ABSTRACT
Audits and compliance are proactive means for verifying compliance to the organization’s SMS and governing standards and procedures. When used properly as a business improvement model, audits and compliance are very effective in generating continuous improvements in business and can move the organization along its safety culture maturity path. Auditors are no longer organizational watchdogs and policemen; rather, they provide guidance to business leaders on gaps and opportunities in an organizational SMS for proactively addressing these gaps and risks exposure to prevent incidents and losses before they occur.
