Advanced Safety Management, 3rd Edition

CHAPTER 18AUDIT REQUIREMENTS

As is the case with every aspect of an organization's endeavors, making periodic reviews of progress with respect to stated goals is good business practice. Stated goals, in this instance, would be to have processes in place that meet the requirements of 45001 or Z10.0.

Internal audit requirements in 45001 are at 9.2 within Clause 9—Performance evaluation. In Z10.0, they are at 9.3 within Clause 9.0—Evaluation and Corrective Action. A composite of their requirements is as follows.

An organization shall periodically have audits made of its health and safety management system to determine whether the requirements of this standard are implemented and maintained.

• Findings shall take into consideration the content of previous audits.
• Processes for identifying and controlling hazards, risks, system deficiencies, and opportunities for improvement shall be evaluated.
• Audits are to be performed by competent persons who are to be objective and impartial and who are independent of the location being audited.
• Audits are to focus on the processes necessary to have and maintain an effective health and safety management system.
• Audits are to take into consideration legal or other requirements but they are to be systems audits and not compliance audits.
• If situations are noted that could be expected to be the causal factors for serious injury, illness, or fatality, communication to decision-makers on those situations shall be immediate so that corrective action ...