Free inspection template
Workplace Safety Walkthrough
Walk your facility through housekeeping, postings, egress, electrical, PPE, HazCom, and more. Conditional sections for machinery, forklifts, and compressed gas appear only when they apply, keeping the form concise for smaller sites and thorough for larger ones.
Overview
What is a workplace safety walkthrough?
A workplace safety walkthrough is a structured, periodic inspection of a facility to identify hazards before they cause injuries. OSHA provides self-inspection guidance for general industry employers covered by 29 CFR Part 1910, and recommends regular self-audits as a core element of an effective safety and health program. The most common OSHA violations in general industry (HazCom labeling, electrical safety, machine guarding, powered industrial truck training, and respiratory protection) are all items that a good self-inspection program would catch and correct.
This template covers the core inspection areas that apply to most general-industry workplaces: housekeeping, required postings, recordkeeping, walking and working surfaces, emergency egress and fire protection, electrical safety, PPE, and hazard communication. Three additional sections (compressed gas cylinders, machine guarding, and powered industrial trucks) appear only when the relevant equipment is present on site, so the form stays focused regardless of your facility type.
The checklist
Every checkpoint, in full
A read-only preview of the live template. Clone it to run the inspection on mobile, where each item records Pass, Fail or N·A with optional photos and notes.
Walkthrough Information
8 checksNOTENote on Usage
This walkthrough is based on OSHA general-industry self-inspection guidance. Completing it does not guarantee OSHA compliance or a hazard-free workplace; the employer remains responsible for identifying and correcting all hazards present.
Worksite name or address
Area inspected (e.g., main warehouse, office, shop floor)
Number of employees at this worksite
Walkthrough frequency
Compressed gas cylinders on site (welding, lab, medical, propane, etc.)?
Powered machinery in use (saws, grinders, drills, presses, conveyors)?
Powered industrial trucks (forklifts, pallet jacks, order pickers) in use?
Hazardous chemicals stored or used beyond office cleaning supplies?
Cleaning chemicals beyond simple office supplies, paints, solvents, fuels, lab reagents, etc.
General Housekeeping (§1910.22, §1910.141)
6 checksWorkplace clean, orderly, and sanitary?
Floors maintained dry; where wet processes occur, drainage / mats / dry standing surfaces provided?
No signs of pest or rodent activity (droppings, gnaw marks, nests)?
Combustible scrap, debris, and oily rags stored properly in covered metal containers?
Oily rags in open containers are a known fire risk (spontaneous combustion).
Minimum 3 ft clear in front of every electrical panel?Critical
Per §1910.303 — at least 3 ft front clearance and the full width of the panel.
Workers do not eat or drink in areas where hazardous substances are present?
Required Postings (§1903.2)
4 checksOSHA "Job Safety and Health: It's the Law!" poster posted prominently?
Free from OSHA; state-plan equivalents are accepted in state-plan states.
OSHA Form 300A summary posted Feb 1 – Apr 30?
Required only when annual summary covers the prior year and the establishment is required to keep records. Mark N/A outside posting window.
Emergency telephone numbers posted where they can be readily found?
Workers' compensation notice posted (where required by state)?
Recordkeeping (Part 1904)
4 checksOSHA Form 300 log maintained and current?
Partial exemption: ≤10 employees in any month last calendar year, OR certain low-hazard NAICS codes.
Form 301 incident reports completed for each recordable case?
Injury and illness records kept at the worksite for at least 5 years?
Procedure in place to report fatalities (within 8 hrs) and hospitalizations / amputations / loss of an eye (within 24 hrs)?
Walking & Working Surfaces (§1910.22, §1910.23)
6 checksAisles and walkways clear of trip hazards (cords, hoses, debris, stacked items)?
Floor openings and pits covered or guarded?
Stair treads non-slip, in good repair, free of obstructions?
Stairs with 4+ risers have at least one handrail (both sides if open)?
Portable ladders inspected for damage; broken/damaged ladders removed from service?
Mezzanine, loading dock, and elevated platform edges have proper guardrails (top rail 42", mid rail, toe board)?
Emergency Egress & Fire Protection (§1910.36, §1910.157)
8 checksExit routes free of obstructions and unlocked from the egress side?Critical
EXIT signs illuminated and visible from all working areas?
Emergency lighting functional (test by covering photocell or pressing test button)?
Portable fire extinguishers accessible, fully charged, and inspection tag current (within last 30 days)?Critical
Fire extinguishers mounted at the correct height (top no higher than 5 ft for ≤40 lb; 3.5 ft for >40 lb) and not blocked?
Sprinkler heads have 18+ inches clearance below (no stored materials within 18")?
Emergency action plan posted, and assembly point identified?
Photo of one fire extinguisher (showing inspection tag)
Electrical Safety (§1910.303–.305)
7 checksElectrical panels closed, labeled, and unobstructed?
Cover plates on all switches, outlets, and junction boxes (no exposed wiring)?
Extension cords used only as temporary wiring; no daisy-chaining or use as permanent wiring?
Extension cords run through walls/ceilings/floors or used in place of fixed wiring is a violation.
Cords free of frayed insulation, missing prongs, or pinched/crushed jackets?Critical
No multi-plug adapters ("cube taps") in use?
GFCI protection on outlets in wet locations (kitchens, restrooms, exterior, garage areas)?Critical
Unused openings in electrical enclosures and panels closed with covers/plugs?
Personal Protective Equipment (§1910.132)
5 checksWritten PPE hazard assessment completed for jobs requiring PPE?
Required by §1910.132(d). Identify hazards by job, document the selection of PPE.
PPE (eye/face, gloves, hearing, head, foot) available where required?
PPE in good condition (no cracks, tears, or expired-date items)?
Eyewash station (where required) accessible within 10 sec walking distance and tested weekly?
Workers observed actually wearing required PPE for the task?Critical
Mark Fail if you observed any required PPE not being used during the walkthrough.
Hazard Communication (§1910.1200)
6 checksWritten Hazard Communication program in place?
All hazardous chemical containers labeled with product name + hazard pictograms?
Secondary containers (spray bottles, decanted chemicals) labeled?
Common gap: an unlabeled spray bottle of degreaser at a workstation is a HazCom violation.
Safety Data Sheets (SDS) accessible to all workers during each shift?
Workers trained on chemicals they may be exposed to (documented)?
Flammable liquids stored in approved flammable storage cabinets (>10 gal)?
Per §1910.106. Larger quantities require specific storage rooms.
Compressed Gas Cylinders (§1910.101)
6 checksAll cylinders clearly marked / stenciled with contents?
Cylinders secured upright (chain, rack, or strap) to prevent falling?
Valve-protection caps in place on cylinders not in use?
Oxygen cylinders stored at least 20 ft from fuel-gas (acetylene, propane) cylinders OR separated by a 5-ft, 30-min fire-rated barrier?Critical
Cylinders protected from heat sources (>125°F), direct sunlight on hot days, and falling objects?
Empty cylinders marked as such, valves closed?
Machine Guarding (§1910.212)
6 checksPoint-of-operation guards installed on each powered machine?Critical
Belts, pulleys, gears, chains, and other rotating parts guarded?
Emergency stop buttons accessible, clearly marked, and tested?
Anchored to prevent walking / movement during operation?
Operators trained on each machine they use?
Abrasive wheel grinders have tongue guards (≤1/4" gap) and work rests (≤1/8" gap)?
Common citation: §1910.215 tongue guard / work rest gaps.
Powered Industrial Trucks (§1910.178)
7 checksAll PIT operators trained and certified (3-year recert)?Critical
Pre-shift inspection performed and documented for each truck?
Trucks not modified from manufacturer specification (capacity, attachments)?
Horn / backup alarm / strobe functional?
Travel paths clear; pedestrian/PIT separation enforced (markings, mirrors at blind corners)?
Propane-powered trucks: cylinders changed in well-ventilated areas; LP storage compliant?
Electric trucks: charging stations have ventilation; eyewash within 10 sec?
First Aid & Medical (§1910.151)
4 checksFirst-aid kit accessible, stocked, supplies not expired?
At least one worker per shift trained in first aid / CPR (if no nearby medical facility)?
AED present and serviced per manufacturer schedule?
Mark N/A if no AED on site. AED is recommended for most workplaces but not required by OSHA.
Emergency contact list and evacuation map posted?
Findings & Sign-off
5 checksTop 3 hazards observed during this walkthrough
Corrective actions and target completion dates
Any item warrants stopping work or evacuating the area until corrected?
Imminent danger items (LOTO failure on live equipment, severely damaged ladder still in use, blocked emergency exit) require immediate action — flag here.
Describe the imminent-danger item and the action taken
Inspector signature
Type your full legal name to acknowledge that this walkthrough was performed and findings recorded honestly.
Yours to edit
No two workplaces look the same.
Clone the template and open it in the builder. Add sections for the specific hazards in your facility, adjust the conditional gates to match your equipment mix, and increase the weight on the checks that matter most for your risk profile. No code, no spreadsheets.
Field procedure
How to run this inspection
Walk each area of the facility in order. Answer the equipment-presence gates at the start. Those determine which sections appear. Mark each check PASS, FAIL, or N/A as you go, and capture a note or photo for anything you fail.
STEP 01
Housekeeping, postings, and recordkeeping
Check that the workplace is clean, orderly, and sanitary; that combustible rags and debris are in covered metal containers; and that at least 3 feet of clearance exists in front of every electrical panel. Confirm the OSHA poster is displayed, emergency phone numbers are posted, and injury/illness records are current.
STEP 02
Walking and working surfaces
Inspect aisles and walkways for trip hazards: cords, hoses, and debris. Check that floor openings are covered, stair treads are non-slip and unobstructed, ladders are in good condition, and mezzanine edges have compliant guardrails.
STEP 03
Emergency egress and fire protection
Walk every exit route from work area to outside. Verify exit signs are illuminated, emergency lighting is functional, and exit routes are unobstructed and unlocked from the egress side. Check every portable fire extinguisher for accessibility, full charge, and a current inspection tag.
STEP 04
Electrical safety
Confirm panels are closed, labeled, and have clear working space. Check that cover plates are on all outlets and junction boxes. Look for extension cords used as permanent wiring, damaged cords, cube-tap adapters, and missing GFCI protection in wet locations. Each is a citation item.
STEP 05
PPE, HazCom, and specialized sections
Verify that a written PPE hazard assessment exists and that required PPE is available, in good condition, and being worn. Check the written HazCom program, container labeling, and SDS access. If compressed gas cylinders, powered machinery, or forklifts are on site, complete those conditional sections. They surface the most common hazards for each equipment type.
FAQ
Common questions
Is this workplace safety template free?+
How is this different from the OSHA 1910 compliance audit template?+
Does completing this walkthrough mean my workplace is OSHA compliant?+
How often should we run a general safety walkthrough?+
Does this work offline?+
Can I assign the walkthrough to a specific inspector or location?+
Run your next safety walkthrough from your phone
Walk the facility, answer the presence checks, and mark each checkpoint as you go. When you finish, you'll have a branded PDF with all findings and a corrective-action list ready for your safety meeting.