Ensure That the Audit is Fair

For an audit program to be effective, it should be fair. The comparisons should be as close to apples to apples as possible. Continuity among auditors is key. Just let it get around that one auditor interprets a finding 

The organization that you work for may be so large or have too many locations or be so diverse that not one person would be expected to audit every facility. The situation and logistics could make one-person auditing impractical. If your audit team consists of more than one person, consistency between audits performed by different auditors may be affected. 

Audits and inspections are useful tools in determining field compliance. Inspections should be performed at a variety of levels and at least once, if not more so, during any one shift. Inspections will concentrate on the here and now. Inspections typically focus on items that determine whether a piece of equipment or a production line is safe to operate or should be sidelined. An audit is more focused on big picture items. 

Sometimes success comes in small steps. Accomplishing field compliance using tools such as an effective inspection and audit program will likely come in small steps. These tools are all part of a developing safety culture. Each step that is made in the development of safety culture is a step in the right direction. 

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