Using a Safety Audit Checklist to Evaluate Child Care Facilities

Safety audits help educators keep children safe when running daycare centers, nurseries or in-home childcare settings. By identifying potential hazards early, safety audits help educators keep children protected.

Use this free childcare inspection checklist to make sure all aspects of your facility meet standards. Tailor it by including fillable fields, images, signature upload and blackout data as needed for discretion.

Safety Equipment

Safety audit checklists can be an invaluable asset when assessing any workplace for compliance with health and safety standards. Personnel can use them to examine all aspects of processes, inventory items and ensure that safety protocols are being observed. Utilizing such an inspection list allows personnel to detect any potential risks to ensure immediate corrective action is taken to protect the workforce.

Be certain that all staff who can come into contact with children have completed a background check and have no criminal histories. Inspect and test fire safety equipment like smoke detectors. Verify emergency escape routes are clear of obstructions, as well as fire extinguishers that have recently been tested.

Use SafetyCulture’s mobile inspection app for preschool safety checks and record their results to enhance employee participation and make them appreciate how vital their job is. This will encourage staff members to conduct inspections with extreme diligence, understanding the significance of what they’re doing.

Fire Extinguishers

Fire extinguishers are essential in daycares and preschools in order to protect against the possibility of fire emergencies, and each facility should keep several types available such as water, chemical and carbon dioxide extinguishers on hand for emergencies. They should be clearly labeled with their specific flammable materials for easy identification by staff; additionally it’s advisable for staff training on how to use these devices effectively.

Child care facilities must have an emergency plan and conduct evacuation drills regularly to keep children safe. Staff should be instructed that evacuating quickly is their top priority, rather than extinguishing fires; practice is key here, along with having an alert security system installed so parents can check in throughout the day on their children.

Emergency Preparedness

No matter whether it’s a large daycare center or in-home childcare situation, it is crucial that both facilities and providers prepare for emergencies. They need to know where their safe zones are located and how they’ll evacuate them as well as have emergency kits on hand.

An inspection can help establish whether these locations are ready to respond effectively in the face of disasters and crises, and can establish emergency plans in case of medical or non-medical emergencies, evacuations, and lockdowns.

An initial safety audit checklist can serve as a useful starting point, though its contents will differ depending on each facility. A comprehensive health and safety audit should include reviewing policies, accident reports, risks and personal protective equipment at your location as well as any issues found; any deficiencies must be immediately resolved.

Cleanliness

Child care facilities offer high levels of physical contact between caregivers, children and providers/staff that create the ideal breeding ground for germs and infections, making cleanliness an absolute requirement in these facilities. Cleanliness must be enforced by everyone involved – parents/caregivers of cared-for children/caregivers themselves/providers and staff – adhering to public health guidelines regarding disinfection and hand hygiene. Implementation may prove more challenging within home-based child care environments but sharing the results of inspection can help families understand its significance!

SafetyCulture checklists can be tailored to fit the unique requirements of your organization, so please reach out. Reaffirmed 5-2019.

This list was revised to incorporate COVID-19 pandemic requirements; detailed instructions are included within its attachments and should be carefully read through before use.