Job site inspection checklist

Access and housekeeping

• Entrances, walkways and stairs are clear.
• Materials are stored safely.
• Trash and debris are removed.
• Signs and barriers are in place.

People and equipment

• Required protective equipment is available and used.
• Tools and equipment are in good condition.
• Fire extinguishers and first-aid supplies are accessible.
• Emergency contacts are posted.

Documentation

• Record date, site and inspector.
• Note issues and who will fix them.
• Record the date they were fixed.
• Share findings with the crew.

Tips for using this template well

1. Walk the site at the same time each day.
2. Take photos of issues.
3. Assign owners and dates.
4. Review open items at the next meeting.

Hazards that cause the most harm

OSHA’s construction rules call for fall protection at heights of 6 feet or more, and trenches 5 feet or deeper need a protective system unless they are in stable rock. A daily walk should check edges, guardrails, ladders set at a safe angle and extended above the landing, and trench walls. Record what you saw and the time, even when everything is fine.

Fixing what you find

An inspection is useful only if issues are fixed. Give each problem an owner and a date: “damaged extension cord at Bay 2, electrician, today”. Mark the form when it is resolved. Over a month the list shows repeating hazards that need a better process, not another reminder.

How it shows up in a timesheet

Inspection time is working time and should have a task code. A daily 15 minute walk by a foreman is 1.25 hours a week. Record it so the cost of safety is visible, and so that it is never the first thing cut when a job runs behind.

Common mistakes

• Inspecting once and not again after changes.
• Not writing down passes.
• No owner for fixes.
• Not retraining after repeated findings.

Inspections the OSHA construction rules call for

The general rule in 29 CFR 1926.20(b)(2) requires frequent and regular inspections of job sites, materials and equipment by competent persons. Several standards set more specific checks:

A general walk-through checklist like this one sits on top of those specific inspections. Note on the sheet which specific inspections were done and by whom.

A filled-in walk

Fictional example: at 6:45 a.m. on a three-story framing job, the foreman finds a missing guardrail section on the second-floor east side, a ladder that does not extend 3 feet above the landing and an extension cord with a cut jacket. The guardrail is fixed before work starts on that floor, the ladder is reset and tied off, and the cord is tagged out and replaced. All three are written down with times and initials, along with the items that passed, such as clear stairs and charged extinguishers.

Making the checklist fit your site

1. Add the specific hazards of this job, such as an open trench or a crane.
2. Name the competent person for each inspection type.
3. Set a time for the daily walk and record it.
4. Keep completed sheets with the job file and photos.

Keeping the walk from becoming a formality

• Change the route now and then so the same corners are not always checked last.
• Bring a different crew member on the walk each week; they notice different things.
• Track how long open items stay open, and raise any older than a week at the next meeting.
• Count near misses reported between walks, since a drop often means people stopped reporting, not that the site got safer.

Questions about the job site inspection checklist

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