Nursing Clinical Skills Health & Safety Inspection Checklist

• Document No.

• Audit Title

• Conducted on

  Date

• Prepared by

• Location
  Address

Workplace inspections are a way of identifying hazards in the workplace.

• Inspections also provide a system to monitor whether the risks associated with the hazards are adequately controlled. All elements must conduct a thorough workplace inspection at least annually. The identification of hazards and management of risks is a requirement under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 and other related legislation.

• Step 1: Complete inspection findings in the following sections

Nursing Safety

• Is the ban on eating, drinking and smoking in laboratories enforced?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there clear signage enforcing correct footwear?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the area large enough for the work being done?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there adequate lighting in all work areas?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are student bags located out of access ways?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all imitation drugs and medicines adequately labelled as such?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there a system in place to ensure that there is no diagnostic use of the equipment and consumables?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are infection control procedures in place with appropriate risk assessments and practiced?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is equipment correctly positioned to not cause an obstruction or hazard and free of sharp edges?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are there loose or polished surfaces that could cause slips or trips?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the floor clear of waste, oil & water?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are there appropriate non-slip mats?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are passageways clear and equipment stored away correctly?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Environment

• Is lighting adequate and appropriate to the task?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the area free from glare and shadows minimised?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the temperature and ventilation adequate /comfortable?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are air conditioning vents and intakes free from dust build up?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there any visible evidence of mold? (e.g on air conditioning vents, windows, blinds, furniture, equipment)

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the area free from odour?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the area free from distracting or disruptive noises?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are hazard posters effectively posted at lab entrances?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all passageways clear of obstructions?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Other hazards identified? (List details)

Emergency Response

• Are there sufficient exits for prompt escape?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are emergency exits unobstructed?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are emergency exits clearly signed and adequately illuminated?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are floor evacuation plans clearly displayed?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are staff able to locate the Emergency Assembly Area?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Can the emergency alarm be heard in all areas?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is fire response equipment available? (e.g. fire blanket, fire hose, fire extinguisher etc)

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is fire response equipment clearly signed and is accessible?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are fire extinguishers secured to the walls?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are fire extinguisher inspected and tagged within the last 6 months?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the first aid kit clearly identified and easily accessible?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are the contents of the first aid kit stocked according to the list of contents posted inside the kit?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Other hazards identified? (List details)

Amenities

• Are tables and food preparation areas clean and well kept?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are microwave ovens and fridges clean and in good working order?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are microwave ovens located between hip and shoulder height to minimise spills/scalds?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are toilet facilities clean and stocked appropriately?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Other hazards identified? (List details)

Housekeeping

• Is the area tidy and kept well?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are floor coverings even and in good condition? Are they free of slip and trip hazards?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are walkways uncluttered and unobstructed?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there adequate storage?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are items safely stored so they are not at risk of falling or causing injury?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are waste disposal bins/facilities available?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are stairs free of trip and slip hazards?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Other hazards identified? (List details)

Security Hazards

• Have materials that could easily be converted into cash or used for illegal purposes been identified and controls put in place to prevent theft?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Where employees are required to work after hours, are there controls in place to ensure their safety? Are staff aware of lone worker procedures?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Have employees been instructed on what to do if they discover someone behaving suspiciously?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are employees encouraged to walk to car park areas at night in pairs or seek assistance from security?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Equipment and Electrical

• Is equipment in good working order?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there adequate workspace around equipment for safe operation?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are tools and equipment stored in their proper place when not in use?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are plugs, sockets, switches and power boards in good order?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are electrical cords situated/ secured to prevent trip hazards?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are electrical leads protected from damage/liquids?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is power board and extension cord use kept to a minimum?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Do multi-outlet power boards have their own individual switches?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the use of double adaptors and piggy back plugs prohibited?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there a periodic check of equipment and extension leads? i.e. appliances & leads are tested and tagged and medical test and tagged as appropriate

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are safety showers and eye wash facilities functional, and tested at regular intervals?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are specific items of equipment serviced in accordance with manufacturer’s guidelines?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is training provided in use of equipment?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Other hazards identified? (List details)

Manual Tasks

• Are frequently used items within easy access between shoulder and knee height?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are heavy items stored at waist height?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are step ladders or safety steps readily available to access items stored on high shelves?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are mechanical aids (e.g. trolleys) readily available and used when required?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are mechanical aids in good working order?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are frequent breaks taken from repetitive tasks?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Other hazards identified? (List details)

Workstation Ergonomics

• Is work height appropriate?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are chairs fully adjustable?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there sufficient leg room to allow proper access to workstation and symmetrical posture?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are footrests provided where required?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are document holders available if needed?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is screen based equipment adjustable and located to prevent glare / shadows?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Other hazards identified? (List details)

Chemical Safety (General)

• Is there a register or inventory of chemicals?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is Safety Data Sheet (SDS) information available for all chemicals?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all containers correctly labelled in accordance with GHS? (including containers of decanted substances in smaller containers e.g. spray bottles)

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all chemicals stored according to compatibility and / or license?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are there approved methods of disposal for all chemicals?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are there sufficient and appropriate waste disposal containers?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are combustible waste materials and residues kept to a minimum?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are emergency spill kits signposted, stocked and in date?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are staff familiar with spill clean-up requirements for chemicals used in the Nursing Clinical Skills area?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are staff trained in the use of Personal Protective Equipment / Clothing (PPE/C) used in their area?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Biological Safety

• Are cleaning procedures established for normal cleaning and emergency spills?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are systems in place for safe handling of sharps?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are adequate sharps bins available?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are sharps bins and bio-hazardous waste receptacles available and clearly marked?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is waste management established & implemented?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• If required, is PPE/C readily available and well maintained?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Aditional Comment and/or Actions

• Insert Addition Comments and or Actions here.