To ensure your organization is maintaining proper health and safety requirements, you may be subject to a mandatory or voluntary audit. But how can you prepare for these audits, and what can you do to make sure your organization walks away with satisfactory results?
A health and safety audit is a high-level assessment of organizational health and safety policies, processes, procedures and systems to identify what gaps are present and the steps needed to accurately mitigate the risks and hazards in the workplace. The frequency of an audit will typically depend on the risk level of your organization, and the specifics will be heavily reliant on the industry of the organization.
By following a checklist prior to any health and safety audit, a business can ensure they meet specific requirements without missing important hazards or instances of noncompliance. A well-designed audit checklist enables detailed workplace inspections, helping your organization pass audits, avoid legal fines, and, most importantly, protect employees effectively.
Most workplace audits are detailed and comprehensive, containing all elements of the workplace that need regular maintenance and check-ups. Therefore, checklists should be tailored to industry-specific regulations and should include all potential risks and indicate the likelihood and severity of the risk and hazard impact.
We’ve put together a list of questions all EHS professionals should ask themselves to prepare for upcoming audits. Keep in mind, these steps are examples and may not apply to every organization, as each checklist should be customized to fit industry needs:
Have employees received the necessary training around the correct use of PPE? This should include use and removal.
Is the PPE in the correct condition for the safest result?
OSHA requires the employer to assess whether the workplace necessitates PPE. The employer is then required to select the appropriate protective gear and communicate proper usage to their employees through training.
Are all the dangerous, complex or heavy machinery in use regularly checked?
Is the machinery in good condition?
Does it pose a threat to employees?
Are all employees adequately trained to operate the machinery to the safest standard?
Tools and machinery are present in many industries and even simple tools can be hazardous if used inappropriately. Regulatory bodies will have specific standards for each tool.
Are the necessary safety equipment and procedures in place around all the electrical elements in the workplace?
Is adequate lighting provided across the workplace for employees to work effectively and safely?
Most industries work with electricity, either directly or indirectly. Engineers and electricians specifically may work with overhead lines and cable harnesses, while office workers may have indirect exposure to electricity.
OSHA, HSE and Fire Safety Australia have long recognized electricity as a potentially serious workplace hazard and specific guidelines should be followed to avoid events such as electric shock, electrocution, fires and more. These specific standards and guidelines can be found on your country’s relevant health and safety website.
Are the correct procedures in place regarding a clear fire safety evacuation?
Are clear evacuation routes and an adequate number of fully working fire extinguishers provided?
Are employees aware of fire emergency protocols?
Fire is a possibility in many workplaces. All employers should provide fire emergency training and a fire plan should be in place. For exact guidance on standards in your industry, visit your relevant regulatory body’s website.
If your workplace requires regular loading and unloading of heavy goods, are there properly functioning ramps and platforms and properly working loading arms?
Are all junction boxes and wiring in good working order?
Heavy loading and unloading will be particularly relevant to the transportation sector. There are many considerations when it comes to measuring the safety of your loading and unloading areas and relevant guidelines should be carefully followed.
Are the correct procedures in place for the usage and storage of chemical/hazardous substances? This should include correct temperatures, safe storage containers, proper labelling of products and the necessary equipment to deal with these substances safely.
Are employees dealing with these substances properly trained in line with the stated regulations?
Chemical hazards pose a wide and serious hazard threat. Per OSHA’s and HSE’s guidance, employees working with chemicals should have information readily available on chemical hazards and toxic substances. Employees should also be aware of all possible risks before handling the chemicals.
Is clear evidence provided that all equipment used by employees when working from height, such as step ladders and elevating devices regularly checked?
Are weight restrictions clearly labeled and adhered to?
Is the equipment grounded correctly when in use and is all electrical equipment properly maintained?
Are employees trained on how to use ladders safely?
Working from height is a hazard usually experienced predominately by construction and electrical companies. All work conducted at height should be well planned in advance and supervised, according to websites such as OSHA and HSE.
Along with key criteria, a health and safety checklist should offer guidance on scheduling. Some items may need more frequent monitoring, depending on industry standards and audit timelines. Clear instructions for regular inspections help maintain regulatory compliance and ensure that no area of the workplace is overlooked.
Want to learn more about health and safety audits? Check out our catalog of other helpful resources:
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