Facilities Site Safety Inspection

The checklist covers the areas and controls where workplace hazards commonly arise. Exterior and common areas include perimeter fencing, buildings, traffic control, parking and accessible bays, roofing and gutters assessed from ground level, and utility shutoffs. Fire and emergency items include extinguishers, first aid kits, hydrants, suppression systems, emergency assembly points, and approved containers for fuel. Chemical and energy controls include gas cylinder storage, bulk gas compounds and signage, exterior electrical outlets, overhead power lines, RCDs, air conditioning units, and extension cords. Plant and equipment items include seatbelts, servicing, ROPS, certified lifting accessories, documented daily pre-operation inspections, and operator training and licences. Personal protective equipment covers hard hats, eyewear, gloves, safety footwear, hearing protection, and respiratory protection. Administrative compliance covers identified and communicated training, first aid kit locations, and current MSDS. Fall protection covers ladders, guardrails, personal fall arrest equipment, roof anchors, and documentation, and scaffolding must be erected under a competent person's supervision.

The checklist records the date it was conducted, who prepared it, and the site location, then begins with a review of the previous report and any unresolved corrective actions. As you move through each area, answers are recorded on scales that include Yes, Low Risk, Medium Risk, High Risk, and N/A, or a simpler Yes, No, and N/A for items such as the previous inspection review. Items that are not compliant or that carry risk should be assigned a corrective action with a responsible person and a due date. You close by documenting any additional observations.

The checklist references regulatory and standards-related elements such as accessibility standards for accessible parking bays, approved and compliant containers for fuel and gasoline, hazard signage and classification labels, certifications for lifting accessories, ROPS on applicable equipment, valid operator licences or certifications, MSDS for hazardous substances, and certification of roof anchor and tie-off points by a competent person. It also requires scaffolding to be erected under the direct supervision of a qualified and competent person. The checklist does not cite individual regulations by name; where a specific requirement applies to your site or jurisdiction, apply it directly.

The checklist includes items that are verified by looking at records and documentation rather than only by observation. These include the previous inspection report and any outstanding corrective actions, evidence of servicing for plant and mobile equipment, current certifications for lifting accessories, documented daily pre-operation inspections, training and licence records for operators, current MSDS, personal fall arrest equipment inspection records, and roof anchor certification within the last 12 months. Keeping these records current is part of maintaining a safe site.

The checklist is intended to be repeated, not used once. It begins by asking whether the most recent site safety inspection report has been reviewed and assessed before the current inspection, and whether any unresolved corrective actions or outstanding items from the previous inspection remain to be addressed. Each inspection should close out previous findings before new items are added, so that corrective actions are tracked to completion. This makes the inspection a continuous cycle: inspect, record findings, assign corrective actions, verify completion, and inspect again.