The Health and Safety Audit
In the present industrial climate, Senior Management of any substantial technical enterprise carries increasingly onerous responsibilities for the safe conduct of all related activities. A system of formal health and safety audits provides a means of securing those responsibilities in a proactive way. Equally important, it also provides documentary evidence of a responsible approach to matters of safety.
Its role does not duplicate the routine discipline of internal Health and Safety inspection.
Independence from immediate line management is important, and the objectives are to review the effectiveness, reliability and adequacy of established procedures, to identify potential improvements, to monitor performance, and at the same time to foster a culture of safe working and thinking at all levels.
An approach to the Health and Safety Audit is outlined, with emphasis on the benefits of integration into an overall management structure, and in personnel development. A methodology is described, including the importance of technical competence, independence of management and a systematic approach in achieving an unbiased and dispassionate outcome. Additional comment covers issues of communications, documentation, implementation and follow-up.
