Determining the prerequisites for effective workplace inspection by the occupational safety and health regulatory authority using cognitive work analysis

Design, development, and utility validation of TIPA: a tool for inspection performance assessment

BACKGROUND

Workplace inspection supports improving working environment and workers' conditions. Changes in workplaces following inspections are construed as the inspection's outcome. Inspectors need to be flexible, which affects their performance. This study aimed to design and develop a tool for inspection performance assessment based on identified inspection prerequisites and evaluate the tool's appropriateness for performance assessment.

METHODS

Occupational safety and health experts were tasked to rank identified prerequisite for effective inspection performance, based on their experiences and perception of importance of the prerequisites. The outcome of the ranking exercise formed the basis for weighting and assignment of values to the prerequisites subgoals. A code was written creating an inspection performance assessment tool interface, which inspectors can assess their workplace inspection performance.Inspectors from different national authorities tested and evaluated the tool, providing feedback appropriateness for measuring inspection performance.

RESULTS

Statistical analysis of the data collected showed much agreement between the subject matter experts. A five-level performance consideration depending on the inspection performance index attained was implemented. On testing and evaluation of the tool, high average rating for the test criteria were obtained, with data from inspectors from different authorities showing higher interrater consistency, and thus reliability.

CONCLUSION

TIPA provides a systematic inspection performance quantification supporting inspectors' self-actualisation, improving performance. Furthermore, the tool's generality allows for use irrespective of the inspection area without affecting inspection areas specificity adjustments. In addition, the ease of use adds to its utility, and with agreement on the tool's appropriateness for inspection performance assessment.