HSEGL-QP-11-01

GUIDELINES FOR MANAGING Rev. 0

HSE CONTRACTS Date: 16.03.08
Page: 25 of 113

4.82.1 HSE INSPECTIONS AND AUDITS

A clear distinction has to be made between an audit and an inspection. An HSE audit
is a review of management controls to ensure a requirement is met or standard is
complied with, whereas an inspection seeks to identify specific deficiencies in meeting
the requirement. As an example, an inspection might note that a vehicle has a
defective rear light, and require it to be fixed. An audit would seek to establish if there
is a defect reporting system which would ensure that such deficiencies are identified,
reported and corrected in a timely manner.
Inspections provide the day-to-day means of checking compliance with contract
requirements. Auditing provides the more formal and comprehensive assessments of
adherence to the contractor's HSE Plan. Inspections should be used to cover such
aspects as:
• HSE features on plant and equipment
• correct use of protective equipment
• employee HSE awareness and demonstrated use of safe work practices
• operational condition of HSE equipment
• contractor's holding of daily toolbox meetings and regular HSE meetings
• contractor's performance of HSE inspections/audits and reviews of the
contractor's and sub-contractor’s activities including follow-up and close-out of
action items
• site HSE documentation including Unsafe Act/Conditions reporting records
• contractor's incident investigation and follow-up
• compliance with PTW system
• reliability, serviceability and maintenance of work tools and equipment
• emergency and contingency plan readiness and drills including use of
firefighting equipment and first-aid.
The effectiveness of inspections can often be enhanced by the use of unannounced
spot checks and involvement of the contractor's responsible supervisory personnel.

Appendix 12A and 12B provide checklists for carrying out HSE monitoring audits for
major and small contracts respectively. An audit should not just recognize deficiencies
in HSE systems, it should try and establish why those deficiencies exist and then
recommend solutions to remove the systemic problems. Audits should not result in a
list of minor deficiencies (e.g. '…fire extinguisher was found out of date or two tyres on
the crew cab vehicle were found to be defective…’). It should result in a short list of
systemic faults that if solved, will prevent these minor deficiencies occurring again.
For example, ‘…the system for inspecting and maintaining emergency equipment is
not effective. Management should review this system to ensure single point
accountability for all emergency equipment and audit the system regularly to maintain
its effectiveness’.
Contractor HSE management Audits should be done in accordance with the HSE
specification and Contract HSE Plan. The audit should establish whether the HSE
systems are in place, are suitable and sufficient and are performing to standard.

4.82.2 HSE MEETINGS AND TOOLBOX TALKS

The contractor is required to hold HSE meetings and toolbox talks when executing the
work or services in the contract.