Every shift, you notice things. A wet floor near the entrance. A lift sling that looks worn. A hallway with a burned-out bulb. Those observations matter more than you might think. Workplace inspections give that everyday awareness a structure and a purpose — turning what you notice into action that keeps people safe.

What is a workplace inspection?

A workplace inspection is a check of your work environment to identify hazards — existing and potential — and determine what to do about them.

Inspections involve the employer or supervisor, along with the Joint Occupational Health and Safety (JOHS) committee or the worker health and safety representative. The people closest to the work have a direct role in identifying what is unsafe.

There are two types: formal and informal. Both are important.

Formal inspections

Formal inspections are scheduled and follow a set procedure. They are documented, so findings get recorded and tracked over time.

Informal inspections

Informal inspections happen spontaneously — often daily. There is no set procedure. An informal inspection is simply what happens when you spot something wrong during your shift and report it to your supervisor.

Why do workplace inspections matter?

Regular inspections prevent incidents before they happen. They catch early warning signs — a loose guardrail, a fraying sling, a blocked emergency exit — before those hazards hurt someone.

They also build something harder to measure: a culture where safety is shared. When workers raise concerns and those concerns get acted on, it sends a clear signal. Everyone is responsible for this.

Regular inspections:

• Prevent incidents, injuries, and illnesses
• Create a safe workplace for everyone
• Identify early warning signs of unsafe conditions or practices
• Strengthen safety culture and shared accountability

When should inspections happen?

How often depends on the area and the level of risk. Some things get checked every day. Others are reviewed weekly or monthly. The goal is to inspect often enough that unsafe conditions do not go unnoticed.

Routine scheduled inspections

Unscheduled inspections

Some inspections are triggered by events. If there is an incident or equipment malfunction — a laundry dryer fire, for example — an inspection must follow. The same applies when new equipment or processes are introduced.

If something significant changes in your workplace and an inspection has not yet occurred, that is worth raising with your supervisor or a JOHS committee representative.

What gets inspected?

Inspections cover the physical space, the equipment you use, and how work gets done. Buildings, structures, grounds, tools, emergency exits, machinery, and work methods are all in scope.

In practice, a checklist for a continuing care setting might include:

After an inspection

• If required, develop corrective actions that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART)
• Assign a due date and responsible person for each corrective action
• Follow-up on identified issues and close the loop
• Communicate inspection findings to workers
• Review previous inspection reports for any uncorrected issues

What you can do right now

You are already doing part of this job. Every time you notice a hazard and say something, you are contributing to your workplace's inspection process. Informal inspections depend on exactly that.

Here is what that looks like in practice:

• Notice something — equipment that looks worn, a spill, a blocked exit, a light out
• Report it to your supervisor, the same day if possible
• If it does not get addressed, bring it to your JOHS committee representative or worker health and safety rep
• When your department does a formal inspection, participate — your knowledge of the space matters

You already know your workplace better than any checklist does. Trust that — and say something when something is off.

Featured education: