Professional Ethics, Safety, and Accident Investigation
The final domain covers conduct, the safety of the inspector at the workplace, and the reporting and classification rules that apply when something goes wrong. These are high-yield, precisely worded items.
Professional ethics
Independence and objectivity: conclusions follow evidence, not the client's schedule. Confidentiality of the user's process data. Integrity: no gifts or benefits that could influence a conclusion; declare conflicts and withdraw where a personal or commercial relationship exists. No practising simultaneously at two inspection bodies, no reports for equipment not actually inspected, no signing for a colleague who was absent. A false report is both a disciplinary and a criminal matter.
Inspection safety
Before entry: safety briefing, energy isolation with lock-out/tag-out, verification of isolation. Medium-containing equipment must be drained, purged, neutralised and, where required, cleaned before internal inspection. Confined-space entry requires oxygen between 19.5% and 23.5%, flammable gas below 10% of LEL, toxic gas below the occupational limit, continuous monitoring and an attendant outside. Work at height, temporary lighting and electrical safety follow the site permit system; PPE is mandatory.
Accident classification and reporting
- 特别重大: ≥30 deaths, or ≥100 serious injuries, or ≥100 million yuan direct loss.
- 重大: 10–30 deaths, 50–100 serious injuries, 50–100 million yuan.
- 较大: 3–10 deaths, 10–50 serious injuries, 10–50 million yuan.
- 一般: below all of the above. Report within 1 hour to the county-level or higher market regulation department, with each level reporting upward within 2 hours. Investigation is led by the market regulation department with relevant authorities; the investigation report is due within 60 days, extendable by up to 60 days.
Worked example
An elevator accident kills 8 people and causes 30 million yuan in direct loss. Reasoning: deaths fall in the 3–10 band, which is 较大, while the loss falls in the 10–50 million band, also 较大 - consistent. Report within 1 hour, preserve the site and evidence, and expect a city-level-led investigation with the report within 60 days.
Traps that cost marks
Using AND instead of the highest applicable criterion in classification; quoting a 2-hour first report rather than 1 hour; assuming an inspector has no duty to report a hazard discovered outside a formal inspection.