Health and Safety Audits – Tips For Success!
Since the early 1970′s, private industries have recognized the
benefits of conducting environmental, health and safety audits at their
regulated facilities. In general, the purpose of an environmental,
health and safety audit is to ensure compliance with the myriad of
environmental, health and safety regulations that have been promulgated
by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
(NRC), and many other federal, state and local agencies. In addition,
contemporary audits include the implementation of environmental health
and safety management systems such as ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 and
adherence to corporate standards or guidelines. In order for an
environmental, health and safety audit to be successful, the author
offers the following tips:
1. A lead auditor must be assigned. This person will have the primary responsibility for assembling the audit team, defining the scope of the audit, preparing the agenda and audit plan, reviewing the draft report, and following up with any required corrective actions upon completion of the audit.
2. A primary site contact will need to be assigned. In most cases, this contact will be an environmental, health and safety manager or a person with similar responsibilities. This person should have access to all important environmental, health and safety records and permits, and should have unimpeded access to every physical area of the facility. In addition, verify that the primary site contact communicates with the highest ranking member of management at the site about the audit and its schedule. Nothing causes more of an uproar than conducting an environmental, health and safety audit at a facility where the senior management team is unaware of its occurrence. Of course, if your company has a policy that “surprise audits” are acceptable then that’s a different story.
1. A lead auditor must be assigned. This person will have the primary responsibility for assembling the audit team, defining the scope of the audit, preparing the agenda and audit plan, reviewing the draft report, and following up with any required corrective actions upon completion of the audit.
2. A primary site contact will need to be assigned. In most cases, this contact will be an environmental, health and safety manager or a person with similar responsibilities. This person should have access to all important environmental, health and safety records and permits, and should have unimpeded access to every physical area of the facility. In addition, verify that the primary site contact communicates with the highest ranking member of management at the site about the audit and its schedule. Nothing causes more of an uproar than conducting an environmental, health and safety audit at a facility where the senior management team is unaware of its occurrence. Of course, if your company has a policy that “surprise audits” are acceptable then that’s a different story.
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