Safety Audit Checklist for Construction Site Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
This checklist provides a framework for conducting safety audits on construction sites, focusing on hazard identification and risk assessment. It is designed to help identify potential hazards, assess the associated risks, and implement appropriate control measures to ensure a safe working environment. The checklist is based on industry best practices and regulatory requirements. Remember that the best checklist is one customized to your specific needs. It is always good practice to identify hazards and do a risk assessment to help find and prioritize the hazards in your workplace.
Work Environment
- Dust, gases, fumes, vapours, sprays
- Lighting
- Noise
- Ventilation
- Indoor air quality
Buildings
- Windows
- Doors
- Floors
- Stairs
- Roofs
- Walls
- Elevators
Containers
- Scrap bins
- Disposal receptacles
- Barrels
- Carboys
- Compressed gas cylinders
- Solvent cans
- Paints
Electrical
- Switches
- Cables
- Outlets
- Connectors
- Grounding
- Connections
- Breakers
Fire Protection Equipment
- Extinguishers
- Hoses
- Hydrants
- Sprinkler alarm systems
- Access to equipment
Hand Tools
- Wrenches
- Screwdrivers
- Saws
- Power tools
- Explosive actuated tools
Hazardous Products
- Flammable
- Explosive
- Oxidizing
- Gases under pressure
- Corrosive
- Combustible dusts
- Asphyxiants
- Health hazards, irritation, sensitization, mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, biohazardous infectious, environmental
Materials Handling
- Conveyors
- Cranes
- Hoists
- Hoppers
- Carts
- Dollies
- Bins, etc.
Personal Protective Equipment
- Hard hats
- Safety glasses
- Respirators
- Safety footwear
- Gloves
- Hearing protection
- Fall protection, etc.
Pressurized Equipment
- Boilers
- Vats
- Tanks
- Piping
- Hoses
- Couplings
- Valves
- Hydraulics, etc.
Production Equipment
- Mills
- Shapers
- Cutters
- Borers
- Presses
- Lathes
- Robotics, etc.
Personnel Support Equipment
- Ladders
- Scaffolds
- Platforms
- Catwalks
- Staging
Powered Equipment
- Engines
- Electrical motors
- Compressors
Storage Facilities
- Racks
- Bins
- Shelves
- Cabinets
- Closets
- Yards
- Floors
Walkways and Roadways
- Aisles
- Ramps
- Docks
- Vehicle ways
Protective Guards
- Gear covers
- Pulleys
- Belt screens
- Work station
- Guards
- Railings
- Drives
- Chains
Safety Devices
- Valves
- Emergency switches
- Cutoffs
- Warning systems
- Limit switches
- Mirrors
- Sirens
- Signs
Hazard Identification
Identifying hazards is a critical step in preventing workplace incidents and injuries. A hazard is any source of potential damage or harm to someone or something. The goal of hazard identification is to find and record possible hazards that may be present in your workplace. It may help to work as a team and include people familiar with the work area, as well as people who are not - this way, you have both experienced and fresh eyes to conduct inspections and evaluations. [8] [7]
Common Types of Hazards
- Biological: bacteria, viruses, fungi, insects, plants, and animals.
- Chemical: depends on the physical, chemical, and toxic properties of the product
- Ergonomic: repetitive movements, improper setup of workstations, etc.
- Physical: radiation, magnetic fields, temperature extremes, pressure extremes (high pressure or vacuum), noise, vibration, etc.
- Psychosocial: stress, violence, harassment, etc.
- Safety: slipping or tripping hazards, inappropriate machine guarding, equipment malfunctions or breakdowns.
Specific Hazard Examples
- Pinch points on machines (places where parts are very close together).
- Objects that stick out (protrude)
- Moving objects (conveyors, chains, belts, ropes, etc.)
- Structures, tanks, silos (falls to lower levels)
- Ladders, overhead walkways, elevating_platforms (falls to lower levels)
- Roofs (falls to lower levels)
- Trees or cliffs (falls to lower levels)
- Trenches (falls to lower levels)
- Obstructions on the floor and stairs (falls on the same level)
- Surface issues (wet, oily, icy, uneven) (falls on the same level)
- Footwear that is in poor condition (falls on the same level)
- Lifting (manual material handling) (overexertion)
- Pulling or pushing (overexertion)
- Carrying (overexertion)
- Repetitive motions (work-related musculoskeletal disorders) (overexertion)
- Awkward and static postures (overexertion)
- Unknown or unauthorized people in the area
- A potentially violent situation
- Working alone
- Confined space
- Missing or damaged materials
- New equipment or procedures at the work site
- Fire or explosion
- Chemical spill or release
- Electricity
- Chemicals (liquids, gases, solids, mists, vapours, etc.)
- Temperature extremes of heat or cold (such as working outdoors, bakeries, foundries, or meat processing).
- Ionizing and non-ionizing radiation (such as x-rays, ultraviolet (sun) rays).
- Asphyxiants (oxygen deficiency)
- Working on or near water or ice-covered water.
- Moving objects (such as forklifts, overhead cranes, vehicles).
- Flying objects (such as sparks or shards from grinding).
- Falling material (such as tools and equipment from above).
- Stationary or moving objects.
- Protruding objects.
- Sharp or jagged edges.
Methods for Hazard Identification
- Workplace inspections
- Job descriptions and demands analysis
- Job safety analysis
- Incident investigations
- Documents and records
- Hazard reporting by employees
- Hazard mapping
[7] [2] Risk Assessment
Risk assessment involves analyzing and evaluating the risk associated with each identified hazard. Each hazard should be studied to determine its level of risk. Understanding how likely it is that a hazard will cause harm and how severe that harm could be. [7] [4]
Steps for Performing a Risk Assessment
- Assemble a risk assessment team.
- Select the job or process to assess.
- Break down the job or process into tasks.
- Identify the hazards of each task.
- Assess the risk of each hazard.
- Control the risk of each hazard.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of controls.
- Communicate the results.
Risk Ranking and Prioritization
Ranking or prioritizing hazards is one way to help determine which hazards are the most serious and, thus, which to control first. Priority is usually established by taking into account the probability of employee exposure to the hazard and the potential severity of an incident, injury or illness associated with the hazard. By assigning a priority to the hazards based on the risks, you are creating a ranking or an action list. [9]
Qualitative Risk Matrix Example
| Low Severity | Medium Severity | High Severity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Probability | Very Low Risk | Low Risk | Medium Risk |
| Medium Probability | Low Risk | High Risk | High Risk |
| High Probability | Medium Risk | High Risk | Immediately Dangerous |
Severity Ratings:
- High severity: fatal disease or injury, permanent disability, irreversible health effects, major fracture, poisoning, significant loss of blood, or serious head injury
- Medium severity: sprain, strain, localized burn, dermatitis, asthma, injury requiring limited days off work
- Low severity: an injury that requires first aid only; short-term pain, irritation, or dizziness
Probability Ratings:
- High probability: likely to be experienced once a year or more by an individual
- Medium probability: may be experienced once every five years by an individual
- Low probability: may occur once during a working lifetime
[5] Control Measures
After assessing the risks, implement appropriate control measures to eliminate or reduce the risks. The hierarchy of controls is a widely used framework for selecting the most effective control measures. [7]
Hierarchy of Controls
- Elimination: Remove the hazard completely.
- Substitution: Replace the hazard with a safer alternative.
- Engineering controls: Implement physical changes to the workplace to isolate workers from the hazard.
- Administrative controls: Establish work procedures, training, and supervision to reduce exposure to the hazard.
- Personal protective equipment (PPE): Provide and ensure the use of appropriate PPE as a last line of defense.
Fire Safety Checklist
| Space Heaters | ||
| Are space heaters required? | If a space is being heated properly by the building's HVAC system, then a space heater is not required Make sure that the HVAC system is functioning correctly and the space is being heated properly If a space heater is still required, develop guidelines about the type (radiant heat, fan, etc.) and their safe use Include storage guidelines for combustible items within a certain distance of a heat source that complies with local Building and Fire Codes | |
| Electrical | ||
| Is all wiring installed properly and appropriate to the current or voltage ratings? | Make sure that all electrical systems are installed and function according to any Codes that may apply Identify and replace wiring that is not appropriate for the loads they are carrying Repair or replace any exposed wiring Do not overload electrical equipment or electrical outlets Replace extension cords that are being used for long term purposes with permanent wiring. Develop a lock-out/tagout program for any work done on energized systems Educate and train employees on electrical safety Provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) where a risk of arc-flash or arc-blast is present | |
| Chemical Storage, Handling, Distribution, Dispensing | ||
| Is an inventory of all flammable and combustible materials available? | Identify all flammable and combustible materials (e.g., paints, degreasers, parts washer solvent, alcohol based cleaners, aerosols, etc.) Maintain an inventory with the quantity, location of use, and storage |
[6] Review and Continuous Improvement
Regularly review and update the safety audit checklist to reflect changes in work processes, equipment, and regulations. Encourage feedback from workers and incorporate lessons learned from incidents and near misses to continuously improve the effectiveness of the safety program.
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Important Safety Note:
Always verify safety information with your organization's specific guidelines and local regulations.