SafeOps Group Master Inspection Limitations Policy
External issue version for SafeOps Group inspection, verification, reporting and advisory services.
Business: SafeOps Group | ABN 78 906 434 272
Document Type: Inspection Limitations Policy
Applies To: Clients booking, purchasing or approving SafeOps Group services
Version: 1.0
Effective Date: April 2026
SafeOps Group provides independent inspection, verification, reporting and advisory services based on the visible and accessible condition of a property, site, building element, work stage, asset or workplace at the time of inspection.
Our inspections are intended to help clients make informed decisions by identifying visible defects, concerns, incomplete works, safety observations, compliance concerns or matters requiring further review. A building inspection report is generally a written account of a property's condition and may identify significant defects, safety hazards or visible issues at the time of inspection.
1. General inspection limitation
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, SafeOps Group inspections are visual, non-invasive and limited to areas that are safely and reasonably accessible at the time of inspection.
The inspection does not involve:
Dismantling, cutting, opening or removing building elements
Moving furniture, stored items, equipment, materials or obstructions
Excavating, drilling, testing, sampling or destructive investigation
Entering unsafe, restricted, locked or inaccessible areas
Operating specialist equipment unless specifically agreed
Certifying concealed works, hidden defects or future performance
SafeOps Group can only report on what is visible, accessible and reasonably observable at the time of attendance.
2. No guarantee of hidden or concealed defects
SafeOps Group does not guarantee that all defects, issues, risks or non-compliances will be identified.
Some matters may be hidden, intermittent, recently covered, not active at the time of inspection or concealed behind finishes, walls, ceilings, floors, concrete, cladding, joinery, insulation, soil, stored materials or completed works.
Examples of concealed or hidden matters may include:
Defects behind walls, ceilings or floor coverings
Concealed structural issues
Waterproofing failures not visible at the time
Hidden reinforcement, tie-downs or framing defects
Covered services or drainage issues
Termite, pest or biological activity
Water leaks not active during the inspection
Previous repairs, patching or concealed damage
Defects within inaccessible roof spaces, cavities or subfloor areas
3. Areas not inspected
SafeOps Group may be unable to inspect certain areas due to access, safety, obstruction, height, weather, site control, client instructions or other reasonable limitations.
Areas may be excluded where they are:
Locked or inaccessible
Unsafe to enter
Too high, steep, wet, unstable or restricted
Obstructed by stored items, vehicles, materials or furniture
Concealed by finishes, coverings or completed works
Subject to site rules, builder restrictions or owner restrictions
Not reasonably visible from safe access points
Where practical, SafeOps Group will note major access restrictions in the report.
3A. Safety and access stop rules
SafeOps Group inspections are completed from safe, reasonably accessible areas only. Inspectors will not use ladders, climb onto roofs, enter unsafe areas, access restricted zones, move heavy objects, enter confined spaces or continue where conditions present a risk to personal safety unless a separate safe access arrangement has been agreed in writing.
SafeOps Group may stop, limit, reschedule or cancel an inspection where access, site conditions, conduct, weather, lighting, animals, exposed electrical risks, suspected asbestos or hazardous materials, unstable surfaces, restricted areas or other risks may affect personal safety.
SafeOps Group maintains a zero-tolerance approach to threatening, abusive, intimidating, harassing or physically aggressive conduct towards personnel or delivery partners.
If an area is not inspected due to safety, access or site condition limitations, report wording may state: This area was not inspected due to safety, access or site condition limitations at the time of attendance. SafeOps Group inspections are limited to safe and reasonably accessible areas only.
4. Progress payment verification limitation
For progress payment verification services, SafeOps Group provides an independent visual review of the relevant construction stage against the visible condition of works at the time of inspection.
Progress payment verification does not mean:
The works are fully compliant with all laws, codes, contracts or standards
The builder's claim is legally approved
The client is required to make payment
The bank, lender or financier must release funds
All hidden works have been verified
All defective or incomplete works have been identified
The project has been certified by SafeOps Group
SafeOps Group does not act as the builder, certifier, engineer, architect, surveyor, lender, solicitor or contract administrator unless specifically engaged in writing for a defined scope.
5. WHS inspection limitation
WHS inspections, audits or site observations completed by SafeOps Group are based on the site conditions observed at the time of attendance.
A WHS inspection is not a guarantee that:
The workplace is fully compliant with all WHS laws
All hazards have been identified
No incident, injury or breach will occur
Workers, contractors or visitors will follow safe systems of work
Site conditions will remain unchanged after the inspection
WHS conditions can change quickly due to worker behaviour, weather, sequencing, deliveries, plant movement, subcontractor activities and site management decisions.
6. Specialist services excluded unless agreed
Unless expressly included in the written scope, SafeOps Group does not provide specialist testing, certification or expert assessment for:
Structural engineering certification
Pest or termite inspection
Electrical testing
Plumbing or drainage testing
Gas fitting inspection
Asbestos identification or sampling
Mould testing
Fire safety certification
Waterproofing certification
Geotechnical assessment
Surveying or boundary identification
Building certification or occupation certification
Legal, financial or insurance advice
Quantity surveying or formal cost estimating
Where specialist concerns are identified, SafeOps Group may recommend that the client obtain advice from a suitably qualified specialist.
7. No approval, certification or warranty
SafeOps Group reports are advisory in nature unless otherwise stated in writing.
Our reports do not constitute:
Building approval
Final certification
Engineering certification
Occupation approval
Legal advice
Insurance advice
A warranty on the property, works, builder or asset
A guarantee of future condition or performance
Any recommendations made by SafeOps Group should be considered alongside advice from relevant specialists, consultants, certifiers, engineers, builders, solicitors, insurers or other appropriate professionals.
8. Time-based limitation
An inspection report reflects the condition of the property, site or works at the time and date of inspection only.
Conditions may change after the inspection due to:
Weather
Further construction works
Damage
Occupation or use
Movement, settlement or deterioration
Repairs or alterations
Site access changes
Removal or installation of materials
Contractor activities
SafeOps Group is not responsible for changes that occur after the inspection has been completed.
9. Client responsibility
The client is responsible for ensuring that:
Safe and reasonable access is available
The correct property, site or inspection stage is identified
Relevant documents, plans, approvals or instructions are provided
Access contacts are available at the agreed time
Known issues or concerns are disclosed before the inspection
Any required permissions are obtained before SafeOps Group attends site
If access is restricted, delayed or unavailable, the inspection may be limited, postponed or treated as completed in accordance with SafeOps Group's booking terms.
10. Reliance on information provided
SafeOps Group may rely on information provided by the client, builder, owner, agent, site contact, contractor or other third party.
SafeOps Group is not responsible for errors, omissions or misleading information provided by others.
Where documents, plans, approvals, certificates, invoices, payment claims or builder information are provided, SafeOps Group may refer to them for context but does not guarantee their accuracy, completeness or legal effect.
11. Report use and reliance
SafeOps Group reports are prepared for the client and for the purpose stated in the agreed scope.
Unless agreed in writing, reports must not be:
Relied upon by unrelated third parties
Used for a different purpose
Altered, edited or selectively copied
Presented as certification or legal approval
Used after conditions have materially changed
Third parties who wish to rely on a report should obtain written permission from SafeOps Group.
12. Liability limitation
SafeOps Group will provide services with reasonable care and skill.
Nothing in this policy is intended to exclude, restrict or modify any rights that cannot be excluded under applicable law, including consumer guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law. The ACCC explains that services must be provided with due care and skill, be fit for a disclosed purpose, and be provided within a reasonable time where no time is set.
To the extent permitted by law, SafeOps Group is not liable for:
Hidden or concealed defects
Areas not inspected due to access or safety limitations
Future defects or deterioration
Matters outside the agreed scope
Specialist matters requiring expert testing or certification
Decisions made by the client, builder, lender, owner, agent or third party
Losses arising from incorrect, incomplete or misleading information provided to SafeOps Group
13. Further investigation
Where SafeOps Group identifies a concern that cannot be fully assessed within the inspection scope, we may recommend further investigation.
This may include advice from:
Licensed builders
Structural engineers
Building certifiers
Pest inspectors
Electricians
Plumbers
Waterproofing specialists
Fire safety consultants
WHS consultants
Legal or insurance professionals
Failure to obtain recommended further advice may increase the client's risk.
14. Acceptance of inspection limitations
By booking, paying for or using a SafeOps Group service, the client acknowledges and accepts that inspections are subject to reasonable limitations, including access, visibility, safety, scope, time and available information.
The client agrees that SafeOps Group's role is to provide independent inspection, verification, reporting and advisory observations within the agreed scope, not to guarantee that a property, site, asset or construction stage is free from all defects, risks or non-compliances.