Checklist for Safety
Audit Do's and Don'ts
A safety audit is a valuable tool used
by all organizations regardless of size, nature and location. A safety audit is
significant for organizations and employees and is conducted by a third party
to measure the organization’s ISO 45001 Certification compliance.
What is a Safety
Audit?
A safety audit provides a systematic
process for an organization to gather information related to the organization’s
effectiveness, efficiency, safety and reliability. It focuses on identifying
the health and safety hazards and measures the effectiveness of control
implemented by the organization. It evaluates and oversees compliance with
Occupational Health and Safety Management System. Safety audits are complex and
review documents, processes and safety management systems to measure compliance
with ISO 45001. An auditor oversees the process, work environment, equipment
and other related factors of the health and safety system.
Objectives of safety
audit – The four main objectives of a safety audit are:
- Focuses
on identifying work-related hazards and implementing appropriate controls
to eliminate them to make workplaces safe and healthy.
- Oversees
the effectiveness and compliance with safety programs implemented by the
organization.
- Ensures
that an organization adopts the best business practices and processes and
that the facility, equipment and operations meet safety requirements.
- Measures
and mandates organizations to adopt adequate record-keeping practices.
Phases of Safety
Audits
The Safety Audit consists of six
phases. These are:
- Safety Audit Preparation
- Facts
Finding
- Reviewing
the Findings of the Safety Audit
- Recommendations
from the Safety Audit
- Undertaking
Corrective Actions
- Publishing
the Results of the Safety Audit
Purpose of a Safety
Audit
Around 1.7 million workers suffer from
work-related ill health and accidents. ISO 45001 standard aims to provide a
safe and healthy workplace to workers and ensure their mental and physical
well-being. The purpose of safety audits is as follows:
- Preventing work-related
incidents and accidents – ISO 45001 certification mandates an
organization to conduct periodic health and safety audits to measure the
effectiveness and efficiency of processes and reduce work-related
accidents and diseases. A safety audit inspects the condition of the
workplace to reduce the incidents of slips, trips and falls, manhandling
and other issues related to safety.
- Measures
Compliance – It measures the organization’s compliance with ISO 45001
standards and requirements. A safety audit ensures that an organization
complies with all the requirements listed in clauses 4-10 and provides
necessary training and tools to employees to attain occupational health
and safety.
- Protects
organization's reputation and brand name – Non-conformities with
health and safety laws and regulations can result in heavy fines/penalties
and imprisonment. A safety audit oversees the organization’s compliance
with all the health and safety laws and standards. It allows an
organization to avoid regulations, protects its brand name and creates a
better reputation of the organization.
- Enhance
the productivity of employees – It creates a positive safety culture within
the organization and demonstrates its commitment to secure employee's
safety and well-being. It boosts employee's confidence and trust as it
reduces work-related injuries, accidents and diseases and enhances
productivity.
Do’s of a Safety
Audit
An organization
requires ensuring the following things during a safety audit:
- An organization
should ensure a positive work environment to boost employee morale and
productivity.
- Collaborating
with a competent health and safety auditing company having credentials and
experience. Conducting audits can be time-consuming and require adequate
training.
- It
is necessary for an organization to build and customize an accurate
checklist based on the organization’s needs and requirements.
- Formulating
appropriate and clear corrective action plans and documenting them. ISO
45001 Certification follows a risk-based approach to identify health and
safety risks and requires developing policies and plans to eliminate them.
- The
organization must train and empower its employees so that they would be
able to perform the particular job efficiently and reduce the chances of
work-related injuries and diseases.
- An
organization must conduct periodic internal audits to check ISO 45001
Certification compliance and meet the requirements of OH&SMS.
Don’ts of a Safety
Audit
An organization should not promote
the following things during a safety audit:
- Restricting
site inspections to only some parts of the workplaces.
- Limiting
the organization's discussions to only some members of the workforce.
- Not
allowing permission to interview employees in private.
- Manipulating
the auditor to review and evaluate only those records and documents that
would appear to have already been vetted.
- Discouraging
the auditor from evaluating records and documents randomly from electronic
or hardcopy files and presenting folders of prepared evidence only.
- Trying
to hide electronic folders or files from the auditor.
Conclusion
ISO 45001 Certification specifies the
requirements for Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OH&SMS)
standard. It also mandates an organization to conduct periodic safety audits to
ensure compliance with OH&SMS. A safety audit reviews and evaluates an
organization’s health and safety system to identify safety hazards and
work-related risks. It aims to create a safe and healthy workplace for employees
and reduces work-related injuries, incidents and diseases.