DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING
QUARTERLY SELF INSPECTION CHECKLIST – Arts
Version July 2008
Safety Inspection – Identifies issues that can cause harm - a proactive management strategy that identifies and
records circumstances and conditions (hazards) that may cause harm or create loss.
This Self Inspection Checklist – Visual Arts is to be completed on a three month basis or when new staff, procedures
or equipment are brought into the school. This checklist can be modified to suit schools’ facilities (i.e. irrelevant sections
can be removed); however care must be taken to ensure all relevant information is retained.
The “Self Inspection Checklist – School” should be a pre-requisite to this checklist.
Workplace
Inspection officer
Date
X – Extreme Risk – extremely urgent, action IMMEDIATELY
H – High Risk – urgent, action AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
M – Medium Risk – action within ONE WEEK.
L – Minor Risk – not urgent, action within ONE MONTH
Ok – No Risk – no action required
Risk Priority Rating:
Item
Question
Notes / Action
(in some cases may be n/a)
FIRE, EMERGENCY and FIRST AID
Emergency / Evacuation plans and instructions - available
1
to all staff, and appropriately displayed.
Fire extinguishers - clearly marked in relation to type of fire
2
use? Clear access (1m) kept to all fire fighting equipment.
Fire extinguishers/hoses/blankets - serviced and tagged
3
every six months?
Exit doors – clear access kept & easily opened from the
4
inside? Adequate exit direction notices/signs clearly visible.
Flammable materials – are they stored and handled away
5
from heat in a manner that there is no risk of fire?
First aid – access to kits, suitably stocked, signage for all
treatments, kept clean, tidy and contents checked regularly.
6
Gloves are included for first aid, blood injuries and biohazard
procedures?
First aid training – do staff have current first aid certificate?
7
Is there a current list of First Aiders displayed?
FLOORS, WALKWAYS AND TRIP HAZARDS
Clear access – are all walkways, entries and exits kept clear
8
of all trip hazards, with walkways a minimum one meter wide?
9
Mobility Impaired –access available to relevant areas?
SECURITY
10 Window/Door security screens and locks - in good order?
11 Duress alarms – checked monthly?
STORAGE AND MANUAL HANDLING
Manual handling – are staff aware of precautions /
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techniques to take when lifting or moving objects.
For help in filling in this form contact your school safety delegate, or DET OHS Consultant, on 89014985.
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Date
Risk
Risk
Rating Removed
House keeping –areas suitably clean, tidy, and free of clutter.
Shelving - are free standing shelves and cupboards secured
14 to ensure stability, and are items stored at a suitable height
and within shelving width?
Containers – are there suitable containers used for storage,
15
and are they suitably labelled?
WORKPLACE MANAGEMENT AND PRACTICES
16 Floor surfaces – kept clean, tidy and in good condition?
17 Tools - are appropriate tools supplied and used for the job?
Training - are staff trained in the correct use of all equipment?
18
Are staff trained in material handling?
Training - are staff/students inducted and trained in their
19
retrospective areas prior to commencement of each task?
20 Signage -adequate safety signage displayed?
21 Lighting – Is there adequate lighting?
22 Workstations/benches – are work heights appropriate?
Personal Protective Equipment – Is the PPE provided,
23
inspected, maintained and stored appropriately?
Housekeeping- all tools, equipment and materials stored
24
adequately?
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) - have been
25 developed / documented for all tasks carried out, enforced
and, if applicable, attached to the equipment?
Extraction systems (if applicable) – is there an adequate
26
system in place, and are dust/particles disposed of regularly?
27 Steps/Ladders - are all steps/ladders maintained?
SPECIFIC ARTS PRACTICES
Enamelling/Jewellery–
 Are all staff and students aware of the safety hazards when
working with kilns?
 Is a fume cupboard used when acid etching?
 PPE when etching, enamelling or firing?
Fabric crafts  PPE worn when working with dyes?
 Staff aware of which are the correct dyes to use?
 Staff trained in the correct method for extinguishing a wax
fire?
 Staff aware of hazards with permanent markers, inks and
aerosol?
Painting  Is a spray booth used when spraying or airbrushing?
 Are adequate respirators worn with all types of spraying?
 Is appropriate PPE clothing worn during spraying?
Sculpture/model making  Are staff aware of the hazards of hot wire Styrofoam
cutters?
 PPE gloves, glasses and clothing where appropriate?
Ceramics/Pottery –
 Is earth leakage protection used for all pottery wheels?
 Are staff aware of hazards of glaze chemicals?
 Has all asbestos been identified and in good condition?
 Appropriate signage when kiln is hot?
 Is the kiln area mechanically vented to outside to remove
toxic fumes or heat, and turned on during kiln operation?
 PPE gloves, glasses, clothing and footwear?
 Approved PPE gloves when firing or unloading a hot kiln?
 Are infra red goggles used when looking into a hot kiln?
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Lead Light work For help in filling in this form contact your school safety delegate, or DET OHS Consultant, on 89014985.
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
Are staff aware of hazards of lead working? Lead is
considered a possible carcinogen and cumulative poison.
 Is equipment cleaned by wet sponging and not dusting?
 PPE respirator, clothing and eye protection?
ELECTRICAL
Electrical register - is one kept of all electrical items, tagged,
28
tested & updated?
Electrical power boards – do they have overload cut off
29
switch? Have double adapters been removed from workplace?
Electrical – are plugs, sockets, switches, extension leads kept
30
in good condition and maintained regularly?
31 Electrical - walkways clear of leads etc?
CHEMICALS
Chemical Register –all chemicals, solvents and enamel
32
powders clearly labelled, adequately stored and registered?
MSDS – are Material Safety Data Sheets available for all
33
workplace chemicals?
34 Oily rags – are stored in steel bins with tight fitting lids?
Training – is suitable training on workplace chemicals and
35
material handling given to staff and students?
Disposal - are there adequate disposal protocols for waste in
36
liquid storage areas as per the MSDS?
37 Spill Control - procedures in place for chemical spills?
Consequences
This matrix can be used to identify the level of
risk and help to prioritise any control measures.
Consider the consequences and likelihood for
each to the identified hazards and use the table
to obtain the risk level.
Further information regarding determining the
level of risk can be found via the following link –
http://www.det.nt.gov.au/education/policiesandfo
rms/docs/self_inspection/risk_management_pro
cess.pdf
Likelihood
Determining the Level of Risk
Insignificant
Minor
Moderate
Major
Severe
Very High
Probability
Low
Medium
High
Extreme
Extreme
High
Probability
Low
Medium
High
High
Extreme
Equal
Probability
Low
Medium
Medium
High
High
Low
Probability
Low
Low
Medium
Medium
High
Very Low
Probability
Low
Low
Medium
Medium
High
This checklist should be “signed off” and registered within one month of the inspection date stated on page one
Principal’s name
Signature
Date
Comments: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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For help in filling in this form contact your school safety delegate, or DET OHS Consultant, on 89014985.
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