Safety audit
A systematic, critical examination of an organisation's health and safety management system, procedures and practices to determine whether they are adequate, properly implemented and effective.
By jurisdiction
UK HSE
“safety audit”SharedMHSWR 1999 regulation 5 requires employers to plan, organise, control, monitor and review their preventive measures. Safety audit is a key tool for the review function. HSE guidance distinguishes audits (systematic examination of the management system) from inspections (examination of the physical workplace). Audits may be internal or external.
Irish HSA
“safety audit”SharedThe Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, section 8, requires management of safety, which encompasses audit. Safety audits are a recommended tool in the HSA guidance for reviewing the effectiveness of the safety management system. COMAH-regulated sites under Irish regulations must audit their safety management systems.
US OSHA
“safety audit”SharedOSHA 29 CFR 1910.119(o) (PSM) requires compliance audits at least every three years for covered processes. For other workplaces, OSHA encourages but does not generally require formal auditing. The Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) uses third-party audits as part of approval.
Practitioner note: An audit tests the management system; an inspection tests the workplace. Using the words interchangeably usually means one of the two is not happening.