Safety First

PREPARATION CONSIDERATIONS

If an audit is designed for the organization, there are a number of considerations:
· The key elements of the occupational Safety and Health management system and the criteria against which performance will be judged
· The means for ensuring that the audit includes a representative sample of activities
· How questions should be framed
· The need for auditing aids, for example, check lists and inspection procedures, and
· How the audit items are scored or rated

Organizations are unique, and will wish to focus their efforts on different aspects of safety management. Although there are areas typically covered by most audits, audit questions can be tailored to match individual requirements.

Organizations may also wish to set standards which are above the legal minimum and impose procedures on a local basis. In this case, the audit rating criteria should reflect the relevant company standards rather than regulatory standards.

For economy, a sample of activities and individuals can be selected on the basis of auditor experience, accident rates, client concerns etc. Activities involving significant hazards should always be included in any sample. A sample for audit purposes does not have to be scientific to produce a randomized sample, but usually some type of systematic sampling is used. An example of systematic sampling is given below.

Questionnaires can be used to assist auditors in structuring their activities and to act as a memory aid. Spaces should be provided on the questionnaire for brief explanations when yes-or-no answers are either inappropriate or are incomplete.

While questionnaires are useful, they have their limitations and should be aligned to the audit's objectives. It is misleading to use standard questionnaires that do not reflect the scope or purpose of the audit. Questionnaires should not be routinely completed without auditors gaining an understanding of the organization's operations.

Checklists assure auditors that a survey is conducted properly. They provide guidance to auditors during a survey, and ensure that each important aspect of the audit is adequately addressed. But there is also the danger that the use of checklists may become mechanical and superficial and overlook the implications of items on the list.

The auditor may need to be trained to carry out the role adequately. It is important to select auditors who possess the appropriate personal attributes to carry out a successful audit.