Few words strike fear into the hearts of business owners like “audit”. Many associate it with an unannounced financial inspection; but it has another, less scary meaning.
A health and safety audit is nothing to be afraid of. In fact, it may be your best defence against legal and financial trouble in the future. Here’s why you should consider a regular health and safety audit, and how you can ensure that the process is as helpful as possible.
What’s the difference between an audit and an inspection?
A health and safety audit is not to be confused with a health and safety inspection. An inspection is carried out by the HSE, or another regulating body like a local authority, with the express purpose of identifying failures in workplace health and safety. This is often triggered by a complaint or incident, but random inspections are also common. A typical inspection consists of two stages:
- The inspector will interview employees, inspect equipment, ask to see relevant records and documents and take photographs of the workplace.
- The inspector will offer advice, either verbally or in writing. Depending on the results, you may be issued an improvement or prohibition notice. In rare cases, you may be prosecuted for breaching health and safety laws.
Unlike an inspection, an audit is commissioned by the business itself. It’s a more holistic affair, focusing on broader attitudes to health and safety as well as specific dangers. Since an inspection can happen at any time, an audit is a great way to make sure you’re prepared.
What does an audit consist of?
Like an inspector, an auditor will interview employees, observe working practices and check documentation. However, the scope of these activities will be much broader. The exact nature of an audit will vary from workplace to workplace, but it will usually include the following actions:
- Making sure your health and safety policies are up to date and fit for purpose.
- Checking your risk assessments for any oversights.
- Ensuring that you are reporting accidents and incidents in the correct way.
- Checking that employees are able to report safety concerns.
- Identifying any weaknesses in your training procedures.
- Making sure that your record keeping is adequate and compliant with the law.
Once the audit is complete, the auditor will present you with a list of recommendations. As well as ensuring that you are meeting your legal obligations, these will be designed to encourage a workplace culture that values employee well-being.
What are the advantages of an audit?
While you are under no legal obligation to conduct a health and safety audit, there are a number of advantages to doing so. An annual health and safety audit will ensure that your workplace is as safe as possible, both now and in years to come:
- An audit can help you to spot gaps in your health and safety procedures before they lead to an accident.
- It reduces the risk of legal trouble by ensuring that you are working in a compliant way.
- It shows your employees that you value their safety, leading to improved morale and productivity.
- It proves your commitment to health and safety, making you more attractive to customers and investors.
- It can save you money by identifying inefficiencies in your ways of working.
Should I use an external auditor?
While it may be cheaper to carry out your own audit, we would always recommend bringing in someone from the outside. A professional auditor can spot weaknesses that are invisible from within the business, and their recommendations will be based on years of experience. Employees may also feel more comfortable sharing their concerns with an outsider, allowing for a more honest evaluation of workplace conditions.
We’ve been conducting health and safety audits for years and we’re confident that we have something to offer every business. We’ll take a detailed look at everything from fire safety to first aid, and then present our findings in a simple, colour-coded report. We’ll even give you a to-do list to complete. Talk to our team today to find out more.
