ABSTRACT
Auditing the SMS of an organization is essential to determine if policies and procedures in place are adequate to protect the health and safety of workers, public, and the environment. An effective audit should clearly identify all weaknesses of the SMS as well as provide recommendations for enhancement. Generally, audits should be performed using industry protocols that set out standards for an effective SMS. However, many organizations may hold themselves to higher standards than industry performance and will often audit against internally developed standards for performance improvement opportunities.
