Inspections
GOAL
Implement an effective inspection programme, to check compliance with requirements and with good safety practices, to ensure that appropriate safety management systems are in place, and to provide a means to share experience with installations.
An inspection programme is important to help ensure that hazardous installations are being operated in accordance that the country’s standards and with good practices. However, it is critical to recognise that inspection programmes do not relieve the owners/operators of hazardous installations of responsibility for safety.
Suggested activities include:
- Create an inspection programme with clearly defined goals and scope of activities
- Identify the installations to be subject to inspections
- Establish a mechanism for determining inspection schedules and priorities, taking into account available resources, and the level of risk at different installations
- Develop inspection procedures, addressing the technical, organisational and managerial aspects of the installations, including actions to be taken in before and after the inspection (including identification of deficiencies, a formal report of findings, feedback to the installations and means to monitor follow-up actions)
- Create common protocols for different types of activities, to facilitate comparisons and learning by inspectors
- Ensure that the inspection authorities have competent personnel and that there is training to maintain inspector competency
- Ensure that the inspectors have the authority and resources they need to carry out their tasks, including information, equipment, and transportation
- Coordinate among relevant inspection organisations (e.g., those responsible for environmental protection, occupational health and safety, public health, and emergency response) to minimise duplicative efforts, reduce the burden on industry, share resources, and learn from others’ experience
Relevant tools
Below is a list of tools relevant for implementing this topic :
- UNEP: A Flexible Framework for addressing Chemical Accident Prevention and Preparedness – A Guidance Document (2010)
- OECD: Guiding Principles for Chemical Accident Prevention Preparedness and Response (2nd ed, 2003)
- UNEP: Guidance on the Development of Legal and Institutional Infrastructures for Sound Management of Chemicals and Measures for Recovering Costs of National Administration (LIRA-Guidance) (2015)
- UNDP - Chemicals and Waste Management for Sustainable Development (Guidev) [2019]