SAFETY AUDIT

A safety audit is a techniques which submits each areas of an organizations health and safety activity to a systematic critical examination with the principal objective of minimising loss . Every component of the total working system is included, e.g. Management policy and commitment attitude training features of processes, safe system of works, personal protection needs emergency procedures etc. An audit, as in the field of accountancy aims to disclose strengths and weaknesses in the main areas of vulnerability or risk. Safety audit should be designed on the basis of passed accident experience, existing hazards and the need to improve individual attitude of health and safety performance. In order to the 100% effective audit documents need regular updating and revision. A team approach to the carrying out of the safety audits is recommended, sooner that the completion the auditing by any specific individual. Following a safety audit, a formal report should be prepared, incorporating short term, medium term and long term recommendations for action. Implementation of recommendation should be closely be monitored. Need for safety audit: Safety audit has gained more importance after the amendment to the Factories Act in 1987. Following this safety audit has been introduced by many industries organization at the corporate level. In house safety professionals corporate managers and external expert auditors may constitute the audit team to evaluate the existing safety system and suggest improvements and thereby upgrade the system. Hazardous situations and unsafe practices that result in imperfect performance and subsequently accidental loss and adverse effects on employees are discovered by way of safety audit. By eliminating their losses, the company can prevent lost time accidents, injuries, and accidental damage to the equipment etc. caused by unsafe condition, unsafe acts and wrong work practices. Safety audit that identifies areas where more thrust can be given. Areas of Safety audit: Safety audit includes policies, attitudes, safety training, operational features of process equipment, layout, Operation, maintenance, services, existing hazards, emergency preparedness, protective devices, first aid, permit to work system, accident record, house keeping and record keeping and many more areas. Safety audit WHAT? Safety Audit deals with Loss Prevention, not accident prevention. It is a proactive measure. Safety Audit should be done to find out loss producing areas and to prevent those to add value of function. It is not a FAULT finding process, but a FACT finding process. It is meant to analyse Safety Management System.

Safety audit is required to be conducted in all work areas, but is mandatory for Hazardous Units under Rule-10 in addition to Hazardous Chemical Rules 1989, with amendment in 1994. Following are the different elements of Safety Audits (CHECK LIST): MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (Check list) 1

1. SHE Policy 2. Safety and Health organization 3. Education and training 4. Communication/Motivation 5. Safety Inspection 6. Accident reporting/investigation/recommendation/implementation 7. Maintenance of record of accidents/incidences and its utilisation 8. Compliance with statutory requirements 9. Personal Protective Equipments 10. Safe operating procedures 11. Work permit system 12. Fire fighting system 13. Health and Safety improvement plan/target 14. Prevention of occupational diseases 15. Work environment monitoring system 16. First Aid facilities 17. Medical examination 18. Material Safety Data-sheet of hazardous substances 19. Purchase/store system 20. Hazardous waste treatment and disposal 21. Transportation of Hazardous material 22. Contractors safety system 23. Safety budget / development TECHNICAL ASPECTS (Check list) 1. Building and structure 2. Operational safety and procedure 3. Process in-built safety 4. Handling and storage of chemicals 5. Material handling Manual/Machine 6. Hand tools 7. Fire and explosion hazards 8. Pressure vessels 9. Piping and valves 10. Machine guarding/fencing 11. Pumps and compressors 12. Preventive maintenance 13. Electrical hazards 14. Instrumentation 15. House keeping/lighting/ventilation 16. Boiler/Furnace/Ovens 17. Use of PPE 18. Work environment monitoring (Noise/dust/fume etc) 19. Hazard identification 20. New equipments/installations Review/inspection/survey 21. Emergency preparedness The above elements can further be divided into sub-elements and a checklist can be prepared to complete the audit within targeted time. For example, let us take the element of Safety Policy under Management System. This element can be further divided as follows: Sub-element (SAFETY POLICY) 2

Availability Communication / circulation Management commitment Whether issued by the Chief executive Responsibility / Authority / Accountability Contractors job Safety organization / reporting system Original/copied Achievable/practical Review

Sub-element (Building & Structure under Technical aspect) Location/lay-out Approval from statutory authority Conforming to standards Detailed drawings Stability certificate Light and ventilation Fire prevention measures Lightening arrestor Etc AUDIT TEAM The members of audit team should have the following criteria: Nominated at Corporate level Unbiased Technically sound No additional burden Willingness to become member Acceptable to most Good communicator Good perseverance Management support From multi-discipline