Woodworking Inspection Campaign

HSA Woodworking Inspection Campaign 2026 - SummaryThis inspection checklist is designed to assess health and safety standards within woodworking facilities. It focuses on four main areas:

1. Machinery Safety

Inspectors review:

• Types of woodworking machinery in use (e.g. rip saws, spindle moulders, routers, band saws, lathes, planers and robotics).
• Machine-specific risk assessments.
• Operator training and training records.
• Adequacy of machine guarding and safety devices.
• Use of push sticks, push blocks and feather boards.
• Availability and functionality of riving knives and anti-kickback devices.
• Emergency stop systems and testing records.
• Preventive maintenance programmes and maintenance records.
• Lock Out/Tag Out procedures during maintenance and repair.
• Equipment examination reports (e.g. air receivers and lifting equipment).
• Availability and use of PPE.

2. Traffic Management

The inspection examines:

• Site traffic management plans.
• Risk assessments for material handling and transport.
• Procedures for moving abnormal-sized loads.
• Safe loading and unloading operations.
• Stacking and storage arrangements.
• Work at Height procedures.

3. Fire Safety

Inspectors check:

• Previous fire incidents.
• Site-specific fire risk assessments.
• Safe storage of flammable liquids.
• Inspection and accessibility of fire extinguishers.
• Emergency escape routes and lighting.
• Building evacuation plans.
• Fire drill arrangements.
• Operation and testing of Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) systems.
• Housekeeping standards.
• Electrical safety.
• Permit-to-Work systems for hot work.

4. Occupational Health

The checklist reviews whether risk assessments are in place for:

• Wood dust exposure.
• Noise exposure.
• Chemical exposure.
• Manual handling activities.
• Referrals to occupational health services where required.

Overall Purpose The campaign aims to verify that woodworking businesses have suitable controls, risk assessments, training, maintenance systems and emergency arrangements in place to protect workers from machinery, vehicle movements, fire, dust, noise and other workplace hazards.