Industrial/Factory Inspection

Factory inspection is a
systematic procedure for observing, ascertaining and detecting any condition in
a work place that have the potential of causing accident, injury or disease
with the aim of its timely and proper abatement.

It involves an official
visit to a factory in order to ensure that a lay down factory rules and
regulation are obeyed and that work is carried at safety in a work environment.

In developing countries
where the opportunity for normal training (i.e.
hazard identification and evaluation) are limited, factory inspection is
the main tool for hazard identification and most procedures leading to hazard
control in the factory are based on the outcomes of factory inspection.

Objectives of Factory Inspection

1. Environmental health

a.) Waste management

b.) Air pollution

c.) Noise pollution.

d.) Water pollution

2. Health Status

a.) Occupational disease

b.) Staff welfare

c.) Medical treatment.

3. Plant Layout: Machine
arrangement.

4. Safety management.

5. Food hygiene (catering
services)

6. Raw materials (by-products
and finished products).

Process/Steps of Factory Inspection

·
Informing the management of the factory on
arrival.

·
Pre-inspection meeting with management to
explain missions of the visit.

·
Determination of the areas of the factory to be inspected;
external features, floors, sanitary facilities, affluent discharge method,
arrangement and layout, installation of plants and equipment, canteen services,
first aid facilities and clinic.

·
Conducting the inspection

·
Writing of report indicating deficient areas.

·
Communicating findings to the management.

·
Follow up visit to ensure compliance with
recommendations.

The Principles of Factory Inspection

1.
Adequate knowledge of a work place or factory
rules and regulations

2.
Ability to recognise potential hazards in the
work place or factory.

3.
Ability to identify sources of air contaminants
and their ill – effects.

4.
Must be familiar with process, equipment and
materials used for production and its effect on the health of the workers and the
neighbourhood of the factory

5.
Knowledge of existing control measures in the
factories.

Note: The inspection of a factory is not complete unless the
types of control measures in used and their effectiveness are noted.

Areas to be inspected during Factory Inspection

1.
Atmospheric Condition: Related to dust, gasses,
fumes, vapour, illumination, noise, heat and radiation,

2.
Containers: These are objects for
storing of materials such as barrels, gas cylinder, solvent cans, etc.

3.
Hazardous Supply and
Materials:

a.) Flammables

b.) Explosives

c.) Gasses

d.) Acids

e.) Caustic

f.) Toxic chemicals etc.