Every year in Canada, thousands of people suffer workplace injuries—and heartbreakingly, some never return home. 

According to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), Ontario alone saw about 264 workplace fatalities from April 2022 to March 2023. 

Association Of Workers Compensation Boards Of Canada recorded 271,806 time-loss injury claims in 2022—many of which could have been prevented.

The good news? 

Most workplace accidents are avoidable!

Experts estimate that a large portion of slips, trips, machinery incidents and falls can be caught and corrected—early and often—with thorough safety inspections. 

The role of safety inspections in reducing workplace accidents is essential as it can identify hazards before they cause harm.

When inspections are done regularly and well, they:

1. Catch risks early, like faulty equipment, cluttered walkways, or worn-out PPE.
2. Reduce downtime, since problems are fixed before they escalate into serious incidents.
3. Build a safety-first culture, encouraging everyone—from the shop floor to management—to stay alert and involved.

By shifting from reactive fixes to proactive checks, safety inspections become a powerful shield—protecting workers, saving company time and money, and making workplaces stronger and safer.

Why Safety Inspections Matter

Safety inspections are an essential part of any workplace safety strategy. They're not just routine checklists—they're proactive steps that help prevent injuries, improve efficiency, and build a culture where safety is everyone’s responsibility. 

In Canada, employers have a legal duty to maintain a safe work environment, and regular inspections are one of the most effective ways to do that.

When inspections are carried out consistently, they catch potential dangers before someone gets hurt. They also serve as a record that the employer is actively managing risks, which is essential during an audit or accident investigation. 

Beyond compliance, inspections reduce costly downtime, lower injury-related costs, and boost worker confidence.

Let’s break down two key reasons why inspections are essential:

Preventing Accidents Before They Happen

Routine inspections allow safety teams and supervisors to detect hazards that could otherwise go unnoticed. These might seem like small issues at first, but left unaddressed, they can quickly lead to serious accidents.

Common hazards identified through inspections

1. Faulty machinery or missing safety guards
2. Dim or flickering lighting in work areas
3. Wet or uneven floors leading to slips and trips
4. Cluttered walkways or blocked emergency exits
5. Expired or improperly stored chemicals

Real example

In a Toronto warehouse, a small oil leak under a conveyor belt was overlooked for weeks. No one flagged it until a worker slipped, fracturing their wrist. The accident led to several days of downtime and a WSIB claim that cost the company thousands. A routine floor inspection would have likely caught the spill and prevented the injury.

Benefits of routine inspections

1. Spot hazards before they become incidents
2. Reduce WSIB claims and associated costs
3. Maintain clear, safe paths and emergency exits
4. Boost employee confidence in workplace safety

Preventive action through regular inspections is often the difference between a safe shift and a trip to the emergency room.

Meeting Legal & Regulatory Obligations

Workplace inspections aren't optional—they're a legal requirement under provincial Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) laws. 

Employers must ensure that equipment, processes, and environments meet safety standards, and regular inspections are part of that due diligence.

Key Canadian regulations

1. Canada Labour Code, Part II: Requires employers to identify and correct workplace hazards.
2. Provincial OH&S Acts (e.g., Ontario, BC, Alberta): Mandate regular safety inspections by joint health and safety committees (JHSCs) or designated personnel.

Penalties for non-compliance

1. Hefty fines (e.g., up to $1.5 million in Ontario for corporations)
2. Stop-work orders, disrupting operations
3. Increased WSIB premiums due to poor safety records
4. Legal liability in the event of a serious incident

Why inspections help with compliance

1. Documented inspections serve as legal proof of due diligence
2. They ensure adherence to PPE, equipment, and procedural standards
3. They support safety audits and investigations

Next step for employers

To stay compliant and protect your team, it’s crucial to understand how to conduct proper inspections. 

Canada Safety Training Centre offers practical and accessible training programs that help employers and employees learn how to spot hazards to keep workspaces safe.

By staying ahead of inspections instead of reacting to accidents, companies not only meet legal standards—they help create a safer, more responsible work culture.

Common Workplace Hazards That Inspections Catch

Every workplace carries some level of risk. From a quiet office to a busy construction site, hazards can exist in plain sight or go completely unnoticed—until someone gets hurt. 

That’s where safety inspections come in. These regular checks help uncover common dangers before they lead to accidents, injuries, or even fatalities.

Inspections are especially helpful in identifying three major categories of hazards: physical, chemical/environmental, and behavioural. 

Each type poses unique risks, but with consistent inspections, most can be dealt with early and effectively.

Let’s take a closer look at how inspections tackle each type:

Physical Hazards

Physical hazards are the most visible type and are often the cause of slips, trips, and equipment-related injuries. These are dangers you can see or touch, and they’re common in nearly every workplace.

Routine inspections help spot and fix issues like:

1. Loose or frayed wiring: Increases risk of electric shock or fires.
2. Faulty machinery: Broken safety guards, overheating parts, or sudden malfunctions.
3. Wet floors or oil spills: A leading cause of workplace slips and falls.
4. Blocked emergency exits: Puts workers at serious risk during an evacuation.

Example: In a small warehouse in British Columbia, blocked fire exits went unnoticed until a safety inspection flagged the issue. Had a fire broken out, evacuation would’ve been difficult—possibly fatal.

Inspection benefits

1. Keep machinery running safely and efficiently
2. Ensure walkways, staircases, and exits stay clear
3. Minimize trip-and-fall injuries and electrical risks
4. Prevent small repair issues from becoming big accidents

By addressing physical hazards early, inspections help keep work areas safe and compliant with Canadian OH&S laws.

Chemical & Environmental Hazards

Chemical and environmental hazards may not always be visible, but they can be just as harmful. Exposure to toxic substances, poor air quality, or temperature extremes can cause long-term health problems.

What inspections can reveal

1. Expired or improperly stored chemicals: Increases the chance of fires, leaks, or exposure.
2. Poor ventilation: Allows dust, fumes, or vapours to accumulate, leading to respiratory issues.
3. Leaks from containers or pipes: Can result in slips, burns, or harmful inhalation.
4. Inadequate labelling: Makes it hard to identify and safely use chemicals.

Example: A metal shop in Alberta conducted an air quality inspection and found carbon monoxide levels above the safe limit due to poor ventilation. A few adjustments to the exhaust system likely prevented serious health issues.

Why inspections matter

1. Ensure compliance with WHMIS standards
2. Improve indoor air quality for workers
3. Prevent chemical-related injuries and illnesses
4. Reduce liability related to long-term exposure claims

With proper inspection routines, employers can eliminate many of these “invisible” risks before they become serious.

Behavioural Hazards

Even in a safe physical environment, unsafe behaviour can lead to accidents. Behavioural hazards are often overlooked because they involve how people work, not just what they work with.

Inspections help identify unsafe behaviours like:

1. Not using PPE (Personal Protective Equipment): Workers skipping gloves, helmets, or eyewear.
2. Rushing through tasks: Taking shortcuts with machinery or heavy lifting.
3. Improper lifting techniques: Can lead to strains and long-term injuries.
4. Poor workstation ergonomics: Bad posture, awkward setups, or repetitive strain risks.

Example: At an Ontario manufacturing plant, an inspection found that workers weren’t wearing hearing protection in a high-noise zone. After retraining and enforcing PPE rules, incidents of hearing complaints dropped significantly.

Benefits of inspecting for behavioural risks

1. Encourage accountability and safer habits
2. Reduce injuries linked to fatigue or poor technique
3. Reinforce the importance of PPE and proper procedures
4. Identify training needs or gaps in safety knowledge

Behaviour-based inspections are crucial for building a strong safety culture. They remind workers that safety isn’t just about gear and equipment—it’s also about mindset and habits.

By regularly checking for these types of hazards, Canadian workplaces can significantly lower their injury rates and create a more responsible, proactive safety environment.

The Safety Inspection Process

A safety inspection is more than just walking around with a clipboard. It’s a structured process designed to uncover hazards, improve safety systems, and protect workers.

Whether you’re in construction, warehousing, healthcare, or manufacturing, the inspection process helps identify what’s working—and what’s not.

In Canada, a proper inspection process follows clear steps: planning the inspection, conducting it thoroughly, and acting on the results. 

Each step plays a critical role in making sure hazards are not just noticed but corrected quickly.

Let’s break down the full safety inspection process:

Planning the Inspection

Before any inspection starts, it needs to be planned carefully. Planning ensures that the inspection is purposeful, thorough, and aligned with workplace safety goals.

Key considerations when planning:

Who should inspect?

1. Internal team: Often includes supervisors, health and safety reps, or JHSC members who know the workplace well.
2. Third-party inspectors: Useful for unbiased assessments or if expertise is lacking internally.

What tools or checklists are needed?

1. Industry-specific inspection checklists (e.g., construction, retail, manufacturing)
2. Tablets or mobile apps for digital inspections
3. PPE and access tools for reaching machinery, confined spaces, or rooftops

How often should inspections happen?

1. Daily or weekly: For high-risk areas like construction zones or kitchens
2. Monthly: For office environments or lower-risk areas
3. Annually: For larger equipment, fire systems, and compliance audits

Planning benefits

1. Ensures inspections are consistent and thorough
2. Prepares the team with proper checklists and safety gear
3. Helps schedule inspections around shifts and peak work hours

Good planning lays the foundation for a successful inspection that not only checks boxes but also improves safety outcomes.

Conducting the Inspection

Once the plan is in place, it’s time to carry out the inspection. This phase focuses on observing conditions, documenting what’s seen, and gathering input from workers.

Key elements of a strong inspection:

Observe and identify hazards

1. Look for wear and tear, blocked exits, missing signage, or poor lighting
2. Note near misses and unsafe practices

Take photos and notes

1. Visual documentation helps explain the severity and supports follow-up
2. Write down exact locations, dates, and nature of hazards

Speak with workers

1. Ask employees about recurring safety concerns or near misses
2. Include frontline insights that may not be obvious from just looking around

Be consistent and impartial

1. Use the same checklist every time
2. Avoid overlooking familiar areas or routines

Best practices for inspection teams

1. Always wear required PPE while inspecting
2. Log both safe and unsafe conditions for a balanced view
3. Don’t delay reporting serious risks—flag them immediately

Effective inspections require more than observation—they need honest input and consistent documentation to paint the full picture.

Acting on the Results

An inspection is only as good as what happens afterward. Once hazards are identified, action must follow—quickly and clearly.

Steps to turn findings into safer conditions:

Write a clear inspection report

1. Summarize issues found with photos and notes
2. Assign risk levels (low, medium, high)

Create a corrective action plan

1. Prioritize urgent fixes (e.g., trip hazards, missing PPE signs)
2. Assign responsibilities to supervisors or maintenance teams
3. Set deadlines to avoid delays

Track and document progress

1. Use spreadsheets or digital safety systems to monitor corrections
2. Record what was fixed, when, and by whom

Follow-up inspections

1. Verify that actions were taken
2. Re-inspect problem areas within set timeframes

Why this step matters

1. Ensures hazards don’t fall through the cracks
2. Builds accountability and trust within the team
3. Creates documentation for audits, investigations, or legal compliance

Taking action after inspections shows that safety isn’t just a formality—it’s a shared commitment to protecting every worker on site.

By following a structured safety inspection process, Canadian workplaces can turn everyday observations into powerful steps toward injury prevention and legal compliance.

Benefits of Regular Workplace Safety Inspections

Regular workplace safety inspections provide more than just compliance; they offer significant long-term benefits that go beyond legal requirements. 

The primary advantage of these inspections is the reduction in workplace hazards, but the positive impacts extend to injury reduction, enhanced workplace culture, and improved operational efficiency. 

In Canada, where safety regulations are strict and penalties for non-compliance are severe, the case for regular inspections is clear.

Here’s a look at how regular safety inspections can improve a company’s overall performance and well-being:

1. Fewer Injuries and Claims

One of the most immediate and tangible benefits of conducting regular safety inspections is the reduction in workplace injuries and claims. 

When hazards are caught early and corrected promptly, the likelihood of accidents significantly decreases. This proactive approach helps protect workers, prevent harm, and ultimately lower injury-related costs.

Key benefits of reducing injuries through inspections

1. Lower injury rates: According to WorkSafeBC, organizations that implement regular safety checks see a 15–30% decrease in workplace injuries. Fewer injuries mean fewer days lost to recovery and a healthier workforce.
2. Reduced workers' compensation claims: When hazards are minimized, the number of claims submitted to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) also drops. A lower claims rate helps businesses save on insurance premiums and related costs.
3. Savings on insurance and legal costs: Workplaces that experience fewer accidents tend to enjoy lower liability insurance premiums, which can directly impact the company’s bottom line. Moreover, reducing accidents minimizes the risk of expensive lawsuits due to injuries or non-compliance with safety regulations.

The financial and legal benefits

1. Lower claims and injury rates directly translate to savings in insurance costs.
2. Decreased risk of legal action and associated fines from non-compliance.
3. Fewer work stoppages due to injuries, ensuring productivity stays on track.

A structured inspection routine allows businesses to address potential risks before they lead to accidents, resulting in a safer environment for employees and significant financial savings for the company.

2. Better Workplace Culture

Workplace safety isn’t just about preventing injuries—it’s also about fostering a culture where employees feel valued and safe.

When workers know that safety is a priority, they are more likely to feel engaged and motivated, leading to higher morale and job satisfaction.

How safety inspections promote a positive culture

1. Employees feel safer and valued: Regular inspections demonstrate that the company cares about employee well-being. When safety is prioritized, employees feel supported, which can reduce stress and increase workplace satisfaction.
2. Promotes open communication: Inspections encourage an open dialogue between workers and management about potential hazards. This process helps employees voice concerns and make suggestions for improvement, creating a collaborative environment where everyone feels empowered.
3. Building trust: When employees see that safety concerns are consistently addressed, they trust that the company is committed to providing a safe and healthy work environment. This trust leads to stronger team cohesion and reduced turnover.

Additional cultural benefits

1. Better morale and employee engagement: Workers are more likely to stay at a company where their safety is taken seriously. When safety inspections are part of regular operations, they help build an atmosphere of accountability and care.
2. Increased productivity: When workers feel secure in their environment, they’re less distracted by safety concerns, allowing them to focus on their tasks and contribute more effectively.

By incorporating safety inspections into everyday practices, companies foster a work culture that is proactive, communicative, and committed to the well-being of all employees.

3. Operational Efficiency

Workplace safety inspections don’t just protect workers—they also improve operational efficiency. 

By identifying hazards and fixing them before they lead to downtime, businesses can ensure smoother day-to-day operations and fewer interruptions.

Key efficiency benefits of safety inspections

1. Fewer disruptions due to incidents: Accidents, even minor ones, cause disruptions that can affect production timelines, damage company reputation, and reduce profits. Regular inspections help minimize these incidents, keeping operations running smoothly.
2. Improved equipment lifespan: Safety inspections ensure that equipment and tools are regularly checked for wear and tear. This proactive approach extends the life of expensive machinery, reducing the frequency and cost of repairs or replacements.
3. Better resource allocation: When safety hazards are addressed early, fewer resources are needed for emergency fixes or handling workplace accidents. This allows management to allocate resources more effectively toward productive tasks.

Other operational benefits

1. Reduced absenteeism: Fewer injuries mean fewer workers absent due to illness or recovery, ensuring productivity is not hindered.
2. Optimized workflows: An accident-free workplace operates more efficiently, with fewer interruptions and bottlenecks, enabling teams to meet deadlines and achieve goals.

By reducing the chances of accidents and ensuring equipment remains in optimal condition, safety inspections contribute directly to the efficiency and productivity of the organization, ultimately enhancing profitability.

Regular workplace safety inspections provide a solid return on investment, yielding fewer injuries, a better workplace culture, and enhanced operational efficiency. 

––With fewer risks, businesses not only comply with Canadian safety regulations but also boost their bottom line by reducing unnecessary costs and disruptions.

Digital Tools to Enhance Inspection Effectiveness

In today’s fast-paced work environment, staying ahead of potential hazards requires more than traditional pen-and-paper inspections. 

Digital tools have revolutionized the way safety inspections are conducted, offering Canadian businesses an efficient, streamlined, and effective way to maintain workplace safety. 

With the rise of mobile inspection apps and software like iAuditor and SafetyCulture, companies are now able to conduct inspections faster, track progress in real-time, and generate valuable insights for ongoing safety improvements.

Benefits of Digital Inspection Tools

1. Mobile Inspection Apps: Tools like iAuditor allow inspectors to use their smartphones or tablets to conduct inspections on-site. The ability to access customizable checklists, take photos, and capture detailed notes right from the mobile device enhances efficiency and accuracy during inspections.
2. Real-time Tracking: Digital tools enable supervisors and managers to track inspections in real-time. This eliminates delays between identifying hazards and addressing them, ensuring immediate action can be taken when necessary.
3. Automated Reminders: Many apps offer automated reminders, ensuring that inspections are not missed and are conducted regularly as per schedule. This feature is especially important for businesses that operate in high-risk industries or with large workforces.
4. Photo Uploads & Documentation: With mobile apps, inspectors can instantly upload photos and documents as evidence, ensuring that issues are clearly documented. This provides a reliable record of hazards and actions taken, which can be used for audits or regulatory compliance.
5. Analytics & Reporting: Digital tools provide advanced analytics that give managers deeper insights into safety trends, recurring issues, and areas for improvement. These data-driven reports allow businesses to make informed decisions about their safety programs.

The Adoption of Digital Tools in Canadian Businesses

In Canada, businesses across various industries are adopting digital safety inspection tools to ensure they stay compliant with OH&S regulations and protect their workforce. 

By integrating these technologies into their safety programs, Canadian companies are improving the consistency and thoroughness of their inspections, reducing human error, and creating safer, more efficient workplaces.

From construction sites in Ontario to manufacturing plants in Alberta, digital tools like SafetyCulture are helping Canadian companies simplify the inspection process, track progress, and continuously improve their workplace safety culture. 

By embracing these technologies, businesses are taking significant steps toward a safer and more productive work environment.

Building a Proactive Inspection Culture

Creating a proactive inspection culture goes beyond checking boxes—it’s about instilling a mindset that prioritizes safety at all levels of an organization. 

In a proactive culture, inspections aren’t just a task to complete; they’re an ongoing commitment to protecting employees and preventing risks. 

When every team member, from floor staff to supervisors, takes an active role in maintaining safety, inspections become an integral part of the daily routine.

Building this kind of culture requires consistent involvement, education, and an environment that values safety as much as productivity. 

When workers feel that they’re part of a safety-driven culture, they’re more likely to identify and report hazards, contributing to the success of the entire safety program.

Here’s how you can build a proactive inspection culture:

Involving All Employees

A proactive inspection culture relies on the active involvement of everyone in the workplace, not just safety officers or managers. Encouraging employees at all levels to take ownership of safety checks creates a team-driven approach to hazard identification and prevention.

Steps to involve all employees in safety

Encourage safety ownership at all levels

Safety isn’t just the responsibility of a few; it’s everyone’s job. Encourage all employees, from entry-level to senior management, to take part in identifying hazards and implementing solutions. 

When employees feel empowered, they are more likely to take initiative in spotting risks and ensuring safe work practices.

Leadership should demonstrate a commitment to safety through actions and visible support, which encourages employees to follow suit.

Daily checks by floor staff

Floor staff are in the best position to notice daily hazards and small issues before they become larger problems. 

Encourage staff to conduct daily inspections, such as checking equipment, ensuring walkways are clear, or verifying that safety gear is available and in good condition.

These checks can be simple but effective in reducing minor accidents and preventing bigger issues down the line.

Monthly audits by safety officers

While daily checks from floor staff are essential, monthly audits by trained safety officers provide a more thorough review of workplace safety. 

These audits can uncover issues that may have been missed during routine checks, such as compliance gaps, regulatory updates, or machinery wear that needs attention.

Safety officers should focus on high-risk areas and ensure that safety procedures are being followed consistently.

Why does it work!

Engaging all employees in the safety process helps build a culture of accountability and teamwork.

Daily and monthly checks ensure that hazards are caught early, preventing accidents before they happen.

Regular involvement fosters a sense of pride and responsibility, making safety an integral part of the work environment.

Training and Education

To create a truly proactive inspection culture, ongoing safety training and education are essential. Knowledge is the foundation of a successful safety program.

Ensuring that both inspectors and supervisors are equipped with the right skills and up-to-date knowledge is crucial for identifying risks and effectively managing workplace safety.

Key elements of training and education

Mandatory training for inspectors and supervisors

Every inspector and supervisor must undergo proper training to ensure they understand how to conduct effective inspections and identify hazards. 

This training should cover the fundamentals of workplace safety, regulatory requirements, and how to use inspection tools and checklists.

Supervisors, as leaders of the team, should also be trained in how to communicate safety expectations and motivate their teams to follow best practices.

Regular refresher courses and updates on regulations

The workplace safety landscape is constantly evolving, with new technologies, regulations, and best practices emerging regularly. 

Offering refresher courses and keeping staff updated on changes to Canadian occupational health and safety (OH&S) regulations is crucial. This ensures that everyone remains informed and compliant with current laws.

Examples of updates might include changes in PPE requirements, updates to workplace hazard classifications, or new inspection standards.

Training programs, such as those offered by Canada Safety Training, can help employees at all levels stay informed on proper safety procedures, compliance, and hazard recognition.

Programs tailored to specific industries, like construction or healthcare, provide employees with the knowledge they need to conduct thorough inspections and contribute to the safety culture.

Canada Safety Training Centre offers courses on PPE, hazard rcognition, and fall prevention which are all critical to maintaining a proactive safety culture.

Why it works

Proper training ensures that inspectors and supervisors are well-prepared to spot risks and take appropriate action.

It helps maintain compliance with OH&S laws and regulations, reducing the risk of legal issues or fines.

Ongoing education keeps everyone informed about new safety technologies, tools, and methodologies that can enhance inspection effectiveness.

By committing to thorough training and involving all employees, businesses can build a culture where safety is everyone’s responsibility, making workplaces safer and more efficient.

Conclusion

Safety inspections go beyond mere compliance with legal standards—they are critical actions that save lives. 

By regularly identifying hazards, addressing them promptly, and maintaining a proactive safety culture, businesses can prevent accidents and protect their most valuable asset: their employees. 

Workplace injuries are costly—not only in terms of insurance and legal fees but also in lost productivity and morale.

It’s essential for businesses to continually assess and improve their safety inspection processes. 

1. Are inspections thorough and consistent? 
2. Are employees empowered to take ownership of safety checks? 
3. Are digital tools and up-to-date training being used to enhance the inspection process?

The role of safety inspections in reducing workplace accidents is undeniable, but their effectiveness hinges on regular review and improvement. 

Whether it’s incorporating new technology, providing regular training, or involving all employees in safety practices, companies must remain committed to continuous safety improvements. 

A robust inspection process doesn’t just help businesses comply with regulations—it actively protects workers, fosters a positive culture, and ensures the long-term success of the organization.

Take the time today to review your current inspection protocols. A small investment in safety can lead to significant returns in the form of fewer accidents, reduced costs, and a healthier, more productive workforce.