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Essential tips for conducting audits
Thursday, 6th November, 2014, by Joanna Weekes
In today's Health & Safety Bulletin:
- Why you should conduct audits
- 4 ways an audit can improve your business’s safety management
Dear Reader,
As part of your health and safety obligations, you must conduct regular audits of your business to help you to identify health and safety risks and consider ways of improving your safety systems.
But a quick message before we get into some handy information about conducting audits of your workplace…
Bullying is unfortunately a significant problem in Australian workplaces.
The psychological and physical risks posed to victims of bullying have prompted new laws that increase the pressure on employers to prevent bullying from occurring in their workplace.
The new eBook developed by Portner Press, The Bullying Guide, provides practical details on how you can identify, prevent and respond to allegations of bullying in your workplace.
Click here to find out more…
And now back to today’s topic…
What is an audit?
An audit is a documented process for reviewing a health and safety system, program or practice to determine whether it complies with legislative requirements, established guidelines and best practice in health and safety.
Audits are generally conducted annually and can involve a significant amount of work.
What’s the purpose of an audit?
The purpose of an audit is to:
- assist in the continuous improvement of your business’s health and safety procedures;
- determine whether workplace legislative requirements are being complied with;
- identify strengths and weaknesses in your business’s safety system, and recommend improvements; and
- assess whether adequate resources are being provided to manage health and safety, and whether they are being used effectively.
Who can conduct an audit?
Audits can be conducted by appropriately trained internal staff.
However, it is sometimes necessary to have an external third party conduct the audit, for example, when auditing areas requiring specialist knowledge, such as asbestos management.
Using an external auditor can also provide an objective, independent perspective on your business’s health and safety system.
If you use an external auditor, ensure they are fully qualified, experienced and familiar with the industry that your business operates in.
Continued below…
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There are three different types of audits you may need to conduct in your workplace:
1. Compliance audits
Compliance audits assess the effectiveness of the business’s health and safety practices, and determine whether they comply with legislative standards.
2. Risk-specific audits
Risk-specific audits address the risks that are relevant to your business, e.g. working from heights or working in confined spaces.
Risk-specific audits have a narrower focus and test the effectiveness of procedures in controlling the specific risks.
3. Management system audits
Management system audits consider the overall safety systems of your business, including:
- organisational structures;
- planned activities;
- procedures; and
- responsibilities.
Document the findings of audits to help you to:
- ensure your workplace is applying best practice health and safety;
- determine where safety improvements are required in your business;
- take proactive steps towards improving your business’s safety systems; and
- demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement in health and safety.
See you next week,
Joanna Weekes
Editor
Health & Safety Bulletin
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Health & Safety Bulletin ISSN 1837-6533
Portner Press Pty Ltd
96-98 Bridport Street
Albert Park VIC 3206
Australia
The information in this email is intended solely for the addressee. Access to this email by anyone else is unauthorised. If you are not the intended recipient, please return the message to the sender and delete it from your records. All content is © 2007-2013 Portner Press Pty Ltd All Rights Reserved.
Disclaimer: We research our recommendations and articles thoroughly, but disclaim all liability for any inaccuracies or omissions found in our publications. Click here to view our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.
Queries: For general enquiries, email cs@portnerpress.com.au or call 1300 782 911.
Health & Safety Helpdesk: Paid subscribers to the Health & Safety Handbook can ask our experts for advice.
Syndication: To republish an Health & Safety Bulletin article, please email cs@portnerpress.com.au for information.
Health & Safety Bulletin ISSN 1837-6533
Portner Press Pty Ltd
96-98 Bridport Street
Albert Park VIC 3206
Australia
