Safety auditing
This page provides information and advice about safety auditing in the workplace.
The following pages are designed to help you carry out safety audits in your workplace.
What is a safety audit?
It is a full health and safety inspection of the workplace in order to identify any problems and ensure that they are put right before it is too late.
An audit could be held once a year or as often as once a month - it depends on circumstances. If possible do not give advance warning - you will get a clearer picture of the true conditions.
Compare the audit to a full service on your car. How regularly it is needed and what work needs to be done depends on your car and how much you drive it.
Of course it will still need routine maintenance in between each service - possibly even new tyres, etc. - liken these to the routine safety checks and hazard reporting procedures in your workplace.
Who should be involved?
Certainly management as they have the means to put right any problems. Involving supervisory and shop floor staff as well could mean greater coverage and commitment. Union appointed safety representatives should also be involved.
What do we look for?
Again this depends on the type of business and the premises. Use a basic list, but be prepared to be flexible and add (or delete) items as appropriate, for instance as you upgrade machinery or introduce new systems.
Of importance in the sample checklist (below) are the column headings with the choice of 'urgent attention'. The most crucial work on the list however is 'responsible' - here a person is identified and charged with the task of putting things right.
Last updated : 15/05/2009
