Health and Safety Audits:
How to conduct H&S checks, what are the benefits of H&S and the stages of strategic H&S

While not always legally required, safety audits are essential for compliance with health and safety regulations and for ensuring workplace safety.

Safety audits are systematic evaluations of an organisation’s safety management systems and practices to ensure compliance and identify areas for improvement.

A Health and Safety audit should include a thorough review of your organisation’s health and safety policies, procedures, and practices. Key elements involve:

Documentation Review: Assessing health and safety policies, risk assessments, training records, and incident reports.
Workplace Inspection: Examining the physical environment to identify potential hazards.
Employee Interviews: Speaking with staff to understand their awareness and compliance with H&S procedures.
Compliance Check: Ensuring adherence to relevant legislation and standards.
Performance Evaluation: Reviewing past incidents and near-misses to identify trends and areas for improvement.
Recommendations: Providing actionable advice to enhance health and safety practices.

The main difference between a Health and Safety audit and an inspection lies in their scope and purpose:

Health and Safety Audit: A comprehensive, systematic review of the entire health and safety management system. It assesses the effectiveness and compliance of policies and procedures, aiming to improve overall safety culture.
Health and Safety Inspection: A focused examination of specific aspects of the workplace environment. It identifies immediate hazards and ensures that safety measures are being followed on a day-to-day basis.

Responsibility for Health and Safety audits typically falls to:

Internal Auditors: Designated members within the organisation who have been trained in health and safety management.

External Auditors: Independent third-party professionals, like SOCOTEC UK, our team can provide an objective assessment and bring specialised expertise.

Management Team: Senior leaders who oversee the audit process, ensure compliance, and implement recommendations.

The frequency of Health and Safety audits can vary based on several factors, but general guidelines include:

Annually: For most organisations, an annual audit is recommended to maintain compliance and continuously improve safety standards.
More Frequently: High-risk industries or organisations undergoing significant changes (e.g., expansions, new equipment) may require more frequent audits.
Regulatory Requirements: Compliance with industry-specific regulations may dictate audit frequency.

Health and Safety is crucial because:

Protecting Lives: Ensures the wellbeing of employees, preventing injuries and illnesses.
Legal Compliance: Helps organisations comply with laws and regulations, avoiding penalties.
Improving Productivity: A safe work environment boosts morale and productivity, reducing absenteeism and turnover.
Financial Savings: Prevents costly accidents, legal fees, and insurance claims.
Reputation Management: Demonstrates commitment to safety, enhancing the organisation’s reputation among clients and partners.

Conducting a Health and Safety audit involves several key steps:

Planning: Define the audit scope, objectives, and schedule. Gather relevant documents and resources.
Execution: Perform the audit, including documentation review, workplace inspection, and interviews.
Evaluation: Analyse findings, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.
Reporting: Compile a detailed report with findings, recommendations, and action plans.
Follow-Up: Monitor the implementation of recommendations and review progress regularly.

Strategic Health and Safety audits typically involve three stages: 

Preparation: Establishing audit criteria, scope, and objectives. Collecting necessary documents and understanding the organisation’s H&S framework.
Execution: Conducting the audit through inspections, interviews, and document reviews. Gathering evidence and assessing compliance.
Reporting and Action: Analysing the findings, creating a comprehensive report, and developing an action plan to address identified issues. Implementing improvements and monitoring their effectiveness.

By adhering to these structured approaches, we ensure that health and safety audits not only comply with legal standards but also contribute to a safer and more productive work environment for our clients.