Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
determine.employee.comprehension.of.procedures.and.rules,.and.the.effectiveness.
of.workers'.training..Audits.may.be.used.to.assess.the.work.climate.or.perceptions.
held.by.workers.and.others.and.evaluate.the.effectiveness.of.a.supervisor.regarding.
his.or.her.commitment.to.safety.and.health.
At.many.active.workplaces,.daily.site.inspections.are.performed.by.the.supervisor.
in.order.to.detect.hazardous.conditions,.equipment,.materials,.or.unsafe.work.practices..
At.other.times,.periodic.site.inspections.are.conducted.by.the.site.safety.and.health.
oficer..The.frequency.of.inspections.is.established.in.the.workplace.safety.and.health.
program..The.supervisor,.in.conjunction.with.the.safety.and.health.oficer,.determines.
the.required.frequency.of.these.inspections,.based.on.the.level.and.complexity.of.the.
anticipated.activities.and.on.the.hazards.associated.with.these.activities..In.a.review.
of.worksite.conditions/activities,.site.hazards,.and.protecting.site.workers,.the.inspec-
tions.should.include.an.evaluation.of.the.effectiveness.of.the.company's.safety.and.
health.program..The.safety.and.health.oficer.should.revise.the.company's.safety.and.
health.program.as.necessary.to.ensure.the.program's.continued.effectiveness.
Prior.to.the.start.of.each.shift.or.new.activity,.a.workplace.and.equipment.inspec-
tion.should.take.place..This.should.be.done.by.the.workers,.crews,.supervisor,.and.
other. qualiied. employees.. At. a. minimum,. they. should. check. the. equipment. and.
materials.that.they.will.be.using.during.the.operation.or.shift.for.damage.or.defects.
that.could.present.a.safety.hazard..In.addition,.they.should.check.the.work.area.for.
new.or.changing.site.conditions.or.activities.that.could.also.present.a.safety.hazard.
All.employees. should.immediately.report.any.identiied.hazards.to.their.super-
visors..All.identiied.hazardous.conditions.should.be.eliminated.or.controlled.imme-
diately..When.this.is.not.possible,
.
1.. Interim. control. measures. should. be. implemented. immediately. to. protect.
workers.
.
2.. Warning.signs.should.be.posted.at.the.location.of.the.hazard.
.
3.. All. affected. employees. should. be. informed. of. the. location. of. the. hazard.
and.the.required.interim.controls.
.
4.. Permanent.control.measures.should.be.implemented.as.soon.as.possible.
When.a.supervisor.is.not.sure.how.to.correct.an.identiied.hazard,.or.is.not.sure.if.
a.speciic.condition.presents.a.hazard,.he.or.she.should.seek.technical.assistance.from.
a.competent.person,.a.site.safety.and.health.oficer.or.other.supervisors.or.managers.
Safety.and.health.audits.should.be.an.integral.part.of.your.safety.and.health.effort..
Anyone.conducting.a.safety.and.health.audit.must.know.the.workplace,.the.proce-
dures.or.processes.being.audited,.the.previous.accident.history,.and.the.company's.
policies.and.operations..This.person.should.also.be.trained.in.hazard.recognition.and.
interventions.regarding.safety.and.health.
When to AudIt
The.supervisor.or.project.inspector.must.perform.daily.inspections.of.active.work-
sites.to.detect.hazardous.conditions.resulting.from.equipment.or.materials.or.unsafe.
work. practices.. The. supervisor,. inspector,. or. site. safety. and. health. oficer. must.
