Beyond regulatory needs, OSHA points out that a safety program can bring many other benefits to a business such as:
- Preventing workplace injuries and illnesses
- Improving compliance with laws and regulations
- Reducing costs, including significant reductions in workers' compensation premiums
- Engaging workers
- Enhancing a business’s social responsibility goals
- Increasing productivity and business operations
Planning
Before beginning a safety audit, your team should take time to review pertinent documentation such as:
- Accident reports
- Company policy statements
- Employee training requirements and participation records
- Industry best-practices guidelines
- Inspection results and corrective actions implemented
- State and federal guidelines and laws
Performing Your Audit
When performing an audit, you'll look at the total safety environment of your company, which might include elements like:
- Emergency preparedness
- Employee education programs
- Employee participation
- Ergonomics
- Hearing conservation
- Recordkeeping
- Respirator and personal protective equipment use
The areas of concern you'll include in your audit will depend on the nature of your business and the hazards it presents. OSHA’s safety management resources are a great starting point to help your business develop the questions to be addressed by your audit.
Remember that an OSHA safety audit is far more involved and very different than a routine hazard inspection. As a business owner, you should always perform regular safety inspections according to your organization's specific needs.
Preparing Your Audit Report
After you've completed your audit, you’ll need to create a formal report. The report can contain an overview of findings, including what is and isn't working for your company. It can highlight discrepancies, and make recommendations for improvements to the current program.
This article gives a general overview of the processes involved in a safety audit. For in-depth information, check for the following materials:
Selective also offers risk prevention resources through our Safety Management team. Speak to your agent to learn more about how Selective can help you reduce risk in your business.