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Safety Audit Vs Safety Inspection
Safety Audit Vs Safety Inspection
There’s no one “right” way to assess the effectiveness of workplace safety programs.
OSHA citations, days away from work, and employee complaints all reflect elements of
a company’s culture of safety.
Yet safety inspections and safety audits approach the challenge of worker well-being
from different angles. Safety inspections look for hazards, risks, and other tactics that
might prevent a company from operating safely. Meanwhile, safety audits examine
whether programs and strategies are meeting a company’s goals.
Both are important components of a workplace safety plan. Here’s a closer look at the
relationship between the efforts, OSHA requirements, and more.
Safety Inspection
A safety inspection looks for safety hazards and unsafe practices throughout a facility.
The inspection should:
Once recognized, any hazards present can be rectified, eliminated, or accounted for.
Safety Audit
A safety audit evaluates safety programs and practices within an organization.
Employers conducting an audit should:
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Similarities Between a Safety Inspection and Safety Audit
There are several similarities between safety inspections and safety audits:
Broad goals: Both strive for a safer workplace that complies with all regulations
and standards.
Safety checklists: Both may use a safety checklist that includes relevant OSHA
standards, best practices, and other recommended precautions.
OSHA requirements: OSHA does not require safety audits or inspections, but
the agency views both as components of an effective safety plan.
Should a voluntary audit identify a hazardous condition, OSHA looks at the following:
If the above is true, OSHA will treat the audit as evidence of good faith and will not issue
a citation.