Monitoring, Review and Audit of OHS&E

Introduction Monitoring, review and audit Policy Organising Planning & implementation Evaluation Action for improvement Audit Continual Monitoring, review and audit Essential elements of a health, safety & environment management system

Health, Safety & environment Performance ‘Most managers are aware of the need to keep a careful eye on financial performance, but many fail to apply the same approach to their management of health, safety & environment. 1 1

Active and Reactive Monitoring Workplace inspections Safety samples Safety tours Safety surveys Audits Accident and sickness absence investigation Near misses / incident investigation Dangerous occurrences Accident / ill-health statistics Monitoring progress Monitoring failure

Auditing Purpose Audit Considers whether the management system Exists is Adequate is Used Remember French Water EAU 9 9

Audit VS Inspection Audit Inspection Tests the existence, adequacy and use of safety management systems Includes physical inspection, interviews and documentation checks Identifies organisational failures which are root causes of accidents and ill-health Very proactive Identifies hazards that are not controlled to a standard Physical inspection only Identifies unsafe conditions and some unsafe actions which are immediate causes of accidents Can be largely reactive if they lead to quick fix of immediate causes rather than corrective action of root causes

Workplace Inspections Limitations Hazards not visible Hazards not present Unsafe practices

Inspectors Managers, supervisors and employees Safety officer / adviser Health, safety & environment representatives Enforcement officers Specific competent persons (e.g. insurance company inspector)

Inspection Checklist Headings Condition of processes and other plant Contractors Electrical Environmental conditions / transport routes Fire protection First-aid provision Hand held / portable tools Hazardous substances Housekeeping / cleanliness Lifting equipment Lighting Manual handling Mechanical / machinery guarding Noise PPE Pressure vessels Safe access / egress Signs and abstracts Suitability of stored materials Temperature / ventilation Welfare conditions

Inspection Reports Identify actions to Eliminate or control the hazards now, and Prevent recurrence Prioritise the actions to be taken Set clear responsibilities and dates for action Identify a review date

Audit Objectives Determine the extent of conformity with the management systems Evaluate the capability of management to ensure compliance with legal requirements Evaluate the effectiveness of the management system in meeting objectives Identify areas for potential improvement of the management system

Internal & External Audits Internal Audits External Audits Advantages Disadvantages Cheaper Easier to arrange Less threatening More expensive More time required to organise More formal / threatening Influenced by internal relationships Not taken seriously May be biased, Assumptions may influence conclusions Less knowledge of internal relationships Increased formality Independent of internal competition Assumptions are less likely

Conclusion Establish the HSE System according to an Int’l Standards Implement the System Review & Evaluate (Audit) to identify gaps Act to fill gaps & check effectiveness