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Which Four Hazards Are Relevant to a Focused Inspection?

Prior to the Focused Inspections Initiative in 1994, construction inspections were time-consuming and comprehensive. When an inspector went to a job site, rather than focusing on areas where construction workers might be injured or even killed, the inspections looked at all areas. In order to expedite construction time and construction costs, the concept of focused inspections became the standard practice, concentrating on the four most critical hazards on a job site.

  1. Four Hazards

    • There are four hazards accounting for nearly all of the accidents taking place on construction sites. These hazards are electrical shock, struck by, falls, and being caught. When an inspector arrives on a job site, he focuses the majority of his attention on working conditions that might lead to accidents and/or fatalities.

    Struck By

    • Due to the extremely hazardous nature of construction, tremendous efforts take place to ensure proper inspections occur. In Oregon, half of all the safety inspectors in the state spend their time at construction sites, doing whatever it takes to ensure safe working conditions exist. Measures include setting up safe zones around areas where the likelihood of being struck by a falling object are high, prompting hard hat zones to make sure everyone in the area wears head protection at all times. When inspections take place, the inspector can either set up an inspection beforehand or can show up without warning. Showing up unannounced leads to some disruption on a construction site, but also provides the best opportunity to make sure safe conditions exist -- especially when the workers are not notified an inspection is coming.

    Being Caught

    • In addition to ensuring that proper safety conditions exist on the job site, focused inspections also examine various safety issues with equipment. Since many construction accidents happen due to industrial trucks and forklifts, inspections in those areas focus on both proper training and proper maintenance. A focused inspection on ways in which people can be caught -- either through a cave-in or through being trapped beneath material, such as boards and bricks -- would examine proper training exists on both the part of the workers on the ground, as well as the vehicle drivers.

    Electrical Hazards

    • Even with the most careful focused inspections, however, individuals and companies looking to work under unsafe conditions still exist. Massey Energy of West Virginia, a coal mining company, maintained two sets of records of operating conditions -- one set for inspectors and one set for company officials. The blast occurred when gases ignited when coming in contact with exposed electrical wiring in the shafts. The outcome of keeping unsafe conditions hidden from regulators was an explosion in the coal mines resulting in the worst coal mine disaster in over forty years.

    Falls

    • In order to maintain safety conditions, focused inspections examine fall protection. The inspector seeks to make sure various fall protection systems are in place, including proper use of harnesses, ropes, and platforms. A safety supervisor assists the inspector in explaining safety training provided to the job site workers.

    Others

    • Focused inspections are not always restricted to job sites, however. For example, when there was some slight damage during the space shuttle Atlantis' final mission, sustained on the heat shield during liftoff. After examining video footage and consulting with technicians, inspectors determined a focused inspection was not needed in order for the mission to continue.

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