Prepare to show off what you do best. When it’s time for your building inspection, you will be prepared to ace it and ‘wow’ your inspector with astounding confidence.
The inspection of your building is preformed by a building inspector, who is a person employed by either a city, township, or county and usually is certified in one or more disciplines qualifying them to make professional judgment about whether a building meets its code requirements.
A maintenance manager preforming a building inspection will take a more in-house approach. They will have their team fix an issue if something is found running inefficiently or damaged. The maintenance manager is responsible for providing documentation to verify that regular maintenance has been conducted on machinery.
Building inspections are necessary to ensure that your building is up to code. Impending building inspections put your facility under a microscope and often bring forward a lot of anxiety and frustration.
We compiled a list of everything you need to consider before your building inspection so that any worries will dissipate, and you can optimize the benefits of your building inspection.
OSHA inspection
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was created in 1970 with the mission to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education, and assistance, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
What is an OSHA inspection?
OSHA Compliance and Safety Health Officers conduct inspections to investigate potential dangers, severe injuries or illnesses, employee complaints, or referrals from federal or state agencies. These inspections can be announced or unannounced. Any establishment covered by the OSH Act of 1970 is subject to inspection by a trained OSHA Officer.
OSHA fines, penalties, and violations
Your building’s violations or penalties could significantly impact your building financially.
- A serious violation will result in a $13,260 penalty per violation
- Failure to abate is a $13,260 per day beyond abatement date penalty
- A willful or repeated violation is a $132,598 penalty per violation
If OSHA issues a citation, it can either be agreed to or contested.
Agreeing to the citation may require specific verification that action has been taken to correct the issue. This can include photographic or video evidence, a safety report, a sales receipt, etc.
Employers have 15 working days to request a conference with an OSHA area director or formally contest the citation in writing to the area director.
PDCA cycle
The PDCA cycle, also known as the Deming Cycle, is a management method used to continuously improve processes. Utilize this four-step model to improve the ease of building inspections.
Safety checklist to reduce risks and hazards
Safety officers inspect worksites to look for potential hazards which could lead to an accident, ill health, or death.
The three main categories that safety officers look for are
- unsafe conditions (wet surfaces, lack of ventilation, etc.)
- unsafe equipment (bad wiring, damaged ladders, etc.)
- unsafe acts (failing to follow safety procedures, improper use of safety equipment, etc.)
Major systems
During the inspection, all the major systems in your building will be checked to ensure that they are maintained well and in good working condition. Generally, inspectors will create a list to estimate the cost of repairs in their report.
The major systems include electrical, mechanical, heating, plumbing, and HVAC. This detailed inspection guide lists out exactly what an inspector may be looking for. However, the mandates in each local area vary so for the most accurate detailed info, check your city’s inspection criteria.
Building Exterior
From the roof to the foundation, the entire building needs to undergo inspection to determine the condition.
The exterior goes beyond the outside walls of your building, it also includes parking lots, signs, electrical vehicle charging stations, roofing, and landscaping. The inspector will determine if the building is structurally sound and determine any necessary repairs.
Building Interior
The interior inspection will shed light on any parts of the building that are not up to local building code. The inspector will check on the building’s walls, flooring, etc.
The inspector will also determine any safety-related risks and hazards during this portion of the inspection.
Documentation
The inspector will review documents such as construction permits, evacuation plans, certificates of occupancy, floor plans, fire safety system records, and maintenance records.
These documents help determine property value. The final property condition report (PCR) outlines all the findings, photos for clarifications, and evidence of the observations. Typically, there will be a cost estimate for repairs and replacements included in this report.
Plan and prepare with your team and there will be no fear of your impending building inspection. Show off what you are doing well and take responsibility for promoting strong teamwork in the workplace.
If you have a messy, unorganized work-space that could potentially lead to safety concerns then speak to your local Best Plumbing Specialties sales representative. Our expert sales reps will personally stop into your facility and recommend the tools you need to get on pace to ace your next inspection.
