Which information should be included to support traceability in inspection records?

• A. Only the inspector's name.
• B. Only the date of inspection.
• C. Who inspected, what was inspected, when, and standards used.
• D. Only the equipment type and serial number.

Answer: (C)

Traceability in inspection records means you can follow a result back to the exact person who performed the check, the specific item or system that was examined, when the examination occurred, and the criteria or standards used to judge it. This combination creates a clear, verifiable trail for audits and future reference.

Including who inspected establishes accountability and authority—the record shows who is responsible for the result. Recording what was inspected identifies the exact component or process under review, so the result applies to the right item. The date or time of inspection anchors the event in the maintenance or calibration schedule, making it possible to verify currency and timing. Documenting the standards used reveals the exact criteria and references that governed the assessment, ensuring consistency and defensibility of the result.

If any part is missing, the result becomes difficult to verify or reproduce. For instance, only noting the inspector’s name omits what was checked and when; only noting the date misses the target item and the criteria; only listing equipment type and serial number omits who did the check, when, and which standards applied.

Therefore, the most complete traceability comes from recording who inspected, what was inspected, when, and the standards used.