Safety Inspection Programs

The fact-finding that takes place within safety inspection programs emphasizes the discovery of likely hazards before they become the causes of accidents or contribute to unsafe work or learning environments. In addition, periodic safety assessments also protect the consumer from coming into contact with potentially harmful substances or inadvertently purchasing unsafe or mislabeled foods. The makeup and scope of actual inspection programs varies in keeping with the environment in which they take place.

Lab Inspections

• Teaching venues that incorporate laboratory research and work into their curricula must institute safety inspection programs. This practice ensures that students and faculty use the facilities safely while also remaining in compliance with relevant local laws that govern the use and disposal of potentially hazardous substances. Concurrently, these laboratory safety inspections assist the school when it comes to enforcing its guidelines with respect to safe use of the lab equipment.

  Frequency of actual inspections within these programs varies; some schools require annual checks whereas other venues may do so more frequently. Focal points of the assessments generally deal with lab worker risk awareness, risk mitigation training, use of protective equipment, adherence to security protocols and also proper storage and disposal of dangerous, volatile or contaminated substances.

Meat Inspections

• Maintaining a safe food supply is a major function of federal and local governing agencies. A good example of safety inspection programs that target consumables are those that focus on the production and preparation of meat for consumers. These assessments begin before animals are slaughtered to ensure that only those fit for human consumption actually make it into the slaughterhouse.

  The meat packing plants themselves also come under close scrutiny. Frequent inspections look for sanitary conditions that help prevent foodborne illnesses; they also ensure appropriate food labeling. Frequent meat sampling tests for salmonella or listeria as well as potentially harmful residues of drugs used on the animals. Adherence to OSHA safety standards by workers is another target of the safety inspection programs. Safety inspectors may visit meat packing plants by appointment or simply during an unannounced stopover.

Vehicle Inspections

• Organizations that maintain a pool of vehicles for use by employees frequently institute a safety inspection program. These assessments focus on the overall maintenance of the vehicles, adherence to routine maintenance schedules and also follow up on needed repair work. In addition, safety inspections seek to ensure that all drivers of these vehicles have a valid driver’s license and receive training in proper safety procedures. Vehicle safety assessments may take place monthly.