5. Health and Safety Audit

Conducting a Health and Safety Audit

An H&S audit – or gap analysis – is a good way to determine what you currently have in place and to highlight any gaps.  An audit can also help you to prioritise as you can give each element a priority score, for example:

1 = immediate action required – the organisation is at risk
2 = action required within 6 months – no immediate risk, or low risk
3 = action required within 12  months – minimal or no risk

An audit will give you an action plan and is a document to refer back to as you progress, marking as “complete” those actions you have carried out.  You can also use this as a progress report for senior management or the Director.

The H&S Audit provided is a “high level” audit, covering the key areas of health and safety within an SME.  Further questions can then be asked to drill down further.  For example, the audit will ask “do you have written risk assessments in place?”  the next question, to drill down further, would be “have the control measures been implemented and how can you demonstrate this?” 

The H&S Audit covers the following main areas:

• Number of employees, F/T, P/T, under 18, self-employed
• H&S Policy
• Register of Risk assessments
• Fire safety
• Electrical safety
• DSE Assessments
• Training
• First aid
• Consultation
• Accident/Near Miss records
• COSHH
• Subcontractors
• Training
• Other e.g. legionella RA, asbestos survey

You can access the H&S Audit here.