Volume 1 - Resource Management
Chapter 17 - Compliance Monitoring and Auditing

Policy 17.2 - Inspections

Effective Date: 23-Oct-96
Responsible Branch: Compliance and Enforcement Branch

Resource Management Volume Table of Contents | Amendment Log

Scope

This policy applies to all inspections of obligations related to operational activities.

Purpose

To provide a framework for activity-specific inspection procedures.

Definitions

For the purposes of this policy:

"inspection" means a regular formal or informal process of officially examining performance at any point in time to assess compliance with legislation, regulations, standards, and contractual and operational plan obligations.

"operational activities" excludes planning activities, but includes field activities, fire prevention activities, revenue activities, and tenure administration.

Policy

Inspections should be prioritized according to the risk assessment within and across activity areas in accordance with the policy and procedures for Risk Assessment for Operational Activities. Risk should be assigned prior to the inspection process and should be continually validated and reassessed throughout the inspection process.

Inspections

It is Ministry policy that inspections should:

  • assess and promote compliance with the Forest Practices Code of B.C. Act, the Forest Act, the Range Act, regulations, standards, and contractual and operational plan obligations
  • detect and prevent problems related to operational activities

Inspection Phases

Inspections may occur at various stages of an activity: initial, progress, and/or final. At any stage, suspected non-compliance may lead to a follow-up inspection which is a detailed, non-scheduled examination of an activity.

Inspection Level

Initial, progress, and final inspections performed are based on the lifecycle of the operational activity and are dependent on initial risk assessment. There are two levels of inspections: standard and specific.

Standard

A standard inspection is an inspection of the obligations related to operational activities used to assess compliance and is detailed in supporting procedures.

Specific

A specific inspection is a more detailed and focused inspection of an operational activity. Specific inspections are generally used when an initial, progress, or final inspection requires a follow-up inspection.

Inspection Frequency

The frequency of inspections is dependent on the risk assigned. Generally higher risk areas require more frequent inspections.

Inspection Procedures

Inspection procedures based on this policy will detail the content of inspections and how they should be conducted.

Inspection Priorities

Inspection priorities shall be prepared to document what is to be inspected, what is not to be inspected, and the level and frequency of inspections. Inspection priorities should be part of the compliance and enforcement component of business plans.

Use of Contractors

Inspections conducted by contractors are used only to gather information as contractors do not have legislative authority to make Ministry decisions.

Inspection Documentation

Inspections must be documented and recorded.

Inspection Reporting

Results of inspections should be reported both internally and externally in a timely manner. Internal reporting is linked to the business plan process. External reporting includes reporting back to the obligation holder.

Responsibilities

The District Manager is responsible for determining district inspection priorities, including the level, phase, and frequency of inspections, and for preparing and implementing an inspection plan commensurate with available resources.

The Regional Manager is responsible for inspecting the District Managers’ obligations and for determining priorities for these inspections, including the level, phase, and frequency of inspections, and for preparing and implementing an inspection plan commensurate with available resources.

The Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations, is responsible for inspecting regional obligations and for determining the priorities of these inspections.

The Compliance and Enforcement Branch is responsible for development and coordination of inspection procedures with the support of the Branch Directors. Branch Directors are responsible for determining the standards for the inspections for which they are OPR.

References