Workplace Inspections and Audits Flashcards

Which type of inspection is conducted without advance notice to employees or supervisors?

Answer: Unannounced inspection

Unannounced inspections reveal actual day-to-day conditions rather than conditions prepared for a planned visit.

When an inspector identifies an imminent danger during a workplace inspection, the first action should be to:

Answer: Stop the operation and remove employees from the area

Imminent dangers require immediate action to protect workers before any paperwork or notifications are completed.

A 'near-miss' discovered during a workplace inspection should be:

Answer: Documented and analyzed to prevent future incidents

Near-misses are valuable leading indicators and must be documented and investigated to prevent actual incidents.

What is the primary purpose of a process safety audit in a chemical facility?

Answer: Verify that process safety management elements are effectively implemented

Process safety audits verify that all PSM program elements are in place and functioning to prevent catastrophic releases.

Which of the following best describes a 'compliance audit' versus a 'safety inspection'?

Answer: A compliance audit measures adherence to regulations; a safety inspection identifies hazards in the physical environment

Compliance audits systematically evaluate adherence to laws and standards, while safety inspections focus on identifying physical hazards.

An inspection checklist for lockout/tagout should verify that:

Answer: Authorized employees have completed annual LOTO procedure reviews

OSHA's LOTO standard requires annual inspections of each energy control procedure performed by an authorized employee.

What does a 'gap analysis' in a safety audit context primarily identify?

Answer: Differences between current safety performance and desired standards or benchmarks

A gap analysis compares where the organization currently is versus where it should be according to standards or goals.