WORKPLACE SAFETY CHECKLIST
Below is a workplace safety checklist developed by Stanford University. A high percentage of jobs in West Virginia involve the mining, manufacturing and construction industries. Unfortunately, work injuries are common in these industries. Going over this checklist before starting the days work will help prevent unnecessary injuries.
YES NO
____ ____ 1. Is the area in order and clean?
____ ____ 2. Are exits accessible and free of obstacles?
____ ____ 3. Are storage areas in a secured place?
____ ____ 4. Are there proper warning signs and tags posted?
TRAINING
____ ____ 1. Are basic safety trainings provided to new employees?
____ ____ 2. Are job-specific trainings given to employees regularly?
____ ____ 3. Are personnel familiar with MSDS?
____ ____ 4. Are employees familiar with emergency evacuation plan?
____ ____ 5. Are training materials/documents up to date and accessible?
SAFE LIFTING
____ ____ 1. Are safe lifting training techniques provided?
____ ____ a. testing load
____ ____ b. Avoiding heavy loads
____ ____ c. Bending knees when lifting
____ ____ d. Firming up abdominals when lifting
____ ____ e. Avoid twisting
ERGONOMICS
____ ____ 1. Are workers provided with proper ergonomics, adequate breaks and some activities?
FIRE PREVENTION
____ ____ 1. Are emergency exit signs well lighted?
____ ____ 2. Are fire extinguishers/alarms located visibly and accessibly?
____ ____ 3. Are manual stairway doors kept closed?
____ ____ 4. Are 18” vertical clearance below sprinkler heads maintained?
____ ____ 5. Are annual inspections of fire extinguishers maintained?
____ ____ 6. Are aisles and stairways clear and free of obstruction?
EARTHQUAKE
____ ____ 1. Are cabinets, shelves, and storages over four feet tall secured?
____ ____ 2. Does shelve have seismic restraints?
____ ____ 3. Are portable machines secured against movement?
____ ____ 4. Are heavy equipments secured to withstand accelerations?
____ ____ 5. Are storages of heavy & large objects located on lower areas?
____ ____ 6. Are the locations of valuable and sensitive equipments secured (ie. computer disks, glass, instruments)?
____ ____ 7. Are files or equipments in the storage area filed orderly?
____ ____ 8. Are storage cabinets of hazardous materials equipped with latch mechanism?
EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY
____ ____ 1. Is it clean and in good condition?
____ ____ 2. Are electrical cords in good condition with proper grounding?
____ ____ 3. Ensure that extension cords are used only as temporary, equipped with circuit breaker and multiple connectors
____ ____ 4. Ensure that combustibles materials are kept away
____ ____ 5. Is there enough ventilation?
____ ____ 6. Are switches and emergency stop mechanism working properly?
____ ____ 7. Are machine guards in place and working properly?
____ ____ 8. Are PPE available to employees whenever necessary?
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
____ ____ 1. Are hazardous containers properly labelled?
____ ____ 2. Are non hazardous containers properly labelled?
____ ____ 3. Are there secondary containers provided for liquid chemicals?
____ ____ 4. Ensure that sinks are clear and away of stored hazardous materials
____ ____ 5. Ensure that there is a proper segregations of solid and chemicals
____ ____ 6. Are chemical containers sealed properly?
____ ____ 7. Ensure that 10 gallons or more of flammable liquids are properly stored
____ ____ 8. Ensure that hazard communication training are completed by your employees
____ ____ 9. Are MSDS and chemical inventory lists accessible?
HAZARDOUS WASTE
____ ____ 1. Are waste containers inspected regularly and closed tightly?
____ ____ 2. Are containers labelled properly (ie. date of accumulation, physical state, full chemical names and other hazardous properties)?
____ ____ 3. Ensure that wastes are not to be stored after 9 months
____ ____ 4. Ensure that wastes stored more than 8 months had been reported for waste pick-up
____ ____ 5. No other wastes are to be used for red bags but infectious wastes
Contact a West Virginia work injury attorney
If you have been injured at work in West Virginia you may be entitled to worker’s compensation and possibly compensation for pain, suffering and lost wages. If you would like a free case evaluation, call the West Virginia workplace injury law firm of West Law Offices toll free at 1-877-943-9378.
Brooks West is a West Virginia personal injury lawyer who helps people who have been injured by negligence or wrongful conduct. He is the President and founder of West Law Firm and has been an attorney since 2005. Brooks is a Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum member and has been awarded the AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.