COURSE OBJECTIVE

To familiarise participants with the principles of health & safety auditing, for legislative compliance and conformance to standards.

“Very comprehensive coverage of topic.”

Darrell Higson, Human Resources Manager, TerraNova

“Clear, relaxed style. Good understanding of varied requirements.”

Gabrielle Stott, Clinical Nurse Manager, OK Health

Safety audits are an essential part of good business operations as they help you identify weaknesses in a health & safety management system. A sound health & safety management system enables an organisation’s compliance with statutory requirements. By gaining an in-depth insight into the audit process, standards, regulations and requirements, you will be better placed to protect your employees from accidents and subsequent down-time.

Conducting Effective Health & Safety Audits has been designed to help you formulate an effective health & safety management audit process. We begin this course by establishing a clear understanding of the fundamentals of an auditable health & safety management system. For greater learning effect, we will focus on:

• Interpreting requirements of legislation and other standards

• Establishing audit and remit scope

• Setting standards for health & safety management systems audit

• Common pitfalls to avoid

You will learn how to document health & safety audits, including tips on what to include in the audit report, recommendations and non-conformances. You will also be taken through reporting the health & safety results to management, conclusions and recommendations.

SEVEN GREAT REASONS TO ATTEND

Attending this course will give you the essential skills to conduct effective safety audits and you will:

1. Find out more about the current developments in Health & Safety Management and the audit scope

2. Understand relevant legislation and compliance

3. Learn to develop internal auditing standards

4. Be able to make progressive improvements by setting standards for Health & Safety Management Systems audit

5. Recognising the sources of risk and methods of risk management

6. Identify health hazard and safety hazards

7. Redefine your role and accountabilities as a Health & Safety professional

ATTEND THIS COURSE TO:

• Understand the audit process, standards, regulations and requirements

• Interpret requirements of legislation and other standards

• Identify health hazards and safety hazards and prioritise risks

• Recognise what constitutes an effective safety audit, its purpose and value

• Establish guidelines for the health & safety management audit

• Use the audit process to improve management system

• Make progressive improvements by setting standards for health & safety management systems audit 

Day One

Introduction to Health & Safety Management Systems and Auditing

• Fundamentals of auditable health & safety management systems

• Objectives of health & safety audits

• The future of auditable health & safety management systems

• Key roles: the internal or external client, supervisory and executive management, elected health & safety representatives, auditors, standards-setting agencies

Understanding the Audit Process, Standards, Regulation and Requirements

• Common audit protocols

• Interpreting requirements of legislative and other standards

• Internal audit standards

• Self-regulation in context

Health & Safety Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Management

• Identification of health hazards and safety hazards

• Assessing and prioritising risks

• The value of a hazard register

• The value of an accident/incident register

• Assessing the effectiveness of controls

Formulating an Effective Health & Safety Management Audit Process

• The role and accountabilities of the health and safety auditor

• Establishing the audit remit and scope

• Pre-audit activities

• Establishing guidelines for the health & safety management audit

• Developing an audit checklist

• Systematic risk assessment, control and monitoring

• Using audit processes to improve the management system

Day TWO

Making Progressive Improvement by Setting Standards for Health & Safety Management Systems Audit

• Organisational standards in health & safety management

• Measuring commitment to health & safety

• Setting health & safety goals

• Health & safety management responsibilities for managers and supervisors

Implementing the Health & Safety Management Audit

• Beginning the audit

• Common pitfalls to avoid

• Interviews

• Observations

• Sampling

• Separating systematic from exceptional issues

• Closing the audit

Documenting Health & Safety Audits

• Recording findings and evidence

• What to include in the audit report

- quantitative feedback

- qualitative feedback

- contextual information

• Recommendations and non-conformances

Reporting the Health & Safety Audit Results

• Style and content of written reports

• Communicating key messages to management

• Conclusions and recommendations

• Prioritising actions

Case Study - Identifying Key Elements of Successful Health & Safety Audits