Occupational and environmental health and safety (OHS and EHS) are critical responsibilities for any company, regardless of industry. However, navigating the nuances of health and safety requirements can be overwhelming given their complexity, and it can be challenging for management to maintain the highest safety standards and keep up with legal compliance.
One crucial component of OHS and EHS is audits and inspections. At face value, these may seem very similar, but each has key differences. Between their application, purpose, and how they benefit a company and its stakeholders, audits, and inspections are equally important but also should be viewed separately. In this post, we'll walk through the key differences between audits and inspections to provide you with a better understanding of how they differ and how they should be leveraged within your business. If you have additional questions or could use support for your EHS program, please feel free to contact The SP Group to schedule a free consultation.
EHS audits and inspections both share a broad common purpose: a safer workplace for a company’s stakeholders. The establishment, monitoring, and improvement of health and safety practices are commonly implemented for the safety of a company’s employees, but they can also be used to ensure the well-being of customers, the environment, and society as a whole.
While both audits and inspections strive for safety, their approaches to achieving this objective diverge. Audits are usually considered a comprehensive, systematic process (often using a third-party specialist) to review OHS and EHS programs, ensuring regulatory compliance and identifying areas for improvement. Inspections are, on the other hand, more of an evaluation of compliance and determination of conformity. Again, these may sound similar, but looking at key differences will help highlight what makes them stand apart.
Audits are a time-consuming process because they involve a highly detailed analysis. They can take up to several weeks to complete and are thus conducted less frequently, such as annually or bi-annually. Audits will review processes and operations, which in themselves can take longer periods of time.
Inspections are far more frequent in order to keep a proactive watch for hazards and implement timely mitigation procedures. They are important for investigating the causes of accidents and maintaining incident records for management and legal records. Inspections will check equipment and safe practices are being maintained according to OHS and EHS standards.
Audits are often conducted by independent parties that specialize in OHS and EHS audits. Companies will usually outsource a company, like The SP Group, to carry out an audit because they have experience in reviewing companies from an external, unbiased perspective and have experience and knowledge of the most up-to-date legal and regulatory compliances.
Inspections are usually conducted by an internal team that has familiarity with the business, the environment of the company, the equipment used, and the operations of employees. Companies will often have a safety officer or a similar position that is able to frequently review the workplace and assess it for safety hazards and poor practices.
Audits are much more complicated than inspections. Audits will conduct a review of the entire operations process and recommend improvements and changes. Inspections are simple and straightforward, verifying all the ‘boxes are checked’, so to speak.
A good example of an inspection is that it may note that all of the ladders are accounted for and in safe order, and if they’re not, a note will be made to take action and order new ones. An audit, on the other hand may inquire as to why there were ladders broken or missing.
Similarly, inspections may determine that fire and smoke detectors all have fresh batteries. An audit might inquire about the fire safety management process, who’s in charge, and how often safety drills are performed.
Audits are comprehensive reviews of an organization's OHS and EHS programs, ensuring compliance with regulations and identifying areas for improvement. Auditors analyze both the equipment and the employees’ working behaviors to ensure that they meet the accepted safety standards. They also review documents, undertake interviews, and observe processes and operations.
Inspections usually involve a physical examination of workplace elements to identify hazards, risks, and non-compliance with safety regulations. Inspections are often centered on ensuring that equipment, machinery, and facilities are in a safe working condition and that safety procedures are being followed correctly at the ground level on a day-to-day basis.
It's paramount that all companies meet regulatory requirements imposed on their particular industry as well as businesses more widely. EHS audits help by proactively reviewing operations and employee practices, mitigating hazards and minimizing the chances for accidents. While inspections are often carried out by internal safety officers, audits are recommended to be conducted by experts who can create impactful plans that will safeguard all stakeholders. If your company needs to schedule an audit or is looking for qualified, expert EHS support, please contact The SP Group today.
It's paramount that all companies meet regulatory requirements imposed on their particular industry as well as businesses more widely. EHS audits help by proactively reviewing operations and employee practices, mitigating hazards and minimizing the chances for accidents. While inspections are often carried out by internal safety officers, audits are recommended to be conducted by experts who can create impactful plans that will safeguard all stakeholders. If your company needs to schedule an audit or is looking for qualified, expert EHS support, please contact The SP Group today.