The Importance of WHSMS Audit for Workplace Safety Compliance

Workplace safety is a crucial aspect of any organisation, and employers must ensure that their employees work in a safe and healthy environment. Therefore, it is essential to have a Work Health and Safety Management System (WHSMS) in place to minimise injury and health issues associated with jobs and services in the organisation. A WHSMS is an efficient and reliable work health and safety tool because it keeps track of practices and policies that address work-related risks.

What is a WHSMS Audit?

A WHSMS Audit is an audit of the WHSMS system in an organisation to ensure that the organisation complies with the standards set by the Australian Work Health and Safety Act of 2011 or Occupational Health and Safety Laws. It is an assessment of the effectiveness of the existing safety procedures and documentation of work health and safety plans. The audit also evaluates the implementation of WHS processes in line with the developed WHS plan and audits WHS activities, making sure that they are according to what was proposed. The audit also helps in improving safety management and practices based on feedback.

The Benefits of WHSMS Audit

A WHSMS Audit is crucial for every organisation that wants to uphold its obligation to protect the welfare of its employees. Being particular when it comes to safety management benefits the organisation through:

Reduced Medical Compensation for Workplace Injuries

A WHSMS Audit helps organisations to identify and control risks associated with jobs and services. This, in turn, reduces the number of workplace injuries, leading to reduced medical compensation for workplace injuries.

Added WHS Awareness and Skills Among Employees

A WHSMS Audit helps in raising awareness on safety and work health care through competency training. Employees gain skills that they can channel into cautiousness, leading to a safe work environment that encourages productivity.

Active Participation and Commitment from Senior Management via Regular Audits

A WHSMS Audit ensures that senior management is actively involved in the safety management of the organisation. Regular audits ensure that senior management is committed to maintaining a safe work environment.

Good Company Reputation that Attracts Applicants and Customers

A safe work environment that encourages productivity and a culture of compliance to the highest work health and safety standards improve the company’s reputation. This attracts applicants and customers who are confident that the company values their safety.

A Culture of Compliance to the Highest Work Health and Safety Standards

A WHSMS Audit ensures that the organisation complies with the highest work health and safety standards. This creates a culture of compliance that values the safety of employees.

How to Prepare for a WHSMS Audit

Preparing for a WHSMS Audit involves the following steps:

Develop a WHS Management System

Developing a WHS Management System involves assessing work-related risks and evaluating the effectiveness of existing safety procedures. It also involves documentation of work health and safety plans and implementing WHS processes in line with the developed WHS plan.

WHS Training

WHS training is an essential part of preparing for a WHSMS Audit. It involves raising awareness on safety and work health care through competency training. This helps employees to gain skills that they can channel into cautiousness, leading to a safe work environment that encourages productivity.

Conduct a WHSMS Gap Analysis

Conducting a WHSMS gap analysis helps organisations to identify gaps in their safety management system. This enables them to make improvements and be better prepared for a WHSMS Audit.

Engage a WHS Consultant

Engaging a WHS consultant can help organisations to develop and implement a WHS Management System. A WHS consultant can also assist in preparations for a WHSMS Audit.

Review and Update WHS Policies and Procedures

Reviewing and updating WHS policies and procedures is essential in preparing for a WHSMS Audit. This ensures that the organisation is up-to-date with the latest work health and safety standards.

WHSMS Audit Process

The WHSMS Audit Process involves the following steps:

Pre-Audit Meeting

The Pre-Audit Meeting is a meeting between the WHS auditor and the organisation’s management team to discuss the audit scope, objectives, and timelines.

Document Review

The Document Review involves a review of the organisation’s WHS policies, procedures, and records. This is to ensure that they comply with the standards set by the Australian Work Health and Safety Act of 2011 or Occupational Health and Safety Laws.

Site Inspection

The Site Inspection involves a physical inspection of the workplace to determine compliance with the WHS policies and procedures.

Audit Report

The Audit Report is a report that summarises the findings of the audit. It includes recommendations for improvement and a corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

The Corrective Action Plan is a plan that outlines the actions that the organisation needs to take to address the recommendations for improvement highlighted in the Audit Report.

Conclusion

A WHSMS Audit is a crucial part of workplace safety compliance. It helps organisations to identify and control risks associated with jobs and services, leading to a safe work environment that encourages productivity. The benefits of a WHSMS Audit include reduced medical compensation for workplace injuries, added WHS awareness and skills among employees, active participation and commitment from senior management via regular audits, good company reputation that attracts applicants and customers, and a culture of compliance to the highest work health and safety standards. Organisations can prepare for a WHSMS Audit by developing a WHS Management System, conducting a WHSMS Gap Analysis, engaging a WHS Consultant, and reviewing and updating WHS policies and procedures. The WHSMS Audit Process involves a Pre-Audit Meeting, Document Review, Site Inspection, Audit Report, and Corrective Action Plan.

If you ever need help in developing a WHSMS process, you can count on us at WHS & Training Compliance Solutions Brisbane, Australia. We are a Queensland-based WHS institution that offers help in the development and implementation of WHS policies and procedures. With us, is an audit team that can track your organisation’s WHS activities and provides improvement feedback. We strongly believe that policy making on work health and safety is futile without concrete efforts. With WHSMS you can be confident that your employees are well-cared for and legislations surrounding workplace safety are complied with.

Learn more about WHSMS! Give our office a call at 07 5499 2406. Choose from our wide array of WHS services including mental health first aid and fitness for work training. We also assist in preparations for WHS certification in cities across Queensland, Australia like Brisbane, Townsville, Cairns, Caboolture, and Toowoomba. If you want to improve your organisation’s health and safety initiatives, you know how to reach us!

International WHSMS Auditing and other regions

Our Auditors are experienced in ISO 45001 WHSMS Auditing, and ready to travel and conduct WHSMS Auditing in International platform. We can assist in WHSMS auditing, but also development of WHS policies and procedures, implementation of WHSMS. Contact us info@whsandtrainingcompliance.com.au

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