What's on your facility inspection checklist?

What is the condition of your facility? Is this something you check regularly? If not, it’s time to start. 

Workplace safety and the comfort of your employees are essential to smooth operations and government compliance. If you are not performing regular facility inspections, you could be ignoring workplace hazards that put your employees at risk and violate OSHA regulations. 

The best way to monitor your work environment is to perform regular maintenance inspections with the help of a facility inspection checklist. It’s a big job overseeing the care and condition of a building, but doing it the right way makes your job easier.

Why perform facility maintenance inspections?

Your facility is an ever-changing environment. Things get moved, wear out, sustain damage or go missing. If you aren’t inspecting your facility, how will you know when something is stacked improperly in the warehouse, there’s a leak near some electrical wires or your staff is working in inadequate lighting? 

New hazards and annoyances can arise at any time, and as a facility manager or owner, you need to know so you can fix them. 

Performing regular maintenance inspections helps you identify existing and potential issues before something goes wrong. Some problems might be safety hazards, while some might be more about comfort, but both are important for helping everyone enjoy their workday. 

No one wants to work for a negligent employer, and employee morale dips when workers know their safety and comfort are being ignored. Creating a pleasant work environment is a basic responsibility of employers, and it helps your workers do their jobs better. 

Fixing safety hazards also saves your company money that might otherwise go to worker’s comp or be lost while an employee is on medical leave. You can budget for future repairs or replacements by noting when things are beginning to get old and wear out. 

Some hazards might even put your whole facility at risk. You don’t want the building catching fire, flooding or suffering another emergency on your watch!

Finally, an OSHA facility inspection—one you do with regulations in mind—will tell you if you are violating any OSHA or other government rules and save you the headache of receiving a citation or fine. 

How often should you perform facility Inspections?

You should perform facility maintenance inspections at least once a quarter. Depending on your specific work environment, you might also need a monthly facility inspection or even a weekly or daily facility inspection.

That doesn’t necessarily mean you must do a full inspection that frequently. Often, a pared-down version of your quarterly inspection is appropriate for monthly, weekly and daily inspections. Just make sure you have separate facility inspection checklists for each kind of inspection so the right things are reviewed. 

Do you need a facility inspection checklist?

Perhaps you feel that as a facility manager or owner you will be able to spot issues as you walk through the property. Maybe you can, but your inspections will be more effective if you use a facility inspection checklist. 

A checklist ensures you don’t miss something during your inspection. It takes the mental work out of looking for issues by telling you what to check. You can mark off things as you go so you don’t forget your place if you become distracted. 

A checklist also documents what inspections have been performed and whether an issue is new or has been ongoing. 

Finally, maybe you’re an expert, but if you are out and need someone else to perform the inspection, they can do so easily with your checklist. 

What should be on your facility inspection checklist?

Your facility inspection checklist should include all the different areas and items that need to be reviewed in your facility. These should be things that are regulated or that could pose a risk if not functioning correctly.

Every facility should tailor its checklist for its own needs, but here are some common items to include on yours if you are creating a facility inspection checklist for the first time or looking to revamp your existing one.

• Check for damage to:
  • Floors.
  • Walls.
  • Doors.
  • Windows.
  • Ceilings.
• Look for obstructions that impede safe movement through your facility in:
  • Bathrooms.
  • Kitchens.
  • Loading docks.
  • Offices.
  • Storage areas.
  • Workstations.
• Check that no trash is lying around and bins are not overflowing.
• Make sure there are no spills.
• Ensure floors are swept/vacuumed/mopped.
• See that lights are working and that there are spare bulbs in:
  • Bathrooms.
  • Kitchens.
  • Loading docks.
  • Offices.
  • Storage areas.
  • Workstations.
• Make sure warehouse ventilation is working.
• Check pallet supply and proper storage.
• See to it that storage or warehouse aisles are marked.
• Make certain that aisles are wide enough.
• Look for storage rack damage.
• Check that items are stacked safely.
• Ensure all vehicles are working.
• Check that all forklifts are working.
• See that vehicles have fuel.
• Confirm the location of all vehicle keys.
• Check that dock doors work.
• Examine inventory and condition of safety equipment, such as:
  • Eye protection.
  • Foot protection.
  • High-visibility clothing.
  • Hard hats.
  • Safety gloves.
• Confirm the location and condition of all tools.
• See that all required grounds are provided for electrical equipment and cords.
• Ensure that electrical receptacles, control and switch panels, and switches are labeled and work.
• Verify that all flammable liquids are in approved containers, labeled and stored safely.
• Make sure that fire extinguishers are where they belong and that they have been inspected according to schedule.
• Check that the fire sprinkler system is tested and working.
• See that first-aid kits are readily available and stocked.
• Make certain emergency exit signs are present and working.
• Check that the reception area has adequate supplies.
• Ensure that offices have adequate supplies.
• Confirm that the water cooler has plenty of water and is clean.
• See to it that the bathrooms are fully stocked.
• Check that everything in the bathrooms works, including:
  • Dispensers.
  • Hand dryers.
  • Sinks.
  • Toilets.
• Make sure the kitchen is fully stocked.
• Check that kitchen appliances and fixtures work, including: 
  • Dishwashers.
  • Garbage disposals.
  • Kettles.
  • Microwaves.
  • Refrigerators.
  • Sinks.
  • Stoves.

Make facility inspections easier

Keeping your facility in good condition is a big job. Performing a regular facility maintenance inspection with a facility inspection checklist makes the job easier. 

Working with an experienced commercial cleaning company goes a long way too. 

Let CSG help you keep your facility in top condition. Whether you need janitorial services, floor polishing services or other cleaning services, we help you maintain a spotless, safe work environment for your employees and visitors. 

We serve clients in a variety of industries and will customize our work to meet your unique needs. Our loyal clients depend on us for our quality cleaning, responsiveness to needs and affordable rates. 

If you’re struggling to stay on top of things at your facility, contact CSG, and we’ll discuss which of our superior services will improve the condition of your facility.