Workplace Inspections
The goal of workplace inspections is to prevent accidents and injuries in the workplace by identifying and recording actual and potential hazards posed by buildings, equipment, the environment, processes and practices, and by recommending corrective actions.
Monthly workplace inspections are a legislated requirement pursuant to the Canada Labour Code, Part II. In order to ensure this requirement is being satisfied, the Workplace Inspection Process and accompanying tools have been developed. They are designed to assist inspection teams in carrying out comprehensive, consistent, and thorough workplace inspections.
Workplace Inspection Process
Effective workplace inspections are based on several key steps and ensuring the parties understand their roles and responsibilities, as outlined in the Workplace Inspection Process. Inspection teams should refer to this document throughout the inspection process.
Workplace Inspection Checklist
The Workplace Inspection Checklist covers the typical environment of workplaces in the Department and should be used by all inspection teams in the course of their inspections. It is comprised of ten standard sections (sections A-J) as well as four specialized annexes (sections K-M). Inspection teams in all workplaces are required to fill out the standard sections of the checklist, as well as any of the specialized annexes (K, L, M, and/or N) that apply to their workplace.
- Workplace Inspection Checklist (PDF, 714 KB)
- Workplace Inspection Checklist (DOC, 2.4 MB)
The DOC version of the Workplace Inspection Checklist should not be edited other than to remove any annexes that do not apply to the workplace being inspected. Any other items or sections that do not apply to the workplace being inspected should be marked as N/A.
Reporting Requirements
Workplace Inspection Report
The Workplace Inspection Report is prepared as soon as possible after an inspection has been completed and is emailed to the party (or parties) responsible for the corrective measures related to any hazards identified. Once the hazards have been addressed, the Workplace Health and Safety Committee co-chairs or Health and Safety Representative complete the remaining sections of the inspection report and submit it along with a copy of the completed inspection checklist to their ROHSA via the Human Resources Service Centre.
Annual Workplace Inspection Summary
The Workplace Annual Inspection Summary is prepared annually by the Workplace Health and Safety Committee or Health and Safety Representative and sent to the ROHSA in their region.
Training
If you are a member of a workplace health and safety committee, or want to learn more about the process, sign up for the online, self-paced training package on Workplace Inspections.