Running Safety Audits in InspectU
A Safety Audit is a structured check for hazards — anything that could hurt a staff member, student, or guest. It’s designed to catch risks before they become accidents.
Safety audits in InspectU let your team document hazards the moment they’re spotted, trigger a corrective task immediately, and build a record that shows your operation is proactively managing safety.
When to Use It
- At the start of a shift, as part of opening procedures
- After a near-miss or incident, to document what happened and what changed
- During a scheduled weekly or monthly safety review
- Any time a new risk is introduced — new equipment, new layout, new staff
Example Questions
| Example Question | Response Type | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Is the floor free from spills, standing water, and slip hazards near the dish area and serving line? | Yes / No / N/A | Slips and falls are a leading kitchen injury |
| Are all knives and sharp tools stored safely and not left on counters? | Yes / No / N/A | Exposed sharps are a common laceration risk |
| Are chemical storage areas clearly labeled and separated from food and food-contact surfaces? | Yes / No / N/A | Chemical contact is a critical food safety risk |
| Are fire suppression systems, extinguishers, and exits unobstructed and accessible? | Yes / No / N/A | Blocked exits violate code and endanger staff |
| Are hot surfaces, fryers, and steam equipment marked with warnings where required? | Yes / No / N/A | Burns are the most common kitchen injury type |
| Is PPE (gloves, oven mitts, non-slip footwear) available and being used appropriately? | Yes / No / N/A | PPE availability doesn’t guarantee use |
| Were any near-misses or incidents reported since the last safety audit? | Yes / No | Near-misses are leading indicators of future incidents |
What Good Looks Like
Signs of a safe operation Floors are dry and clear. Chemicals are stored correctly. Equipment has proper guards. Staff know where extinguishers are. Near-misses are reported, not hidden. Issues are fixed the same day they’re found. |
What Happens After
- Any hazard flagged in the audit immediately becomes a corrective action task in InspectU
- High-priority safety issues can be escalated to notify a site manager or director right away
- Trend reports show which hazards repeat across shifts or locations — these are signals to retrain, redesign, or fix equipment
- Your audit history creates a safety record that demonstrates proactive management
| Best frequency | Daily at shift start; full audit weekly or monthly |
| Who runs it | Shift lead, site manager, safety officer, or any trained staff member |
| Time to complete | 10–20 minutes |
| Key output | Hazard documentation, corrective actions, incident trend data |