Safety audits have been utilized in industry for many years. The concept of an audit is to first establish program markers and then evaluate those items that are required within the safety program by the organization. If the specific items listed within the safety audit guidelines are expected to be maintained and compliant, someone must be responsible for evaluating the levels of compliance. The question remains; what items should be included in a safety audit? How should the facility be evaluated to measure compliance?
This presentation will identify 60 basic safety components that are recommended as being a part of a safety program, thus, if the items were included in a safety audit, what is their value? To validate the value of the 60 individual items, two select groups of safety professionals, one group in 1979/1980 and the other in 2000, some 20 years apart, were asked to rate the value of each item in regards to a safety audit.
Should the following 60 items be a part of a formal safety audit? This was the question posed to each of the groups.
Safety Organization and Administration:
Corporate safety policy statement, posting, distribution and enforcement.
Responsible safety representation to be assigned to each facility.
Enforcement and administration of a plant safety rules program.
Safety orientation of new employees.
Safety performance review of the facility and supervisors.
Management review of major accidents and incidents.
Use of safety manuals and handbooks by supervisors and workers.
Management and employee safety committees and meetings.
Management program on emergencies and disasters.
Policies and procedures program for safety.
Hazards Control and Monitoring:
Control and monitoring of flammable and/or hazardous materials.
Effective machine guarding program.
Material safety data sheets program.
General area control of facilities, (conditions of walls, docks, lighting, etc).
Planned and documented safety inspections of facilities.
Inspections and documentation program for machines and tools.
Programs for materials storage, handling and housekeeping.
Personal protective equipment program.
Fire prevention and protection program.
Purchasing approval control w/ safety involvement.
Industrial Hygiene and Health:
Noise control program to include engineering, audio metrics and PPE.
General and local ventilation.
Respiratory control program, PPE and policy enforcement.
Control of exposures to the skin.
Plant sanitation controls for lunch rooms, locker rooms, offices and toilets.
Ergonomics programs and improvements.
Personal monitoring and measuring for hazardous or toxic environments.
Employee physicals program.
Availability of medical supplies and services.
Use of trainers, vendors and others for education and training for I.H.
