At the core of every effective safety and health program is a systematic process for finding and fixing workplace hazards. Self-inspections are a critical part of a safety and health management system. These inspections are important in identifying new or emerging hazards and ensuring the safety and health of workers.

Small business employers should conduct routine workplace self-inspections to:

  • Identify hazards,
  • Control identified hazards, and
  • Monitor and evaluate hazard controls to verify that they continue to be effective.

OSHA’s Small Business Safety and Health Handbook provides selfinspection checklists to help employers and workers identify workplace hazards. The handbook also summarizes the benefits of an effective safety and health program, and reviews key workplace safety and health resources for small businesses.

A Sampling of General Industry Self-Inspection Checklist Topics

  • Electrical Safety
  • Exit Routes and Emergency Planning
  • Fire Protection
  • Hazard Communication and Chemicals
  • Lockout/Tagout Procedures
  • Machinery & Machine Guarding
  • Materials Handling and Storage
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Respiratory Protection
  • Walking-Working Surfaces

Upcoming OSHA #7500 Introduction to Safety and Health Management Classes