace management’s responsibility to ensure that the identified hazards are eliminated and, where this is not practicable, to ensure the hazards are controlled and that workers are protected from the hazards.

To meet this requirement, employers must conduct:

• Hazard assessments prior to all new projects, jobs or processes, or the introduction of new equipment or hazardous materials.

• Regular workplace inspections.

PCML will provide all necessary resources to ensure that hazard assessments and workplace inspections are effective. These include:

• Hazard recognition and safety inspection training for inspectors.

• Time for inspectors to complete their duties.

• Established communication channels between inspectors, local safety agencies and senior management.

• Quick action on recommended corrections.

All assessments and inspections shall be documented.
 

Subsections

• 7.1     Hazard Assessments / Job Safety Analyses
• 7.2     Inspections