This page contains additional information and website links that provide information helpful for Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) auditing.
For information on specific topics, scroll down or click on the links below:
- OHS Management System Standards
- Implementing an OHS Management System
- Relevant Auditing Standards
- OHSMS Auditor Training & Certification
- Auditing Tools and Software
- Writing Audit Findings & Reports
- Addressing Audit Findings
OHS Management System Standards
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ISO 45001
OHSAS 18001
Responsible Care
Country-Specific Standards
In several countries, various standard-development organizations and regulatory agencies has developed their own OHS management system standards. In the United States, there are several such standards including
Z10
VPP
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Implementing an OHS Management System
Implement the one that is right for you. sssss
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Auditing Standards
There are several standards that may be useful in establishing an Occupational Health and Safety Management System audit program.
ISO 19011:2011, Guidelines for management systems auditing is an international consensus standard that provides general auditing guidelines on the following topics:
- Audit principles
- Managing an audit program
- Conducting audit activities
- Competence and evaluation of auditors
Go to the Introduction to ISO 19011 page for more information about this standard and to download the ENLAR White Paper, Introduction to ISO 19011, Guidelines for Auditing Management Systems.
Registrars, organizations that provide 3rd party certification to management system standards, are required to conform to ISO 17021. For more information on ISO 17021, click here.
There are also auditing standards and guidelines that have been developed by other organizations – for compliance audits, management system audits and financial audits.
The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued standards for auditing conducted by governmental auditors in the U.S. Although these standards primarily apply to financial audits, they also cover performance audits. They include a detailed discussion of auditor independence and avoiding conflict of interest when auditing. Click here to access these GAO audit standards.
OHSMS Auditor Training & Certification
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Auditors need to be competent; auditors do not need to be certified.
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Auditing Tools and Software
Most organizations use a variety of resources to assist their auditors with audit planning. This includes:
- Audit Checklists (Protocols)
- Audit Program Databases and Software Solutions
- Websites with Facility-Specific Environmental & OHS Information
- Auditor Handbooks
Auditors typically use audit checklists (or protocols) to help them with their audits.
There are a variety of resources available for creating audit checklists / protocols. Some are free; others are expensive.
Checklists come in different lengths, formats and depths of coverage. Some are long and complex; others are short and simple.
Some of the companies offering audit checklists / protocols you can purchase include:
A word of caution – don’t rely solely on a generic checklist for your audits – you need to customize it to your own organization and audit program objectives. Checklists that are prepared by others should be used as a starting point for developing ones of your own. You MUST include audits of your organization’s “planned arrangements” and no generic checklist can provide that for you. PUT INTO BOX
Audit Program Databases and Software Solutions
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Websites with Facility-specific Information
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Auditor Handbooks
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Writing Audit Findings & Reports
Writing good audit findings takes work. Using a template can help you write good findings.
To download a copy of a handout that discusses Evidence-Based Auditing, click here.
Most organizations use a standard audit report template.
For some internal audit programs, a separate formal audit report may not actually be developed. Instead audit findings are developed and entered into directly into the corrective action database for follow-up action.
Whatever the form your audit documentation takes, the following issues need to be addressed:
- Confidentiality
- Information control and security
- Measuring and monitoring audit program effectiveness
Addressing Audit Findings
corrective action text
Last revised 9/2/2016