We all know that an organized leader is a good leader. Now, let me tell you how an organized workplace is a safe workplace.
Safety is always a concern, irrespective of the organization's nature, type, or size, as there are always countless moving factors that need attention. Therefore, safety audits are essential, routine procedures that can immensely help you avoid hazards at the plant and protect your employees, clients, visitors, stakeholders, investors, and drivers. They also help reduce your maintenance costs and enhance overall operational efficiency as the data obtained by a Safety Audit will help with budget setting, equipment scheduling, etc.
While the safety audit at the workplace focuses on providing a structured assessment and evaluation of the activities at the plant relating to the health and safety of the workers, the road safety audits are intended to address and prevent any sudden accidents on the road by performing a comprehensive evaluation of a new or current road project in order to distinguish areas of problem and make suggestions for improvements. It basically helps enterprises assess and optimize their health and safety systems by identifying, controlling, and eradicating hazards that could adversely affect an enterprise's assets.
Need for regular safety audits and inspections.
While safety audits focus on evaluating if the safety practices are up to the enterprise's goal, safety inspections are routine inspections that check for dangers, risks, and other issues that could make a company unsafe. Therefore, it is essential to incorporate both in your safety system.
- Determine whether or not your safety and health systems and procedures are adequate and effective.
- Reduce accidents and illnesses at the workplace
- Detect and identify potential safety hazards at the plant.
- Ensure that your staff and management are participating and performing in your safety initiatives.
- Safety Audits not only ensure the safety of the workers but also focus on the safety of any visitors at the plant.
- To ensure that your safety procedures adhere to business policies and requirements.
- Ensure the OSHA requirements are met.
- To see if you're appropriately recording your safety and health program's operations.
- To assess the efficacy of current management controls.
- To ensure plant safety.
- Ensure that all the equipment at the plant is functional and safe.
How to perform a Safety Audit?
Every company should undertake workplace safety audits regularly. This type of assessment is critical to ensuring that the workplace is safe and prepared to address any potentially dangerous situation. Here are the steps involved while conducting a Safety Audit.
1. Determine the audit's scope and objectives.
This step involves setting goals and developing new skills.
2. Make a report outlining the steps to be taken.
Following the audit, the person in charge of the assignment can consolidate all points into a report that recaps the outcomes and prepare a list of suggested actions based on the findings in the report.
3. Prioritize your actions.
Audits take into account all the major and minor corrective actions required by the enterprise based on short-term and long-term goals. Based on the findings, the audit team can collaborate with managers and supervisors to establish priorities for issues with the highest hazards over lower hazards.
4. Propose measures to improve health and safety.
Now, the audit team may provide proposals based on the data gathered and give all corrective actions a completion and review date.
5. Publish the results of the safety audit
It helps your employees, stakeholders, business partners, and most importantly, your clients understand the modifications and how they will enhance their safety.
Conclusion
Most employers benefit from safety audits and inspections since they have been proven to lower the number of incidents. Rather than waiting for an accident to happen, safety audits encourage being proactive about safety. Although they take time and effort, it is worth the trouble as they can propel an enterprise to the next level in terms of health and safety.
Workplace safety audits aim to determine whether safety management systems function correctly and effectively. In most cases, workplace injuries and accidents are caused by minor faults that could be recognized sooner through workplace safety assessments. As a result, these assessments safeguard individuals and businesses by lowering injuries and operating expenses while also enhancing productivity.
How can SafetyConnect help you with this?
Safety Audits are essential for the safety of your employees who are on the road as well as those at the workplace. Whether you want to audit your safety system at the workplace or on the road, we have a solution. Our AI-based Driver Safety App helps take care of road safety, and our Action Tracking System is just what you need to make your workplace audits easier. Our one-of-a-kind solutions can help all EHS heads lower hazards at the workplace and on the road by easily monitoring employee behavior. You can request a free demo today to learn more about our solutions.