4 keys to a solid safety audit and inspection program

When was the last time you took a hard look at your environment, health and safety program? If it’s been a while or you can’t remember, or if you’ve never conducted a safety inspection or audit, it’s time to get to work. By evaluating your facilities, people and processes, you’ll make your workplace safer and more efficient.

You’ll also minimize your regulatory and legal risks. Audits and inspections ensure you stay 10 steps ahead of OSHA, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the other federal and state authorities that can levy citations and penalties.

If you find the prospect of audits and inspections overwhelming, you’re not alone. So, let’s make this as simple and painless as possible by breaking down audits and inspections into manageable pieces. These are the 4 basic components that, when combined, form a comprehensive assessment of your EHS program.

Part 1: The regulatory audit

What it covers:

• OSHA compliance
• EPA compliance
• Department of Transportation compliance
• National Fire Protection Association compliance
• Compliance with state and local regulatory requirements

Examples of questions to ask:

• Are all employees trained properly?
• What are your safety policies, and are employees following them?
• Is there a written compliance program?
• Have you conducted a hazard assessment?
• What is the condition of personal protective equipment?
• What are your chemical storage procedures?
• Do you have all required hazardous materials paperwork?
• What are your machine guarding procedures?
• What are your respiratory protection procedures?
• Are any fall hazards present in the workplace?
• What are your shipping, warehousing and transportation procedures?
• Are sprinkler systems in good working order?
• Is all necessary safety signage in place?

Learn more.

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