A health and safety audit is a handy way of preventing accidents and incidents before they happen reducing the risk of potential cost to an persons health or financially to the business. They can also provide evidence of efforts to ensure health and safety compliance should any accidents happen and demonstrate your company’s commitment to safety when completed by a competent and regular auditor.

A Red Box health and safety audit is an audit comprising of an assessment of an organisation’s current health and safety practices and procedures. It is used to assess workplace policies, processes, procedures, and health and safety management systems with a view to highlighting any potential hazards or risks.

A safety audit can include an assessment of

• Policies
• Processes
• Procedures
• Physical environment and workplace
• Safety equipment
• Training
• Communication and awareness
• Enforcement of rules

Benefits of regular auditing include

• Identifying potential hazards and risks before they become costly accidents or incidents.
• Improving safety and compliance
• Reducing liabilities; and providing cost savings.
• An audit can also help to increase employee awareness

There’s currently no legal requirement for organisations to conduct health and safety audits in the UK, but due to their benefits, many organisations view them as an essential part of compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

How often should a health and safety audit be scheduled?

Scheduling targeted safety audits throughout the year (e.g., every department audited on a rotating basis) is a good idea and most businesses look to complete policy audits annually as a minimum and spot check compliance on a more regular basis, sometimes daily depending on the risk levels. The frequency of safety audits should be based on the organisation’s risk factors and current safety performance.

It is important to ensure that the person conducting an audit is competent to do so. The level of competence will vary depending on the complexity of the situation and the expertise needed. It’s prudent to consult with experienced health and safety consultants prior to conducting an audit to ensure that you have the necessary skills and levels of qualification to complete an effective audit.

For support, enquiries or information on our Health and Safety auditing, please contact us on admin@redboxcs.com.