Knowella

General Workplace Inspection

A broad walk through of an area covering the common hazards. Run monthly, or weekly in higher risk areas. Carried out by a supervisor with a worker representative. Anything that fails becomes a tracked action with an owner and a due date.

KnowSafeInspectionSAF-021Pinned in navigation
Completed by
Carried out by a supervisor with a worker representative
Raised
On the inspection frequency set in your programme, and aga

Summary

In short

  • A general workplace inspection is an inspection used in KnowSafe that a broad walk through of an area covering the common hazards. It is built against OSHA 1910 Subpart D, WorkSafeBC 3.5 and forms part of the Workplace Inspection programme.
  • Run monthly, or weekly in higher risk areas. Carried out by a supervisor with a worker representative.
  • The template holds 58 fields across 7 sections, with observed deficiencies repeating for each entry.
  • Scoring is percent with knockout items, where high is good.
  • OSHA is occupational Safety and Health Administration. The United States workplace safety regulator. Its standards are law where they apply.
  • It connects to the rest of the library: feeds Finding, CAPA.

What it is

What it is

What is a general workplace inspection?

A general workplace inspection is an inspection used in KnowSafe that a broad walk through of an area covering the common hazards. It is built against OSHA 1910 Subpart D, WorkSafeBC 3.5 and forms part of the Workplace Inspection programme.

When is a general workplace inspection completed?

A general workplace inspection is completed on the inspection frequency set in your programme, and again after any change to the asset or area. Run monthly, or weekly in higher risk areas.

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 INSP-2026-000
  • You are running the Workplace Inspection programme and this is one of its steps
  • A linked record needs this one to exist: feeds finding, capa

Not for

  • Housekeeping Inspection, which checks that walkways, work areas and storage are clear, clean and in order.
  • PPE Compliance Inspection, which checks that the right protective equipment is available, in good condition and being worn.
  • Electrical Safety Inspection, which checks panels, cords, outlets and portable equipment for damage and safe access.
  • Anything outside KnowSafe, which belongs in the workspace that owns that process

Standards

What it is built against

OSHAOccupational Safety and Health Administration

The United States workplace safety regulator. Its standards are law where they apply.

WorkSafeBCBritish Columbia occupational health and safety regulation

The provincial regulation and the compensation board that enforces it. Numbers refer to parts of the OHS Regulation.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is the general workplace inspection template based on?+

It is built against OSHA 1910 Subpart D, WorkSafeBC 3.5. OSHA is occupational Safety and Health Administration. The United States workplace safety regulator. Its standards are law where they apply. WorkSafeBC is british Columbia occupational health and safety regulation. The provincial regulation and the compensation board that enforces it. Numbers refer to parts of the OHS Regulation.

What sections does the general workplace inspection contain?+

There are 7 sections: header, access and egress, equipment and energy, substances and waste, people and protection, observed deficiencies, result. Together they hold 58 fields, 42 of which are required.

How often is a general workplace inspection 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 INSP-2026-000, so it can be traced and referenced from other records.

Which programme does the general workplace inspection belong to?+

It is part of Workplace Inspection. Findings graded and owned, with repeat findings visible across rounds.

How is a general workplace inspection scored?+

Scoring is percent with knockout items. High is good. Scores exist to make the form tell you something, not to produce a percentage for its own sake.

Can the general workplace inspection 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.

KnowSafe

Holds the general workplace inspection library against your registers, routes each record to its owner, and keeps the evidence trail together.

Ella

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 KnowSafesafety and compliance. Incidents, hazards, permits, inspections and the critical controls behind them.

Meet KnowSafe

Sources

Sources

  • OSHA — Occupational Safety and Health Administration
  • WorkSafeBC — British Columbia occupational health and safety regulation

KnowSafe

Also in Safety Inspections

6Browse the whole library
Inspection

Housekeeping Inspection

Checks that walkways, work areas and storage are clear, clean and in order. Run weekly. Carried out by the area supervisor. Scored by area so you can see which parts of the site are slipping before anyone gets hurt.

Inspection

PPE Compliance Inspection

Checks that the right protective equipment is available, in good condition and being worn. Run weekly or monthly. Carried out by a supervisor. Covers both whether PPE is provided and whether it actually fits and works.

Inspection

Electrical Safety Inspection

Checks panels, cords, outlets and portable equipment for damage and safe access. Run quarterly, or as set by local rules. Carried out by a qualified person. Damaged equipment is removed from service on the spot rather than noted for later.

Inspection

Ladder Inspection

Checks each ladder for damage, missing feet, loose rungs and correct labelling. Run monthly, and before first use. Carried out by the ladder owner or a supervisor. Any ladder that fails is tagged and taken out of service immediately.

Inspection

Fall Arrest Equipment Inspection

Checks harnesses, lanyards and connectors for wear, damage and expiry. Run before every use and formally every six months. Carried out by a competent person. Anything that fails is destroyed rather than returned to store, and that step is recorded.

Inspection

Machine Guarding Inspection

Checks that guards are fitted, secure and effective, and that interlocks work. Run monthly. Carried out by a supervisor or maintenance technician. A missing or defeated guard stops the machine, no matter what else the inspection scores.

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