Health and Safety for Beginners

by **Keith1983** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 4:50 pm

We have our first audit tomorrow since I took over H&S responsibilities in my workplace! I'm a bit nervous but at the same time keen to learn someone elses take on how we are doing. I'm a bit worried we are going to get slated and I will end up thinking that I'm useless, but what the hell, it should be a good learning experience! Has anyone who has extensive audit experience got any tips?

by **ChrisD** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 4:59 pm

BIGGEST thing NOT to do is lie to any question posed by the auditor.

I know we all try to impress but seriously, these guys know when they are being told the truth or not.

If you dont know the answer to a question - just be honest and say you dont know.

Thats one of the biggest lessons I learnt a few years ago when I first took over the H&S reigns for a previous employer. I tried to be clever and answer something I had very little knowledge on. He just posed more and more questions, digging deeper until I couldnt get out of the hole he helped me create lol.

by **Keith1983** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 5:20 pm

I've been advised to answer any questions but nothing more! I'm of the opinion that any highlighted shortcomings are an opportunity for improvement though. There are a few bits that I know he will pick up on, it;s the ones I'm not expecting that I'm worried about!

by **Johnno** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 5:49 pm

As chris said..don't woffle & don't lie & she'll be right mate.

Audits can be a double edged Sword, you can use them to get things done when your Boss is stonewalling you if you know which Buttons to push

by **Lisa_** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 5:59 pm

Hiya,

Is it an internal or external auditor? Either way the advise given above regarding honesty is sooooooooooooo important. I was an auditor for years and there was one thing that guaranteed that I would keep on picking - that being if I thought someone was trying to fob me off. Having records to hand and a room where they / he / she can sit quietly and go through stuff creates a good impression and also means they don't hear random things that can set the imagination wandering. A good auditor will bring the best out of people and find out all sorts without you even realising it (the secret service could learn a thing or too) , there is nothing you can change now. Think of it as the line in the sand that you can compare yourself to in 6,12 months time.

GOOD LUCK

by **Juan Carlos** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 6:03 pm

I have been through many audits in the past, not only on H&S but in other areas of the business, some of the things that will go in your favour will be:

•Treat the auditor well from the first minute: arrange for a parking space to be reserved for them, find a comfortable area for your initial meeting, arrange for coffees biscuits etc to be available and provided in a professional manner, ensure the sign in for the purpose of control of visitors, inform them of any health and safety arrangements on site and assure them that they will be accompanied through out the visit. (make them feel important)

•If you have a big site and it is the first time they visit you, print out the lay out of the premises (if possible)

•Have your documentation organised neatly and know how to find the information they request rapidly.

•Show off, when possible, the good things you have implemented and don’t be afraid to put your hands up when shown areas requiring improvement.

•Be positive about health and safety in your company

•Ensure you give the perception of being interested in what the auditor says through out the visit.

•Be mindful of your body language to ensure you make them feel at ease.
•Be honest in the way you answer your questions without offering information which has not been asked for.

•Involve members of your senior management team during the audit, during initial & closing meetings and during the site tour if adequate. (this will demonstrate the level of support you receive from the senior managers)

Etc etc etc

Goodluck with the audit!

by **Jack Kane** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 6:47 pm

All good advice above Keith, as usual

We recently had our first surveillance audit for 18001 and I soaked up every ounce of experience from the auditor I could. He was great, in fact, it felt like he was teaching me for two days!

The main thing I'd take out of the comments above would be the honesty part. We also made use of our plasma screens for this approach to inform all on site that they may be asked questions by the auditor and if they didn't know the answer, just to say so. It's perfectly OK to not know the answer.

After all, the purpose of the audit is continual improvement, so learning is essential.

You will be fine.

by **Coldrop** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 10:17 pm

I've recently dealt with our external 9001 audit and I've also spent the last 2 weeks auditing our suppliers, not exactly fun job but all done now

by **liamr** » Tue Nov 17, 2009 9:27 am

my only advice is don't panic.

the pub is only 8 hours away .salut

by **Keith1983** » Tue Nov 17, 2009 9:40 am

liamr wrote:my only advice is don't panic.

the pub is only 8 hours away

If only that were the case! I'm at work till 6 then it's pick the daughter up from nursery and then might get to relax for 5 mins when she is in bed and then it's dropping the car off at the garage tonight for some work tomorrow when the mrs gets back at 8! So the pub is at least 12 hours away, although there is a supply of cold beer in the fridge!

by **justgossip** » Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:57 pm

My first audit I got hammered. I showed the auditor EVERYTHING and then some, what he missed I pointed out. I had a great action plan at the end.

My second audit, our depot came top out of all the UK depots for the company I was working for.

garry

by **Keith1983** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 9:32 am

Well the results are provisionally in.............................................................. We did much better than I could have ever dreamed! The auditor was a nice bloke and I learned alot in the process. We were using this audit almost as a gap analysis for ISO18001. When I was having a chat with the auditor afterwards he was confident that we wouldn't be a million miles of ISO18001 if we applied today which was a massive bit of good news for us as some of our customers are pushing us down this route, so overall fantastic results , feedback and experience!