Module 3 · Tool 11
Module 3 — Health & Safety from a Gender Perspective · Sessions 3.6, 3.8

Inclusive Site
Safety Walk

A simple walk-through that checks a site is safe — and that it works safely for every worker on it, not just the “average” one.

?
How to use this tool
Read this first — it takes two minutes and makes the walk more effective.

A safety walk is a short, structured walk around the site to spot hazards and good practice. This one adds an inclusion lens — checking not just the physical conditions, but whether the site works safely for every worker on it. Work through the sections, then carry out your walk using the record sheet at the bottom.

1
Plan the routeDecide which six zones of the site you’ll walk through.
2
Look at the siteCheck the physical conditions — the standard safety walk.
3
Look at the peopleCheck the culture — can everyone work and speak up safely?
4
Record & follow upNote what you find and give every concern an owner and a date.
Self-guided (~30 min): work through the sections, then carry out a real walk and complete the record sheet. Trainer-led (~55 min): use the sections for discussion, then pairs do a real or mock walk with the record sheet.
1
A Safety Walk Sees Two Things
Sessions 3.6, 3.8 · A standard walk looks at the site. An inclusive one also looks at the people.

A site can look clean and tidy and still not be safe for everyone on it. That’s why this walk has two lenses. You use both, every time. The record sheet below has columns for both.

The site — what you can see · Session 3.6
Physical conditions
  • Housekeeping and clear walkways
  • Signage, traffic and access
  • Safe procedures being followed
  • Edges, openings and storage
The people — how it feels · Session 3.8
Inclusive culture
  • Welfare and PPE that fit everyone
  • Everyone able to do the work safely
  • Workers free to raise concerns
  • Respect, trust and communication
2
Plan the Route: Six Stops
Session 3.6 · Cover the whole site — adapt these zones to your own site.

Before you walk, decide which areas you’ll visit and in what order. These six stops cover a typical construction site. Add, remove or rename zones to fit your own. You’ll record your findings for each zone in the record sheet below.

1
Access & traffic
Gates, walkways, and where vehicles and people meet.
2
Active work areas
Tasks under way — edges, openings, heights, machinery.
3
Materials & storage
How materials are stacked, stored, and kept clear.
4
Welfare facilities
Toilets, washing, rest and changing — clean and for everyone.
5
Signage & information
Warning signs — clear and understood by all workers.
6
Emergency provisions
Exits, assembly points, first aid and fire points.
3
What to Check at Each Stop
Sessions 3.6, 3.8 · Six physical checks and six inclusion checks — both apply at every stop.

At each zone, run through both sets of checks. Physical checks are visible — you can see them. Inclusion checks sometimes need you to ask as well as look. Use these as prompts when you fill in the record sheet.

Look at the site — physical checks
Walkways & access
Clear, marked routes; no trips or blocked paths.
Housekeeping
Materials stacked safely; waste cleared; work areas tidy.
Traffic & people
Vehicles and pedestrians separated; routes clear.
Signs & signals
Warning signs visible, in the right languages.
Safe procedures
Work follows the agreed method — not “their own way.”
Edges & openings
Heights, holes and openings properly guarded.
Look at the people — inclusion checks
Welfare for everyone
Toilets and facilities clean, private, provided for all.
PPE that fits all
Right-sized PPE available to every worker, not just some.
Everyone can do the work
Tasks match capability, or are adjusted — no one improvising.
Free to speak up
Workers can raise a concern without fear of blame.
Communication reaches all
Language, literacy and new starters are considered.
Respect & trust
Concerns from all workers are listened to and acted on.
4
How to Walk Well
Session 3.8 · A good safety walk finds fixes, not fault.

How you walk matters as much as what you look for. A walk that catches people out gets a cold welcome next time. A walk that finds things to fix — including the good — builds a safer site.

1 · Look
See it from different angles
See the site as different workers experience it — not just from your own height, reach, and familiarity with it.
2 · Listen & ask
Talk to the people doing the work
They know the real hazards better than anyone. “What’s the thing that makes this harder than it needs to be?”
3 · No blame
You’re finding fixes, not fault
People share more when they won’t be blamed. That’s how you get the real picture.
4 · Follow up
Every concern gets an owner and a date
A walk with no actions changes nothing. Assign an owner to every concern you record, and check back.
✎
Your Safety Walk Record
As you walk, note what you see. Add a row for each observation. Give every concern an owner.
Your record is not saved online. Use “Save as PDF” at the bottom to keep a copy. Refreshing this page will clear your entries.
How to fill this in: carry out your walk using the route and checklists above. For each thing you observe — good or a concern — add a row. Note the zone, describe what you saw, mark whether it’s good practice or a concern, and whether it’s a site or people issue. For every concern, name an owner and a date to fix it. Record good practice too — a walk that only finds problems gets a cold welcome next time.
Zone / area What I saw Good / Concern Site / People Action & owner
Afterwards: share the good practice you saw too — a walk that only ever finds problems gets a cold welcome. Give every concern an owner and a date, and follow up.

Save your safety walk record

Nothing you’ve entered is stored online. Save as PDF to keep your completed record and actions.