Summary
In short
- A critical task observation is an inspection used in KnowSafe that watches a high risk task from start to finish against its procedure. It is built against ICMM critical control practice and forms part of the Safety Culture and Engagement programme.
- Run on a set schedule for each critical task. Carried out by a competent observer.
- The template holds 35 fields across 4 sections, with procedure steps repeating for each entry.
- Scoring is percent to procedure, where high is good.
- ICMM is international Council on Mining and Metals. Publishes critical control management, widely borrowed outside mining for fatal risk control.
- It connects to the rest of the library: links Job, Critical Control.
What it is
What it is
What is a critical task observation?
A critical task observation is an inspection used in KnowSafe that watches a high risk task from start to finish against its procedure. It is built against ICMM critical control practice and forms part of the Safety Culture and Engagement programme.
When is a critical task observation completed?
A critical task observation is completed on the inspection frequency set in your programme, and again after any change to the asset or area. Run on a set schedule for each critical task.
When to use it
When to use it, and when not to
This inspection is one step in a larger programme. Using it for work that belongs to a neighbouring template produces records that are hard to report on later.
Use it for
- The event or activity this inspection covers has occurred, or is about to
- A new record is needed; each one gets its own ID in the form OBS-2026-000
- You are running the Safety Culture and Engagement programme and this is one of its steps
- A linked record needs this one to exist: links job, critical control
Not for
- Safety Observation, which a short record of how a task was actually done, noting both safe practice and risk.
- Behaviour Based Observation, which looks at a specific set of behaviours agreed with the workforce, such as line of fire, body position and tool use.
- Leadership Safety Walk, which a senior leader spends time in the workplace talking with workers about how the work really goes.
- Anything outside KnowSafe, which belongs in the workspace that owns that process
Standards
What it is built against
ICMMInternational Council on Mining and Metals
Publishes critical control management, widely borrowed outside mining for fatal risk control.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the critical task observation template based on?+
It is built against ICMM critical control practice. ICMM is international Council on Mining and Metals. Publishes critical control management, widely borrowed outside mining for fatal risk control.
What sections does the critical task observation contain?+
There are 4 sections: header, procedure steps, critical control performance, result. Together they hold 35 fields, 21 of which are required.
How often is a critical task observation raised?+
A new record is raised on the inspection frequency set in your programme, and again after any change to the asset or area. Each one is given an ID in the form OBS-2026-000, so it can be traced and referenced from other records.
Which programme does the critical task observation belong to?+
It is part of Safety Culture and Engagement. A measured culture position, with interventions matched to the maturity level you actually have.
How is a critical task observation scored?+
Scoring is percent to procedure. High is good. Scores exist to make the form tell you something, not to produce a percentage for its own sake.
Can the critical task observation template be changed?+
Yes. Every field, option, score and conditional rule is editable, and the links to other templates come with it. Most teams install it as it is, run it for a cycle, then adjust.
The agents
What the agents do with it
The form is the easy part. Keeping it current, routing it to the right owner and holding the evidence together is the work that actually slips.
Holds the critical task observation library against your registers, routes each record to its owner, and keeps the evidence trail together.
Coordinates the crew, rolls completion and exceptions into one view, and holds every write for your approval before it touches a record.
This template lives in KnowSafe — safety and compliance. Incidents, hazards, permits, inspections and the critical controls behind them.
Meet KnowSafe→Sources
Sources
- ICMM — International Council on Mining and Metals