• any written health and safety policy;
• the right-to-know or hazard communication training program;
• a confined space entry program;
• a respiratory protection program;
• emergency response plan including evacuation routes, emergency phone numbers, etc.;
• traffic safety and control procedures for highway and public utilities crews.

In addition, at the opening conference, the Annual Log of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (OSHA 200 or state equivalent) should be reviewed by the inspector or inspection team. The inspector(s) should also review the training records which are required to be kept by OSHA under the Hazard Communication Standard (1910. 1200 or state equivalent) and the Respiratory Protection Standard (1910.134).

The inspector(s) should consult the written Hazard Communication (Right-to-Know) Program, become familiar with the list of chemicals to which employees are exposed and review the material Safety Data Sheers (MSDS) maintained by the employer.

In addition, the inspectors should look at medical, exposure, injury and illness, accident records and any other information which may be used to determine the effectiveness of the health and safety program and whether the program complies with OSHA standards.

2.The Walk-Around Survey
The inspection should be performed during normal working hours while employees are engaged in their normal day-to-day activities. If employees are not around, the inspectors can't talk to them and important problems could be missed.

Ideally, inspections should be conducted once a month, but the actual frequency may have to be negotiated. Inspections by the local union only may be performed without management's presence and may be as frequent as the local wishes to make them.

Whatever the frequency of inspections, the worksite should be reinspected whenever there is a change in work methods, processes, or in the chemicals and tools used. This is to make sure that these changes are not damaging the health and safety of our members.

Several important points need to be made about conducting the worksite inspections:

• Be especially alert. Use your senses of sight, smell and hearing as you inspect. Notice how you feel while working or inspecting.
• Make a map of the worksite. Draw a diagram or get a copy of the floor plan from the employer. Use it to identify certain processes and areas where you find hazards.
• Take good notes. Identify the location of the hazard, who is affected by it, and if it is a routine or non-routine operation. These notes can be very helpful later.
• Take photographs. Polaroids can provide evidence right away. But 35 mm take better pictures. Take both if you can.
• Write a Report. After the inspection, write a report of all the health and safety problems that were identified during the inspection. Cite the OSHA standard(s) violated, if any. Request that corrective measures be taken as soon as possible. If it is a union only inspection, submit a copy of the report to the Joint Committee or give a copy to management. Be sure to keep several copies for the local union.

A checklist may be very helpful in conducting the worksite inspection. Certain areas of the worksite may be forgotten and not inspected or certain hazards may not be found by the inspector. The use of checklist will help to avoid this problem.

The following list of sample inspection questions are representative of the kinds of questions which should be mentioned on a checklist. More extensive checklists are available in the TWU Safety and Health Department or from your TWU representative.

• Have there been any recent accidents/near misses?
• Are workers trained to operate the equipment properly?
• Are fire exits marked properly? Is access to fire exits blocked in any way?
• Have workers been trained about the chemicals they may be exposed to? Are Material Safety Data Sheets available?
• Does the area seem hot, cold, noisy, or stuffy? Are chemical odors evident?
• Do workers ever complain of headaches, dizziness, watering eyes or sore throats?
• Do machines have all the necessary guards around moving parts and drive belts? Are all stairways and walkways clear? Are hardhats, safety shoes, gloves, respirators, and other personal protective equipment provided when necessary?
• Do people lift, carry, push, or drag heavy loads? If lifting, do they lift properly? Can the job be changed or mechanical equipment used to reduce the heavy lifting workers must do?

3.The Closing Conference
After the inspection has been completed, all violations recorded, and the findings re-viewed, the last step in the inspection process is to hold what OSHA calls the "closing conference." Like the opening conference, it is a meeting between the employer, the union representative, and the OSHA inspector (if any).

At this conference, the findings of the inspection will be reviewed with management and the union. If it is an official OSHA inspection, standards and possible abatement (correction) dates will be discussed.

If it is a labor management inspection, violation of OSHA standards and/or employer safety policies will be reported. The written policies, programs, and plans of the employer should be evaluated and discussed. Correction of unsafe conditions and improvements in safety and health programs should be recommended during this conference and completion dates set.

A summary of the inspection report as well as the minutes of health and safety committees should be posted on the union bulletin board or distributed to workers in newsletters. If an OSHA inspection results in a citation, a copy of the citation must be posted near the area where the violation occurred.