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Water Safety Inspections

An inspection is a planned look at each water hazard, with a written record. It finds problems before they cause harm, and it builds a habit that protects everyone on the farm.

What is a water safety inspection?

A water safety inspection is a regular, written check of every place on the farm where water could harm someone. That includes ponds, ditches, tanks, lagoons, wells, wash areas and low spots that flood. The aim is to find hazards and weaknesses in your protections.

This article describes a general method. Specific standards for structures and equipment come from official sources such as OSHA, your state agencies and the manufacturers, and are not given here.

Include seasonal changes, such as spring runoff, summer vegetation and winter ice, in the way you think about each site.

How often should you inspect?

Make a seasonal routine, with extra checks after storms, floods, freezing and thawing, and after any change in how water is used. Walk each site on a schedule that you write down, and assign a person to do it.

Frequency depends on the hazard and local requirements. Ask your extension office, your insurer and your state agencies what they recommend for your operation.

Make the schedule visible, for example on a calendar in the shop, so that inspections do not depend on one person's memory.

• After storms and heavy rain.
• After freezing, thawing and flooding.
• After any change in how water is used.

What do you look for?

Look at the edges and the surroundings. Check fences, gates, locks, signs, covers and rescue aids. Notice changes in banks, new erosion, animal paths, debris and anything that makes the site easier to reach.

Look at human factors as well. Are people taking shortcuts? Are children playing near the water? Are workers following the rules? Behavior is as important as equipment.

Photograph each site from the same spot every time. Side-by-side pictures taken a season apart make slow changes, such as erosion or fence sag, easy to see.

• Fences, gates and locks in working order.
• Signs readable and in place.
• Rescue aids present and undamaged.
• Banks, covers and access points unchanged.

How do you record what you find?

Use a simple checklist with the date, the site, who inspected, what was found and what was done. Take photographs. Keep records in one place and review them before the next inspection.

Records show patterns, such as repeated damage in one spot, and help you set priorities. They can also be useful in conversations with your insurer.

Add a column for follow-up so that every problem has an owner and a date, and mark it complete only after someone has checked the fix.

How do you fix problems?

Rank problems by how likely and how serious the harm could be. Fix urgent problems right away, for example by blocking access until a repair is made. Plan and budget for larger work and set a date.

For structural concerns such as damaged covers, unstable banks or leaking structures, call a qualified professional rather than improvising. Do not enter tanks or enclosed structures to inspect them unless you are trained and equipped under a proper program.

• Block access first if a hazard cannot be fixed immediately.
• Call a qualified professional for structural problems.
• Set a date and a name for every repair.

Who should be involved?

Involve the people who use the sites. Workers and family members often notice hazards before the owner. Ask them what they see and give credit for reports. Make it clear that raising a concern is welcomed and never punished.

Invite an outside view from time to time. A neighbor, an extension agent or a fire department representative may spot issues you no longer notice.

Make clear that no one should take risks to complete an inspection. If a hazard cannot be checked safely from solid ground, mark it and ask for help.

• Ask workers and family what they see at each site.
• Invite a neighbor or extension agent to walk the sites.
• Thank people who report problems.

How does inspection fit into your wider plan?

Inspections connect to signs, fences, training and emergency plans. Use findings to update the plan and the annual review. Make sure that changes are communicated to everyone on the farm.

Over time, a steady routine builds safe habits. Keep it short, specific and consistent, and let it become part of how the farm runs.

Review the checklist itself each year and add items that have caused trouble, so that it improves with experience.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.