RJ Sullivan

What Every Employee Should Know Before a Safety Audit

For a safety audit to be successful employees at every level of an organization need to be cognizant of how and why the audit is being conducted.  The cooperation of every employee is imperative and therefore the entire organization should understand why it is being conducted.

Every employee in an organization should know how safety audits are to be conducted. The result of the audit affects everyone in an organization and it is imperative for every employee to be an integral part of the process to have the best possible outcome. Here several points that every employee should understand before starting an audit.

The goals of the process and how each employee will be part of the process should be the first part of every safety audit. Make sure that your employees know what is expected of them and how they will benefit from the process. It is important to put them at ease and get them on board.

Both administrative and engineering controls are used in a properly conducted safety audit. Administrative controls are the rules and guidelines set up in an organizations safety policy and they should be checked first. Engineering controls are the actually safety devices and procedures that are conducted at the work station and they are the second thing to be checked.

Understanding the need and use of Personal Protective Equipment is part of every safety audit. They need for the protection is explained and a check of how the protection is working in the each specific work area should be examined. Many times Additional PPE is needed.

Fixing tools and equipment on a regular basis and recognizing safety problems before they happen is next. Every employee should be trained on how the equipment breaks down and what to look for.

Emergency response procedures should be examined during an audit. Every employee should be intimately acquainted with the procedures. They should be examined to make sure the procedures are as efficient and appropriate as possible.

The safety training procedures should be examined next. Regulatory compliance, safety and health training is imperative to preventing workplace accidents. All training is examined to make sure everything is included and covered.

Understanding the importance of "Near-Miss" accident investigations should be covered. They are crucial to understanding and preventing future accidents. Every near miss should be reported and examined.

A safety self assessment is next. Every employee should conduct one on a regular basis. This self-assessment should involve their work area and work practices to determine if a problem exists or a procedure could be added to make things safer.

Everyone is an important part of a safety audit and every employee should know their part in the process and how it will be conducted. Everyone benefits from the information garnered in an audit. Safety audits are one of the most important ways to ensure a safe workplace.

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