WorkSafeBC inspections are designed to protect both workers and businesses by ensuring every workplace is healthy and safe. Our risk-based, step-by-step inspection process helps employers and workers understand their responsibilities, address risks, and build a stronger safety culture together.
Why inspections matter
Inspections are a vital part of maintaining healthy and safe workplaces in B.C. Inspections are collaborative and supportive — not punitive. Our prevention officers are here to help you improve safety and compliance and to answer your questions.
The purpose of an inspection is to ensure your workplace is following the work practices of the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. A WorkSafeBC prevention officer’s role is to review and assess your health and safety systems, identify non-compliance issues, and help address any deficiencies and opportunities for improvement.
Our prevention officers take a risk-based approach, focusing on the most significant risks to help you manage them effectively. To learn more about the basics of risk management and how to protect your workplace, visit Managing risk.
Employer and worker participation
WorkSafeBC inspections are a collaborative effort, involving a range of people who each play a vital role in creating safer workplaces. Understanding who is involved — and how they contribute — can help employers, workers, and supervisors feel confident and supported throughout the inspection process. Everyone has a part to play in building a strong safety culture.
- Employers: Leaders who are responsible for compliance and safety. You can participate directly or designate someone to represent you.
- Workers: Employees have the right to participate in inspections, usually they are a joint health and safety committee member or worker health and safety representative.
- Supervisors: Frontline leaders who ensure staff are trained and oriented to new safety protocols.
- WorkSafeBC prevention officers: WorkSafeBC professionals who guide, educate, and support your organization throughout the inspection process.
Workers are encouraged to participate in inspections, ask questions, and share feedback. Their voices are important in creating a safer workplace.
Before an inspection
Most inspections are routine, but some are in response to a workplace incident or concerns about safety in the workplace. A WorkSafeBC prevention officer may call or visit unannounced to inspect your workplace. When they arrive, they'll speak with the owner or senior person in charge to explain the purpose of the inspection and outline the process.
During an inspection
The prevention officer will:
- Confirm basic information about your workplace.
- Review your health and safety program, first aid records, incident investigation reports, work procedures and processes, and risk assessments.
- Inspect the whole facility or focus on specific areas or processes.
- Take notes and may also take photos (you’re encouraged to take your own notes to have a record of what was discussed).
- Speak with workers about the jobs or procedures.
Inspections are an opportunity for everyone to ask questions and learn more about health and safety in the workplace.
After an inspection
The prevention officer will debrief you and the worker representative, review what was discussed, and outline next steps. You'll have a chance to ask questions and provide additional information.
You’ll receive an inspection report documenting the findings. If any violations (orders) are identified, it's important to address them promptly. The prevention officer will follow up with you to ensure necessary steps have been taken. If you encounter challenges, contact the officer for support and/or resources.
Orders are not intended to be punitive — they highlight areas for improvement to help you create a safer workplace. Compliance with orders reduces risk and supports a positive safety culture. If you need support, our prevention officers are here to help.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Under the Workers Compensation Act, a prevention officer has the authority to conduct a workplace inspection without prior notice. They can enter at any reasonable hour or if there’s a situation that may be hazardous to workers.
During the debrief after an inspection, the prevention officer will tell you how much time you have to comply. If you’re unsure, contact the officer who conducted the inspection.
No. Orders are not punitive — they’re meant to highlight unsafe conditions for correction.
Employers, workers, and unions have the right to request a review of an order. Instructions are on the last page of an inspection report.
Note: You must comply with the order even while a review is underway.
Start by contacting the inspecting officer who issued the report. You can also contact the Employers' Advisers Office for impartial advice. Additional resources are available in our A-Z index of popular health & safety topics and from industry partners and associations.
More information and resources
If you have questions about your inspection report, contact the officer who issued it or call the Prevention Information Line.
For information about conducting your own workplace inspection, visit Workplace inspections.