ABSTRACT
This chapter explains the purpose of, and procedures for, health and safety auditing. It explores the purpose of, and procedures for, regular reviews of health and safety performance. Many organisations have a policy on continual improvement which should be applied to health and safety management in the same way as other management issues. The final ACT steps in the health and safety management control cycle are auditing, performance review and taking action on lessons learned. The Safety Management System (SMS) Audit is a major exercise, typically carried out every 2–4 years, as a means of assessing the adequacy of the whole organisation’s SMS. Surveys look at only one aspect of the safety management system, inspections are frequent regular local monitoring normally carried out by line managers, tours concentrate on management commitment, sampling looks at only one area or subject over a short limited time.
