Health and Safety Audits: What are the benefits?
Published on April 12th, 2023 | by Sophie West
Every business has a responsibility to look after the health, safety and welfare of all employees, visitors and contractors.
By communicating proficiently at all levels, being approachable and forming trust, your workplace culture can improve dramatically. In turn, this gets employee ‘buy-in’, which will result in less workplace accidents and incidents.
With that in mind, this article will discuss what health and safety audits are, why they should be conducted regularly, as well as provide a brief overview of the typical components of a workplace safety audit checklist.
What are health and safety audits & why should your organisation consider regularly conducting them?
Health and safety audits are an important part of any organisation’s risk management strategy. They provide a systematic approach to identify potential risks and hazards in the workplace and ensure that all employees are safe while at work.
A health and safety audit is a process of evaluating the safety performance of an organisation in order to identify areas that need improvement or require further action. Regularly conducting health and safety audits can help organisations stay up-to-date with the latest regulations, reduce workplace accidents and ultimately save money.
From a humanistic perspective, regular audits improve morale, staff feel valued and involved, whether it be creating or reviewing e.g. risk assessments and safe systems of work, problem solving or being innovative. Likewise, when health and safety meetings are held it is a really fantastic way for all staff at all levels to have input into the company or organisation’s success. It is a team effort.
How regular health and safety audits can help identify potential risks & improve workplace conditions
Regular health and safety audits are essential to ensure a safe working environment for employees. They help identify potential risks, correct unsafe conditions and practices, and improve workplace conditions. An audit report is a useful tool for employers to evaluate the safety of their workplace, as it provides an overview of the hazards and risks present in the workplace and how they can be managed effectively. Additionally, an Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) audit checklist can help employers identify any areas that need improvement or additional training for employees. Safety inspection checklists are also useful in helping to identify any issues that need to be addressed before implementing changes or introducing new processes. By conducting regular health and safety audits, employers can ensure that their workplace is safe and compliant with all applicable regulations.
The cost-benefit analysis of regular health and safety audits & how it can help reduce liability risks
Regular health and safety audits are a critical component of any liability risk management plan. They help organisations identify potential hazards, reduce risk, learn lessons through accidents and incidents, and prevent further recurrence through implementing preventative measures and controls. Following this a programme of supervision and monitoring can take place to ensure safe systems are being followed.
A cost-benefit analysis of regular health and safety audits can provide a clear view of the financial impact that these audits can have on a company’s bottom line. This analysis will also help companies identify areas where they can improve their OHS management system, as well as areas where they may need additional resources or training to ensure compliance with regulations. By understanding the cost-benefit analysis, companies can make informed decisions about how best to invest in their health and safety programs, ultimately helping them reduce their liability risks.
What are the best practices for conducting effective health and safety audits in your organisation?
Health and safety audits are an important part of any organisation’s occupational health management system. It is essential to conduct effective health and safety audits in order to ensure a safe working environment for employees, customers, and other stakeholders.
The best practices for conducting effective health and safety audits in your organisation involve developing a comprehensive audit program that covers the entire workplace, from the physical environment to the organisational culture. This should include risk assessment, inspection of equipment, review of policies and procedures, training programs for staff members, incident investigation process, and follow-up action plans. Additionally, it is important to ensure that all employees clearly understand their roles and responsibilities in regards to health and safety within the organisation. You can find out more about health and safety best practices at the HSE.
How Agility Risk & Compliance can help you
At Agility Risk & Compliance, we can help you to ensure the safety of your employees and customers. We provide a range of services to help you to manage workplace risks, including: health and safety audits, risk assessments and safe systems of work, legal registers, HSE notices, and workplace training.
Our team of experts have the knowledge and experience to help you to identify the health and safety risks in your workplace and to take the necessary steps to reduce or eliminate them. We can also provide you with guidance on the legislation around workplace health and safety and help you to ensure that you are compliant with all relevant laws and regulations.
If you’d like to find out more about how we can help you to manage your workplace risks, please contact us on 0330 043 0051. Our team is always here to help and we’d be more than happy to discuss your requirements on health and safety, HR, workplace training and occupational health.
