One of the most daunting tasks a company will ever face is an audit †whether it is a financial audit, a compliance audit or a safety audit. This process involves allowing a third party access to the inner workings of the company in order to evaluate the operations and provide insight as to the quality and consistency of performance. This kind of invasion can be stressful and overwhelming for all personnel from the owner to the labourers and the best way to manage the associated stress of an audit is to properly prepare for it. Although each business is unique, it may be surprising to find that most small companies have a tendency to lose points in similar areas. By identifying these areas and targeting them for improvement prior to the start of the audit a company is able to drastically improve its chance for success and have an immediately beneficial impact on the company. The seven similarities we have found where businesses loose key points during a safety audit must be addressed if you want to achieve a successful score on your next review. 1.Give every worker a proper orientation †this cannot be stressed enough. The orientation is the foundation for your worker. It sets the tone for all things to come and will be the place where your worker first learns what the company stands for, who is in charge, what â€really’ happens, and so forth. 2.Post safety bulletins, policies, rules and current safety information at every worksite. This shows that workers have access to information and it’s not hidden. It also makes it easy for workers to read this stuff. 3.Ensure all fire extinguishers, first aid kits, spill kits, etc. are stored, stocked and inspected properly. These should have documented inspections on file and be current as well. Make sure quantities and sizes are sufficient for legal standards. 4.Teach your workers what their specific responsibilities are. If your labourer can’t tell you 5 things that are his/her specific safety responsibility, then you still have some work to do. Every worker should know what they are responsible for (attempting to put out fire, calling 911, starting the telephone notification system, administering first aid, leading the ambulance in, etc.) 5.Have an organizational chart & job descriptions for roles on the chart. Each role needs a full job description with task assignments. These are beneficial when it comes to hiring personnel and managing restricted work cases as well as a host of other situations. 6.Prepare your workers with mock interviews. Most workers have never been interviewed and are more than a little nervous about this part of the audit. Help them feel more comfortable by performing a mock interview. This will also prepare them with information on answers they are unfamiliar with. 7.Hold emergency response drills for every potential emergency. Be sure to evaluate these drills to identify areas that can be improved as well. There are many other things that can be done to improve your audit scores but doing these key 7 tasks will help to ensure that your audit review goes seamlessly. As with all audits, they are a snapshot of your performance at a particular moment in time. Always focus on progressing forward and making improvements in yourself and your operations. Sotera Safety Inc.
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