Ten things to remember for a safety audit

Here is a list of ten thing to remember for a safety audit:

1. Why you are doing it

If you don't focus on the needs of the client, then the report is unlikely to keep the client satisfied and is unlikely to address their issues.

2. Note book

However you choose to record your findings, some form of notebook is necessary. Something with a hard back is very useful.

3. Pen

Take at least one pen (or pencil) and one spare. 

4. Camera

If a picture paints a thousand words ...
Very useful for reminding you of the details of a site - take more photos thatn you intend to use.

5. Tape measure

Not glamourous: to check door widths, rail heights, etc. 

6. Address

I know it sounds obvious, but without an accurate address (and maybe some access details) a lot of time can be lost in finding a site. This may mean that you keep the client waiting or even that they leave without meeting you.

7. Access to site records

Without organising and getting access to the site records, it is not possible to give the cleint an accurate reflection of their level of compliance.

8. To talk to people

Unless it is a vacant site, it is likely that the people on site will have some useful information, story, or other information that should form part of the audit visit. Do not neglect to talk to them and solicit their views.

9. To provide a summary of key finding before leaving the site

Even though you will not have fully formulated what is going to be in the report, it is important to give the cleint an insight as to the main points. Discuss the good as well as the bad. If there are any serious concerns, discuss these with the client before leaving the site. This may help to prevent an incident from occurring, which is part of the reason why you are there at all!

10. To make a positive contribution to Health and Safety 

In most cases, the reason that you are at the site is because you have been invited by the client. Repay this invitation by helping the client with a positive contribution to health and safety on their site.

A Safety Consultant's day in London

Cold, early start - off to London on the 05.53 hrs train from Loughborough.
Quick stop off for breakfast at a small cafe near to Paddington Station before meeting a great client with a series of Hotel and Residential properties. A general run through some issues that they are having on one site and then off to visit a series of their more local Residential Property units. A few issues were identified on these sites and some improvements suggested (to ease the burden of record keeping). After that, it was over to Holborn to carry out a Safety Compliance Audit for the Managing Agent at a multi-let office block. Only issue on this site was to improve the control of contractors (which was largely being done well). Then back on the underground and onto the train. Train far too warm - dozed for most of the return journey.

Day over, except for some report writing ...

Another day in London a couple of weeks later
Another cold and early start, but at least the snow and ice was no longer a problem. One thought in my mind - will the student demonstrations of the previous evening create any lingering travel delays.

I met my first client of the day for a quick review of the general safety, welfare and fire safety arrangements of their small office area in a much larger building near to Victoria Station. After that, over to a smart office block near to King's Cross Station to take part in a job interview - working with a client to assist them in several interesting and challenging areas of change in their company. On at a relentless gallop over to Holborn to carry out a safety inspection of the common areas of a multi-let office block before heading home at the end on a gruelling, but interesting, day. Again, the reports need to be written up ...

Immediate Future
Several more early starts and late finishes commuting to London to continue my health and safety consultancy work. Hard work, yes - but also fascinating and fun!