Safety Audit Review Boards

In the last chapter we mentioned how safety audits can be a useful tool for measuring where we are. Besides expecting consistent and fair audits, we need to remember that the persons reviewing audit results also have 

The audit review board receives the comprehensive audits and reviews the results. The recommendations and audit results are shared with the review board (which includes upper management) for final review and approval. The involvement of upper management is of the utmost importance. 

The steering or review committee will study the safety audit findings and determine if the recommendations from the audit team are in line with management expectations and vision. Most, if not all, of the audit team s findings are accepted and approved. After this acceptance and 

It is best when an auditor or a particular audit team repeat audits around three times (or three years). This would allow this auditor or this team to have audited this facility three times. During this time frame auditors can not only build a relationship with local management at the branches, but also ensure that progress is being made. Changing auditors for every audit can lead to confusion and a general lack of continuity. Three years would be the maximum time that the format of the audit would remain unchanged. Because the safety culture would have developed substantially over that three-year period, the audit form would probably need to address a different level of issue. 

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Audits by INPO and the U.S. NRC aie a culmination of a high degree of self-auditing by the plant operators and the utihties themselves, often assisted by special third-party safety review boards set up to help carry out safety assessments (21). Self-auditing and self-criticism are essential to the process. These reflect the fundamental reactor safety principle that the owner-operator of the plant has the ultimate responsibiUty for plant safety. 

AUDIT REVIEW 1. The safety department will provide a review of plan progress and incidents each quarter 2. An external audit will be performed every 3 years etc. A report will be sent to the board, members of the management team and safety committee members - the audit will be available to employees... 

Two other federal authorities, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the General Accounting Office (GAO), also have a role. The NTSB investigates reportable pipeline incidents to determine the causes and to make recommendations to the OPS for future prevention. The GAO audits the OPS for performance against its mission and makes recommendations for improvements, if needed. A report, issued by GAO in 2000, reviewed progress on pipeline safety issues by the OPS. ... 

Topics addressed in this chapter include audit purpose, QA interface, internal and external audits, conduct of audits, lessons learned, and information about the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. Conduct of audits will include a section on the mechanics of an individual audit that should be most helpful during the periodic review process. 

POLICY 1 The board to review and reissue the policy every 3 years 2. Each board member to ensure that the policy is reviewed in cascaded discussions throughout the organisation 3. Independent auditors to assess that the policy covers all risks etc. A policy less than three years old At least 80% of a sample of employees to confirm their knowledge of the new policy within 3 months of its issue An audit report to be reviewed at the senior safety committee... 

The completion of regular reports and reviews on safety performance, which may be considered by senior management and the board of directors > The undertaking of regular audit programmes. 

Internal audit results should be posted in the division office on the safety bulletin board and on bulletin boards in the area being inspected. Results should be posted immediately upon completion, with action items noted on the form. Positive recognition should be listed first, indicating items that were noted during the review as safe and in compliance with company policy. 

After extensive review and development, the oil and natural gas industry has approved the creation of the Center for Offshore Safety, which will promote the highest level of safety for offshore operations, through an effective program that addresses management practices, communication and teamwork, and which relies on independent, third-party auditing and verification. The board directed API to further develop the operational framework and timeline for the center—working with other industry stakeholders—to enhance industry safety and environmental performance. 

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