Reason for safety audits
The reason for a safety audit is to make sure a company or an PCBU is following and applying the health and safety laws and to make sure that the worker is meeting the standards of health and safety that the workplace has place on them. It also helps improve management awareness of a problem so it stops more accidents to happen in the workplace.
Safety audits are intended to promote, improve and maintain good safety performance.
Safety audit involves reviewing safety programs, procedures and policies to see if they cover workers in jobs. If not up to date then new procedures and policies are written. They also observe workers and their working habits in different job tasks. Audits give a walkthrough of the workplace focusing on job tasks given and observing workers behavior.
safety audit check list
Safety audits are intended to promote, improve and maintain good safety performance.
Safety audit involves reviewing safety programs, procedures and policies to see if they cover workers in jobs. If not up to date then new procedures and policies are written. They also observe workers and their working habits in different job tasks. Audits give a walkthrough of the workplace focusing on job tasks given and observing workers behavior.
safety audit check list
- work areas: should be free of obstructions to prevent trips and falls. Cables, boxes and stacks of paperwork on the floor can cause injuries ranging from a sprained ankle to a concussion. Make sure appropriate signage is displayed when floors are wet, and place non-slip pads near break-room sinks and in restrooms. All stairwells should have non-slip surfaces and sturdy handrails.
- equipment safety: Store paper cutters, box knives, letter-opening machines and other possibly dangerous equipment in a safe area with plenty of room to work. It is likely that employees will keep certain equipment, such as scissors and manual letter openers, at their desk. If this is the case, make sure that all employees have ready access to a sink with soap and a first-aid kit. Make ergonomic equipment available to all staff upon request, and design job processes to avoid repetitive or unnatural motion as much as possible. Ergonomically designed keyboards, wrist rests, chairs and computer monitors can all help reduce injuries in office workers. Structure jobs to mix light physical tasks with computer work to avoid wrist injuries. Situate personal and general-office filing cabinets in such a way as to reduce unnatural bending of the wrist, and ensure that hand carts are available for moving heavy boxes or large stacks of paperwork.
- emergency procedures: Emergency exits and evacuation routes should be clearly displayed in high-traffic areas. Consider conducting a fire drill during safety audits to gauge the effectiveness of evacuation procedures. Ensure that first-aid kits and fire extinguishers are stocked and readily accessible, and that all staff are trained in emergency response procedures, including accident reporting.
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