SAFETY AUDITING

Definitions
Auditing: the examination or inspection of various books by an auditor
followed by physical checking of inventory to make sure that all departments
are following documented system of recording transactions.

 It is done to ascertain the accuracy of an organization’s procedures in a

certain aspect.

Safety auditing is an aspect of safety management that involves a

systematic critical review of operations. An audit may cover one or more
system components, such as safety policies, process
improvement, operational procedures, emergency procedures, etc.
The objective is to highlight the strengths and weaknesses, identify
hazard areas, and develop corrective action.
Depending on the detail and target of an audit, it could result in a report,
followed by an action plan created by the audited organization and
confirmed by the legal and regulatory authorities.

Types of safety audits

SAs are categorized into three (3) types:
1. Compliance audit
-It examines whether your business adheres to the safety standards outlined
in its bylaws, processes, rules, regulations, and any associated liabilities. The
norms of the country are crucial in establishing these standards.

-The compliance audit also examines if the workplace is safe and free of
dangers as organizations should make every effort to decrease the number
of dangerous acts that could transpire.
- A safety auditor will use various programs, rules, training modules, and
record-keeping techniques and examine their safety regulations, methods,
and practices to see if they comply with OSHA safety requirements and other
safety legislation and policies to ensure workplace safety.

2. Program Audit
This audit evaluates the strategy and execution of safety programmes.
-Program audits entail assessing numerous safety measures after thoroughly
examining all employee input and each component to identify the program's
good safety outcomes.

3. Management System Audit

-This type of audit assesses the efficacy and commitment of management to
safety compliance, programmes, risk control measures, and employee
engagement.
-It also keeps track of the program and compliance audits.
-It is the last step in the audit process, and it is used to validate risk control
measures and guarantee that safety compliance is sufficient. This audit aims
to assess the current performance of the complete safety procedure and
determine whether it complies with business policy and regulatory
standards.
-It's a type of integrated audit that verifies whether the safety initiatives
align with the company's practices and goals. It depicts the audit program in
its entirety.

Importance of safety audits

Safety audits are conducted to ensure the following:
 The organization has a solid structure and sufficient workforce levels.
 Approved instructions and procedures are followed; the requisite level
of employee expertise and training to operate and maintain equipment
and facilities is met.
  The equipment’s operation is competent for the service’s safe
practices.
 Effective systems are in place for promoting safety, monitoring safety
performance, and dealing with safety issues.
 There are enough plans in place to deal with anticipated emergencies.

Setting up a safety audit system

As one begins the audit process, it’s important to collaborate internally with
relevant parties to produce an appropriate plan and timeline that covers
the project scope and defines important criteria, such as an organization’s
policies, procedures, and programmes.
In addition, identify any working materials, such as checklists, that you will
need to perform the audit.
The checklist should seek to address specific safety audit questions, such
as:
 Is our safety handbook updated and accessible to all employees?
 Is our management team aware of their obligations in terms of health
and safety?
 What is our procedure for reporting hazards?
 How often do we do safety checks and inspections?
 Is our fire risk assessment valid?

These are simply a few basic questions. One important aspect of doing a
health and safety audit is personalizing it to your organization’s size,
objectives, and concerns. There is no “one-size-fits-all” health and safety
audit template. One must thoroughly examine their site/organization so that
the appropriate questions are included in the audit. Once you have a
complete list of objectives, you can consider how to perform the audit.
Health & safety audit procedure:
This may be broken down into the following steps.
 Plan for audit: Here, you will decide who will conduct the audit, the
scope/objective of the audit, relevant standards, and previous audit
results.
1. Determine the objective of the audit
Discuss the purpose of the audit and how important it is for the organization.
Decide which area(s) that need it and where it should be focused on.

2. Designate your audit team

Assign members of the company to handle the audit or hire consultants to
offer an objective perspective and evaluate each other's settings, not their
own, to ensure unbiased results.
-Confirm that the team understands the standards of the Occupational Safety
and Health Administration (OSHA). This gives them the knowledge to identify
workplace hazards and safe practices. Typical safety audit teams comprise
three to five people.

2. Prepare for the safety audit

-The audit team may benefit from reviewing the organization's safety
protocols and developing a checklist. This checklist can identify areas that
may require greater scrutiny, and it's essential to understand how the
location's current operations measure against the company's expectations.
Here are examples of items to include on your checklist:
 Protective equipment
 Electrical issues
 Fire hazards
 Machines and tools
 Repair and inspection processes
 Elevators and stairs
  Storage areas
-Preparation for safety audits can also involve delegating tasks to certain
team members. For instance, two team members can take samples, while
others can interview people.
 Conduct the audit: This step includes conducting the audit in line
with the plan. Any variation from approved safety protocols is
documented, as are actual work settings.
1. Visit the work environment
-The next step is to visit the work environment you plan to evaluate. While
inspecting the workplace, you might look at factors such as:
 Lighting: Examine the lighting in the room to determine if it's bright
enough for people to view their surroundings and operate
machinery safely. For example, you can look inside fixtures to see if
there are enough lightbulbs or review the intensity of high-intensity
discharge lamps inside a warehouse.
 Placement of equipment: Review equipment placement to
determine if the company has stored it properly and made it
accessible. You can also view the storage of miscellaneous tools,
such as ladders, to ensure they don't obstruct pathways.
 Signage: Look for signs that warn people of hazardous materials and
provide directions on operating machinery. Although staff members
may have undergone extensive training, placing signs around the
workplace can reinforce safety protocols and exemplify the
organization's safety culture.
2. Observe teams working
 Observing team members working in their environment can help
you determine if they're upholding company standards for safety.
You can watch how they handle and maintain machinery. For
example, if they're driving a forklift, you can ensure they're avoiding
walkways and being cautious when loading and transferring
 materials. You can also check if people wear protective gear, such
as gloves, helmets and goggles.
 Before the end of your visit, consider taking samples to test for
hazardous materials. You might check surfaces on countertops and
equipment or measure the temperatures inside storage facilities.
3. Interview team members
 For your records, it may be helpful to interview the supervisor of the
location you're auditing. Ask questions about how they replenish
materials and their training process for new personnel. Try to gain
insight into how managers authorize the use of certain equipment and
their communication processes for making decisions and providing
direction. Here are examples of inquiries you can make:
 How often do you meet with your staff to discuss safety protocols?
 What standards do your team members have to meet before operating
heavy machinery?
 Do you keep records of who runs the equipment at certain times?
 Do you perform walkthroughs? If so, how often?
 How long does the training process for new personnel take?

 Create an audit report: The report should highlight the results. There
should be both good and negative results. The audit report summary
should contain suggested actions and areas for improvement.
1. Evaluate the data and findings
 After observing the physical location and collecting data, you can
evaluate your findings and make conclusions about the area's
adherence to safety procedures. Consider sharing your concerns
with members of your team. If they've noticed the same things,
they may reaffirm your beliefs, and you can collaborate to provide
recommendations on how to make the environment safer.
 It may also be helpful to rank the data from most to least urgent,
which can help managers fix more important situations immediately.
 For example, if one of your samples tests positive for a hazardous
substance, the company may need to close the area temporarily.
Designate the hazards with the greatest concerns and those that
are smaller but that the company still needs to revise.

 Prioritize corrective actions: The recommended actions should be

prioritized and assigned a time frame for completion. Some people
may need quick attention, while others may not.
1. Training and Education on Safety Practices
-To maintain a safe work environment, regular safety training and education
are vital. Workers should receive thorough training on safety protocols,
emergency procedures, and the proper use of safety equipment.

2. Integrating Safety Culture in Construction Companies

-Safety culture goes beyond mere compliance; it involves creating a shared
belief in the importance of safety among all employees. Construction
companies in must foster a culture that values safety as an integral part of
their operations.

 Publish the audit findings: The suggestions and modifications

should be expressed clearly. This will assist everyone in understanding
the essential adjustments and how they may affect them and their
job.
Safety Audits in Construction
Some risks construction workers might face are:

 Falls from heights,

 Improper use of dangerous equipment,
 Electric shock,
 Trench collapse, etc.
It’s a given that the above factors are critical and even life-threatening. This
is why safety audits at the construction site are a must.
A construction safety audit reviews the safety measures at the job site. This
includes the safety of the site, as well as actions that are taken to prevent
injury.

Why require Construction Safety Audit?

Organizations would require Construction Safety Audit site inspection in

order to attain the below benefits:
 Comply with construction safety standards, laws & regulations
 Review the effectiveness of the H&S policy statement
 Identifies all significant hazards & the people who are at risk from each
hazard
 Evaluate the existing risk control measures & determine required
additional control measures
 Examine the availability of a suitable emergency response plan
detailing the responsibility & action of key personnel
 Brings value to the workplace by avoiding prosecution, litigation,
absence costs & loss of reputation
 Reduced insurance premiums & indirect cost of workplace injuries
 Fosters workforce morale & wellbeing
 Enhanced employee awareness about construction safety measures
What are the various steps involved in the Construction Safety Audit
process?
 Opening Meeting with the client team
 Site Visit
 Document Verification
 Closing Meeting with the client team
Carrying out regular audits is crucial for any organization, but most
importantly for the construction industry. Safety auditing consists of:

 Assessment of the health and safety of an organization

 Pinpointing areas of improvement
 Analyzing on-site conditions
 Assessing safety measures
Some examples of the above steps within the construction industry include:

 Containment of hazardous substances

 Proper storage of hazardous waste
 Ensuring that an effective emergency strategy is in place
 Ensuring that first aid is available at all times
 Fall protection measures
 Planning out of evacuation routes in case of a crisis
 Ensuring the availability of appropriate lighting as well as appropriate
storage of all materials
 No exposed electrical wires
 Ensuring that essential signs are visible and in place