Third-Party Safety Audits: How They Help
What Exactly is A Third-Party Safety Audit?
Third-party safety audits are very often confused with safety inspections. They are not the same since a safety audit is a much more in-depth review of an organization’s safety policies, training programs, and standard operating procedures. Safety audits also include comprehensive evaluations of a company’s procedures and practices in order to identify hazards, ensure OSHA compliance, and identify areas for improvement.
Safety audits help organizations maintain the highest standards of health and safety, since they are an important tool in assessing and maintaining safe working environments.
Safety audits can be conducted internally, however there are many good reasons to use an objective and independent resource.
Third parties are better able to conduct an objective assessment of an
organization’s health and safety compliance
Organizations benefit from an independent assessment, untainted by any potential biases that might otherwise be associated with internal audits.
As an independent third party, Compliance Consultants, Inc. has no incentive other than to ensure all of our clients are meeting all regulatory and industry standards.
Who Provides Third-Party Audits?
Third-party safety audits can be conducted by different types of organizations such as risk management firms and insurance carriers.
However, because we have industry-specific expertise and specially trained safety associates, safety consulting firms like CCI, are preferred providers when it comes to partnering with an outside resource. Our staff are highly-trained, specialized safety consultants who stay current on the latest regulatory changes and OSHA standards.
Who actually conducts a safety audit is less important than having one done, as long as third parties are properly qualified to do the job. Also note that a third-party audit is complementary to internal audits in many cases.
Key Steps in A Third-Party Safety Audit
Safety audits are more comprehensive than pre-task site planning or site inspections and touch all areas of an organization.
Generally, safety audits have several key steps:
- Risk Analysis – An assessment, evaluation, and mitigation of potential workplace hazards
- Policy & Procedure Review – Written safety programs, policies, and procedures aligned with industry standards and regulatory requirements
- On-Site Evaluation – Actual on-site assessment of operations and field practices
- Employee & Document Review – Employees review and provide feedback to gauge safety perceptions
Many Benefits of Third-Party Safety Audits
An objective third-party is able to offer an unbiased evaluation of everything from compliance gaps to hazardous situations to employee feedback. The focus is on review and continuous improvement across the organization, and the goal is an improvement in worker safety.
There are some other benefits of the third-party audit:
- Thorough Assessments – Third parties conduct thorough assessments that include management and leadership. They look at everything from site operations to documentation to policies and protocols.
- Actionable Reports – Third-party safety assessments almost always include actionable reports after the fact. An auditor’s findings include actual solutions companies can implement immediately.
- Continuous Improvement – Third-party assessments also identify strengths and weaknesses in a way that encourages an organization to adopt a continuous improvement mindset. Audit reports include corrective actions and suggestions for maintaining future compliance.
- Regulations and Industry Standards – Third-party safety assessments are almost always based on established regulations and industry standards. Organizations can rest assured that the advice they received is not based on the auditor’s whims or biases.
- Injury and Illness Reductions – Third-party safety audits can lead to significant reductions in workplace injuries and illnesses as long as corrective actions are taken. That is the goal.
The undercurrent in all of this is ongoing compliance. OSHA insists that organizations consistently comply with all safety and health regulations. In addition, industry standards fill in any gaps left by federal regulations. Combined, the two help to create workplace environments that are as safe as possible.
Contact Us Today for a FREE Safety Inspection
Don’t delay in evaluating your site. At, Compliance Consultants, Inc. , our priorities are ensuring that you maintain compliance and that your employees remain safe.
Whether an in-depth audit . . . or an introductory FREE Safety Inspection, improved safety starts with identifying both strengths and weaknesses and implementing a plan. Our team will thoroughly inspect your workplace, provide you with an actionable report, and answer any questions you might have.
We can also team up with you to improve workplace safety after the fact. Through our expert consulting services, we can help you ensure your organization achieves the highest standards of safety.
