Ziqitza Limited - Workplace Safety Audits – What, Why & How?

 

Safety audits are absolutely essential and conducted as procedures designed to keep people safe. These audits are conducted for various reasons such as, safety, health and fire hazard identification. These audit procedures are categorically designed to reduce maintenance cost and optimise operational efficiency. The audit findings are used to improve processes, safety standards, set or revise budgets among many other things. Ziqitza Healthcare states that a structured safety audit can effectively evaluate the health and safety standards of a workplace and assist organisations to evaluate their health and safety programs and improve upon them.

 

Ziqitza also makes it clear that safety audits and safety inspections are not the same. While the first one evaluates and examines if the safety programs and practices within the organisation are in congruence with the industry standards, the second one means systemic and periodic inspections that aim to identify risks, safety hazards etc. Ziqitza Healthcare ltd, further clarifies that safety audits can help organisations identify and evaluate the efficacy of their safety programs.

 

Why to conduct a safety audit?

 

Ziqitza Rajasthan, believes that these audits play a major role and are an essential part of the safety management system of a workplace. These audits can be performed by supervisors and employees internally, or organisations can hire third-party auditors for an independent and unbiased audit.

 

Ziqitza Limited, explains that safety audits can identify the weak links and deficiencies of an organisation's safety procedures and protocols. Listed below are few reasons why an organisation must undertake safety audits -

 

-          To understand if existing safety and health procedures are fruitful or not.

-          To verify if employees and management are effectively engaged in safety programs.

-          To analyse if the safety processes are in compliance and in congruence with company policies and regulations.

-          To establish compliance with applicable OSHA rules.

-          To verify if safety and health programs are properly documented.

-          To identify existing and potential hazards.

-          To examine and evaluate existing controls.

-          To analyse the safety of the workplace.

-          To examine if the safety equipment is in good condition or not.

-          To evaluate supervisors' safety training and performance

-          To evaluate employees' safety training and performance.

 

There is ample evidence that suggests that safety audits have helped in reducing the number of workplace accidents, and ZHL Rajasthan, also promotes its effectiveness for it is beneficial to all.

 

How to conduct a safety audit?

 

Every organisation as an intrinsic part of its operating procedure must conduct safety audits periodically. These assessments can well prepare an organisation to handle any hazardous situation.

 

Determine the objective and scope: Before the actual audit starts, it is absolutely essential that the objective and scope of the audit is determined. The objective of the audit must be charted out before the actual process begins.

 

Find Facts: Auditors must make efforts to collect as much information as possible. The auditors can conduct interviews, look at previous reports, check the efficacy of the existing processes etc.

 

Review of the findings: After all facts and figures have been analysed, and practises, procedures and equipment have been inspected, a concise report must be formed that clearly summarises the findings and deficiencies if any. Ziqitza Limited Rajasthan states that the report should also include recommended actions.

 

Setting priority actions: Findings from the audit can reveal corrective priority actions. Ziqitza Health care limited explains that the audit team must work and collaborate with managers to prioritise these actions and prepare action plans for them.

 

Publish the Safety Audit results: It is important that everyone understands the findings of the safety audit, not just the supervisors or managers, but the employees as well. The entire organisation needs to understand that these changes are necessary for the safety of all personnel. The report must acknowledge the audit team and the supervisors and managers for their support and cooperation.

 

Conducting safety audits is not an easy task, it requires time and demands effort. However, the amount of time and effort spent is directly proportional to the affirmative results and findings. These findings propel the organisation towards a safe path - a path that is responsible for every personnel’s safety and health.

 

Safety audits help in identifying minor issues that could lead to a major workplace accident or health hazard. These audits ensure that the safety management systems of organisations are operating effectively and efficiently.