Management system audit
An occupational health and safety management systems audit has a wider scope, and although addressing hazards and risk controls, it also looks at organisational structures, planning activities, responsibilities, implemented procedures, review cycles and measurement and evaluation issues.
A basic occupational health and safety management system has some of the following characteristics:
- Existence of a health and safety policy that is communicated to staff
- Management commitment
- Allocation of responsibilities and accountability for health and safety matters
- Controls for suppliers, sub-contractors and purchasing
- Health and safety consultation
- Hazard identification, evaluation and control
- Provision of information and training of staff
- Incident recording, investigation, analysis and review
- Measuring and evaluating workplace health and safety performance.
Many organisations undertake these audits on an annual basis as the amount of resources and time required to conduct a management systems audit can be substantial. These audits can be undertaken by appropriately trained internal staff or by an external third party.
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