Risk Management
Employee Safety Manual
Hazard Recognition - Self Inspection
May 2007

Hazard Recognition – Self Inspection

1.         PURPOSE:

1.1       One of the most important aspects of any safety program is the implementation of a comprehensive self-inspection program.  Periodic self-inspections of buildings, grounds, and related fixtures and equipment by college personnel will help to identify and correct hazards before an accident or injury can occur.  Documented self-inspection reports will help verify the college’s commitment to the safety of students, staff, faculty, and visitors and are essential to meeting the objectives of the college’s Risk Management Plan.

2.         GENERAL GUIDELINES:

2.1       Inspection Zones:

2.1.1    To improve efficiency and to ensure that obvious hazards are identified and corrected, each campus property or building is divided into manageable inspection zones.

2.1.2    The strategic breakdown of campus property and buildings into smaller inspection zones will facilitate a staggered self-inspection schedule.

2.1.3    The inspection zones for John Wood Community College’s 1301 S. 48^th St. Quincy campus are:

2.1.3.1             Science and Technology Center

2.1.3.1.1          Lower Level

2.1.3.1.2          Main Level

2.1.3.2             Learning Center

2.1.3.2.1          Lower Level

2.1.3.2.2          Main Level

2.1.3.3             Student and Administrative Center

2.1.3.3.1          Lower Level

2.1.3.3.2          Main Level

2.1.3.3.3          Upper Level

2.1.3.4             Paul Heath Community Education and Fine Arts Center

2.1.3.4.1          Lower Level

2.1.3.4.2          Main Level

2.1.3.5             Maintenance Building

2.1.3.5.1          Main Level

2.1.3.5.2          Upper Level

2.1.3.6             Student Activity Center

2.1.3.6.1          Lower Level

2.1.3.6.2          Main Level

2.1.3.7             Greenhouse

2.1.3.8             Grounds, Parking Lots, Ball Fields

2.1.4    The inspection zones for John Wood Community College’s other college facilities are:

2.1.4.1             Uptown Learning Center (514 Hampshire, Quincy)

2.1.4.2             Truck Driving Training Center (Dye Rd., Quincy)

2.1.4.3             Pittsfield Education Center (Pittsfield)

2.1.4.4             Agricultural Center (Perry)

2.1.4.5             Swine Center (Perry)

2.1.4.6             DOT Learning Center (Mt. Sterling)

2.2       Documentation:

2.2.1    The Self-Inspection Report (sample – Appendix A) should be utilized to document the inspection process.

2.2.2    The Self-Inspection Report includes a checklist section for the most common safety concerns for all campus property and buildings and then a second checklist section for safety concerns that may be specific only to certain areas (e.g. Maintenance, Science Labs).

2.2.3    All recognized hazards should be documented in the appropriate section of the report and should be described in as much detail as possible and clearly indicate the exact location of the hazard.  The documented hazard should include a corresponding reference number which will include the date followed by an identifying number (e.g. 3/1/07 – 14).

            2.3       Follow Up:

2.3.1    After the inspection is completed, a Corrective Action Plan should be developed for each campus property, building, or inspection zone.  The hazards listed on the Corrective Action Plan should match the corresponding reference number listed on the Self-Inspection Report.

2.3.2    The Corrective Action Plan should be forwarded to the Director of Safety and Security.  The Director of Safety and Security will be responsible for forwarding the plan to the appropriate party to ensure the hazards listed are corrected.

2.3.3    Any hazards that have not been corrected by the next inspection should be re-listed on the Self-Inspection Report with their original reference number followed by a “P” for “pending” (e.g. 3/1/07 – 14 P).

            2.4       Conducting a Self-Inspection:

2.4.1    Whenever possible, self-inspections should be conducted by two-person teams to ensure hazards are not overlooked.

2.4.1.1           Responsibility for conducting self-inspections will generally be given to supervisors and managers working in the affected inspection zones, Safety and Security personnel, members of the Risk Management Committee, etc., however, all JWCC employees are responsible for reporting any recognizable hazards to the Director of Safety and Security.

2.4.2    Inspectors should prioritize the way in which they conduct the self-inspection, paying particular attention to obvious hazards first, scanning the entire inspection area and noting anything that stands out as an obvious life safety issue.  After noting anything obvious, inspectors should go back through the entire inspection zone, look for, and then note any hazards that may be less obvious.

2.4.3    All campus property, buildings, and related fixtures and equipment should be self-inspected at least every three months (quarterly).

2.5       Records:

2.5.1    The Director of Safety and Security will keep records of all completed Self-Inspection Reports and Corrective Action Plans.