WALK-THROUGH SURVEYDr. Dalia Abdallah El-Shafei

Lecturer, Community medicine department, Zagazig

University

Investigation of the workplace is as central to the

practice of occupational medicine as clinical

assessment is of the individual patient.

It is an essential step in the control of occupational

hazards to health. Moreover, by visiting a place of

work, a doctor can understand better the demands

of a job, and thus give better advice on fitness for

employment. Investigations may be prompted in

various circumstances.

Direct inspection & walk through

survey

One method of investigation is direct inspection of

the workplace. Inspections often take the form of a

structured “walk through” survey, although more

narrowly targeted approaches may sometimes be

appropriate.

Planning for a walk through

survey

The initial visit should be by appointment.

Arrangements should be checked before

visiting, as a planned visit saves time.

The survey should be structured, but the precise

way it is organised is less important

At least 3 approaches are commonly adopted.

1- Following a process from start

to finish

- From raw materials coming in to finished goods

going out.

- What hazards occur at each stage?

- How should they be controlled?

- Do the controls actually work?

- Focusing the assessment on the process helps

with basic understanding of the work and its

requirements.

2- Auditing a single category of

activity or hazard

- Such as dusty or noisy procedures or manual

handling, wherever it occurs within the organisation.

- Does the control policy work everywhere, or are

there special problems or poor compliance in

certain groups of workers or sites?

- This approach is useful for introducing and

monitoring new policies.

3- Detailed inspection site by

site

- What are the hazards in this particular site?

- How are they handled?

- The inspection moves on only when the

geographical unit of interest has been thoroughly

inspected.

- This site focused approach is often appreciated by

shop stewards and workers’ representatives with

local ownership of the problem. They may

accompany the inspection and often give insight

into working practices and problems not apparent

Circumstances that may prompt

investigation of a workplace Initial assessment when first taking over care of a

workforce or advising an employer

Introduction of new processes or materials that

could be hazardous

New research indicating that a process or substance

is more hazardous than was previously believed

An occurrence of illness or injury in the workforce

that suggests an uncontrolled hazard

A need to advise on the suitability of work for an

employee who is ill or disabled

Routine review

Arranging a walk through

survey• Visit by appointment (at least to begin with)

• Check whether you will:

- be accompanied by someone with responsibilities for safety

- see someone who can explain the process

- have a chance to see representative activities

• Look at documentation on health & safety, such as data

sheets, risk assessments, safety policy, accident book

• Do some preliminary research: identify sorts of hazard likely

to be encountered and legal standards that are likely to apply

• If visiting because of an individual’s complaint, discuss it

first with complainant

What to cover in a walk through

survey

After listing the hazards, it is important to consider

who might be exposed and in which jobs, how likely

this is under the prevailing circumstances of the

work (including any precautions followed), the

magnitude of the expected exposures, and their

likely impact on health (that is, the risks to health).

The aim is to determine whether risks are

acceptable, taking into account both the likelihood of

an adverse outcome and its seriousness, or whether

further control measures are required and, if so,

what these should be.

As prevention is better than cure, can the

hazard be avoided altogether, or can a safer

alternative be used instead? Otherwise, can

the process or materials be modified to

minimise the problem at source? Can the

process be enclosed, or operated remotely?

Can fumes be extracted close to the point at

which they are generated (local exhaust

ventilation)?.

Have these ideas been considered before

issuing ear defenders, facemasks or other

control measures that rely on workers’

compliance (“Do not smoke,” “Do not chew

your fingernails,” “Lift as I tell you to”)? A

realistic strategy should always place more

reliance on control of risk at source than on

employees’ personal behaviour and

discipline

Health and safety professionals use

checklists to ensure that all the major types of

hazard are considered and to ensure that the

control options are fully explored. They seek

to verify that these options have been

considered in an orderly hierarchy

What the survey may find

It May prompt improvements directly or

highlight a need for further

investigation, such as workplace

measurements or a health survey.

Formal assessment of

exposures

More formal measurement of exposure may be

required if an important hazard exists and the risk

is not clearly trivial. Often a specialised technique

or sampling strategy will be needed, directed by

an occupational hygienist.

Action after a workplace

assessment

Draw conclusions about the prevailing risks and the

adequacy of the controls.

Results must be communicated to senior managers

who have the authority to set, fund, and oversee

policies in the workplace.

A written report is advisable, but a verbal

presentation, perhaps at a meeting of the

organisation’s safety committee, may have more

impact, as may a short illustrated slide show.