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One of the easiest ways to ensure compliance is through a health and safety audit.

Such audits are an expert assessment of an organization’s health and safety policies, systems, procedures, and operations. Health and safety audits may not be required by law, but are highly recommended for best practice.

Best practice dictates that health and safety compliance audits are the best way to ensure compliance regardless of the company’s size, type, industry, or type of business. Audits need to be more than just a box as they can be more than just a countermeasure.

Health and safety audits have a number of benefits for both the company and its employees. They enable employers, employees, themselves and customers to protect themselves from harm.

If such audits are carried out correctly, they can secure the existence of the organization and help with future endeavors. This is attributed to the consequences that serious health and safety incidents can have, potentially leading to criminal prosecution, serious reputational damage, and significant financial penalties.

There are two different ways in which audits can be carried out internally or externally.

Internal audits versus external audits

Internal audits involve at least one team member who has the necessary training and qualifications to conduct an effective audit. Most audits typically have multiple role players representing different segments and departments of the organization.

An internal or internal audit has the advantage of better control over the process. In this way, the audit can be carried out in phases without significantly disrupting operations. It also offers businesses an affordable alternative.

However, internal audits are often used as a classic fake economy to create the impression that health and safety are a priority when the opposite is the case.

These internal audits, if carried out correctly, can serve as a useful and valuable management tool. It also improves employees’ understanding of business performance and highlights potential issues.

Even if internal audits have their own advantages, external audits remain the golden standard. The organization appoints an external auditor through a health and safety audit consultation to conduct an audit.

The external auditor then has the task of conducting the audit and providing feedback on its results. External auditors often make recommendations to review how the organization can improve in areas that require attention.

Why should you seek advice on health and safety audits?

Audits and advisory services offer a high level of professionalism and are widely recognized as one of the most effective ways that safety, health and environmental management systems reflect the requirements of the relevant legislation.

By using such services, companies can be assured that standards are being met and that the company is on track to use best practice techniques that are effectively implemented.

Benefits of Consulting Health and Safety Audits

An external auditor who carries out the audit is involved in the advice on health and safety audits. Such a process has the following advantages:

• Compliance – as this is the most important reason to conduct an audit.
• Business and Systems Improvements – An in-depth review enables an objective and impartial analysis of the internal systems and control of the organization. In addition, testing experts can suggest effective improvements.
• Credibility – By conducting an external audit, an independent review is carried out to ensure that all information, documents and other aspects are a real and fair representation of the current situation of the organization.

How can SafetyWallet support your organization?

SafetyWallet offers a unique subscription program. It also offers the use of professionals and experts to guide organizations through the latest changes in standards and all other laws.

SafetyWallet offers its subscribers a dedicated, experienced and highly competent team of consultants who work with numerous organizations in all industries in and across South Africa. The SafetyWallet audit team assists the subscriber in navigating the principles of SHE risk management that are part of day-to-day business operations.

Additionally, the SafetyWallet team helps a company identify strengths and pinpoint weaknesses in the subscriber’s health and safety program. The team also helps identify any options that exist to improve risk management related to the safety, health and environmental aspects of the organization and to further improve and ensure full compliance.

The SafetyWallet Examiner reviews the subscriber’s health and safety program aspects and measures them against the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and other applicable laws and SafetyWallet protocols.

The implementation of such agreements will be assessed and the premises will be inspected, examining various operational activities. Interviews are conducted with key people and their roles and responsibilities in the area of ​​health and safety in the workplace are discussed in confidence.

After completing the audit, the SafetyWallet auditor presents the subscriber and his team with the results and gives recommendations for review.