There are a number of activities that are routinely completed when conducting an Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) audit including –
- audit planing
- conducting opening and closing meetings
- taking a site tour & conducting interviews
- reviewing documents and records
- coordinating and communicating audit activities
- generating audit findings
The inclusion and formality of these activities depend on the type of audit being performed and the size and complexity of the audit.
Audit Planning
Once the audit is “a go,” an audit plan needs to be developed.
This audit plan should be in writing. It needs to have the amount of detail necessary to search as the “game plan” for the audit team members. This is particularly true for multi-day audits and audit teams made up of several auditors.
Conducting Opening and Closing Meetings
Effective communication is a key part of any audit to prevent misunderstandings and make sure that audit findings are accurate.
Opening and closing meetings play an important role in ensuring effective communication.
The primary goal of the opening meeting makes sure everyone, the auditor or audit team and the auditees, understand the objectives and scope of the audit and any requirements that need to be met to complete the audit.
This can include the need for special training or personal protective equipment to enter specific areas or requirements for accessing and reviewing information stored electronically.
The primary goal of the closing meeting is the communication of the audit findings.
Taking a Site Tour & Conducting Interviews
A site tour is a common part of an OHS management system audit. It should; however, be considered optional. Depending on the scope of the audit and the size of the facility, a site tour may not be the best use of the time available for the audit.
It is often more useful to plan observations of specific facilities or operations after the initial review of documents and records. Observations are often more effective when they are combined with interviews of key personnel.
Reviewing Documents and Records
This the heart of the audit and key to collecting the verifiable evidence
Coordinating and Communicating Audit Activities
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Generating Audit Findings
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For more information about conducting a management system audit, check out ISO 19011.
NOTE – AUDITOR HANDBOOK
Last updated 4/23/2018