University Health & Safety Committee
Building Inspections
The Occupational Health and Safety Regulation requires that the University have a formal health and safety program. An integral component of the program includes the provision of regular inspections which include the premises, equipment, work methods and work practices, at appropriate intervals to prevent hazardous conditions. The Workers Compensation Act outlines the responsibility of the Joint Committee for participating in inspections.
Safety inspections are a prevention tool. Applied regularly and properly they will:
- Reduce incidents and property damage
- Improve worker communication
- Lift company morale through a good safety record
- Save the employer money in the long run
Inspection Teams
Six teams consisting of 2 UHSC members have been created for the purposes of completing building inspections. The goal is to ensure that each building listed is inspected within a 12-month period.
Teams are asked to sign up for a minimum of 4 buildings and one group of parking lots per year. Inspection checklists should be completed in Word format for ease of dissemination to other committee members. HSE will maintain a list of completed inspection reports and will provide annual summaries based on noted compliance deficiencies.
Reports are due no later than the end of each quarter. Teams will be asked to provide a brief summary at the last UHSC meeting of the quarter (request to present earlier can be made to the Co-chairs for consideration).
Exclusions
The following building/areas are excluded from UHSC inspections:
- Mountain Weather Office (subject to annual Federal inspection conducted by Environment Canada and HSE)
- Daycare - Subject to more frequent inspections by licensing agencies
- Residence rooms
- Wet labs including hazardous material storage locations (chemical, biological and radioactive) - subject to annual inspection by HSE
- Confined spaces
- Areas applicable to fall protection policy
- Other hazardous areas not mentioned
The inspection criteria is based on a WorkSafeBC model and is reviewed annually.
Last reviewed 
3/11/2011 2:38:08 PM
