It can seem like a lot of extra work, but carrying out inspections is a necessity in the construction industry. It can keep workers safer and help you avoid major issues with local, state, and federal regulators. Here’s a bit more information from our experienced Harris County construction lawyers.

How Can Inspections Keep a Job Site Safer?

Inspections are a key part of any safety plan. They can help address or identify minor issues before they become major ones. They can also be used to gather evidence of wrongdoing if there are legal issues or disputes that need to be resolved. Overall, we would say that some of the main priorities of a committed inspection schedule include:

  • Prevention of safety violations
  • Identification of health and safety hazards or potential hazards
  • Producing evidence for insurance claims
  • Ensuring that all processes are being followed correctly

Who Should Perform Construction Site Inspections?

There are many people who can carry out inspections of a job site and gather important information that can be used by everyone on the project. It is usually a safety manager or supervisor who carries out daily inspections and keeps a log of any issues encountered. You can use a pen and paper or your preferred software, but what really matters is good documentation practices and staying organized.

Quality control inspections are also important. A designated person, like a quality control manager, is often responsible for these tasks. They are often more specific in scope than a daily inspection. For example, they might have to make sure that electrical work is well done before a team starts installing insulation and building walls.

There are also inspections that can ensure that your project is in compliance with health and safety regulations. OSHA has specific requirements that these types of inspectors must meet. These inspectors can look for safety issues, log them, and then make sure that steps are taken to correct them.

Are There Other Benefits to Inspections?

These inspections can help you and your employees stay safer on a job site and comply with government regulations, but they have other benefits too. Inspections can potentially help by:

  • Boosting worker productivity by identifying small problems before they can become issues that impede work
  • Preventing costly overruns and unexpected inspections
  • Pointing out issues with workmanship or material quality
  • Preventing schedule delays
  • Making it easier to deliver quality work

Talk to Our Construction Attorneys

If you want to make sure that you and your team are complying with all standards and keeping a safe construction site, contact Patout & Shaw. Our lawyers can help you ensure that you are doing everything that you can to follow the rules and that your contracts call for a robust inspection schedule.