What Is a Health and Safety Audit?
A Health and Safety Audit is a structured and systematic process used to evaluate how effectively an organisation manages health and safety. It involves examining safety policies, procedures, and practices to ensure legal compliance and identify opportunities for improvement. Regular audits help employers maintain high safety standards, reduce risk, and promote a positive health and safety culture.
A health and safety audit is more than a simple inspection. It provides a detailed review of an organisation’s entire safety management system — including how policies are implemented, communicated, and followed. The process ensures that health and safety procedures not only exist but are working effectively in practice.
Audits may be carried out internally by trained staff or externally by qualified auditors. An external health and safety audit offers an independent perspective, helping organisations uncover blind spots and demonstrate due diligence to regulators, clients, and insurers.
Types of Health and Safety Audit
There are two main types of audits used across industries:
1. Systems Audit
This audit evaluates whether the organisation has the right health and safety systems in place and whether they comply with relevant legislation, guidance, and good practice. It focuses on policies, procedures, training records, risk assessments, and incident reporting systems.
2. Compliance Audit
This audit verifies that the systems in place are being followed correctly and are effective at controlling workplace hazards. Compliance audits often involve site visits, employee interviews, and reviews of accident data or near-miss reports.
Why Health and Safety Audits Are Important
Conducting regular health and safety audits helps employers ensure that risks are being managed and that workplace conditions meet regulatory standards. The benefits include:
- Improved safety performance and reduced incident rates
- Identification of weaknesses in management systems
- Compliance with health and safety laws and regulations
- Enhanced reputation and trust among employees and clients
- Clear action plans for continual improvement
What Should Be Included in an Audit?
An effective audit typically reviews areas such as:
- Health and safety policy and objectives
- Risk assessments and control measures
- Training and competency records
- Emergency procedures and first aid arrangements
- Accident and incident reporting systems
- Workplace inspections and maintenance checks
- Management commitment and employee consultation
Who Should Carry Out a Health and Safety Audit?
Audits should be conducted by competent individuals with a thorough understanding of health and safety legislation and management systems. For high-risk industries, it is advisable to use qualified external auditors who are accredited to recognised standards such as ISO 45001 or ISO 14001.
How Often Should You Conduct an Audit?
The frequency of audits depends on the size of the organisation, the nature of its operations, and the level of risk. High-risk industries like construction or manufacturing may require quarterly audits, while lower-risk environments might only need an annual review.
Training and Courses Related to Health and Safety Audits
Professionals involved in auditing, management, or compliance can enhance their skills through accredited health and safety courses. The following training programmes are directly relevant:
- IOSH Managing Safely
- NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety
- NEBOSH HSE Introduction to Incident Investigation
- Risk Assessment Training
Continuous Improvement Through Auditing
A health and safety audit is not a one-off event. It is part of a continuous cycle of improvement that helps organisations evolve, adapt to new risks, and meet changing legal obligations. By making audits an integral part of your management system, you ensure that safety standards remain strong, compliant, and effective year after year.