Pre-use safety checks are a very useful tool for keeping potentially hazardous equipment safe and operational. It gives the operator a well thought through, consistent series of checks.
A good checklist procedure will also clearly indicate a machine is unsafe to use and have a fault reporting mechanism. In the event of an incident, a documented record of the checks will form part of the investigation and act as a piece of evidence that a company has a pre-use safety inspection procedure in place.
However, it is important to remember that using a pre-use checklist in isolation will not discharge your Health and Safety responsibilities. For example, there are many cases which demonstrate workers are not trained to make the assessments contained in a checklist. Another problem is that the checklist process can often deteriorate into a simple 'pencil whip' process with no real scrutiny being applied to the equipment. Obviously, a pre-use checklist needs to be supported by a more holistic approach to safety inspection.
Firstly, a company needs to make sure the people expected to use the equipment and conduct the pre-use inspections, have all the training and competence necessary to perform the task. Supervision also plays a key role, supervisors could regularly conduct pre-use inspections on equipment, not just when workers start using their equipment, but at any time during the shift. This provides two benefits; it can help confirm a worker’s level of understanding of the equipment and its hazards, and it also provides ongoing checks.
Senior management should also get involved and understand the pre-use inspection process, spending time getting feedback on whether the checklist process is achieving its actual purpose. Having a checklist is an excellent starter and recommended by OSHA but it must be deployed alongside the right training, competence and supervision.
Like this blog? Check these out:
Making Sure Vehicles, Machinery and Equipment is Safe is Harder Than it Looks!
Bucket Truck Inspection Checklists. What should you do...
How the Empire Company Built Safety Culture by Making Sure Forklift Inspections Happen Every Shift
Do your safety checklists happen every time? No? Check this out!
Scissor Lift Safety Inspection Checklists - The Why
Forklift Truck Pre-Shift Inspections: Meeting the OSHA Standard
Why Construction Loves SG World USA's Safety Checklist Solution
Getting the Best Out of your Pre-Use Inspection Checklist - Beyond the Checklist
Monthly AED Inspections – Make Sure You Fail Fast
Why You Need to Inspect Overhead and Gantry Cranes
Forklift Truck driver accidents, what's the management responsibility?