9 factors to consider before embarking on audit on-site activities to guarantee the safety and health of an auditor or audit team members.

When preparing for any management system audit, there will be a time for an auditor to visit the auditee locations. Most times, these locations are not familiar places to the auditor. An unfamiliar location has the potential to cause one form of safety breach. So that’s why it is vital to minimise this interference for auditors’ safety and health. So, there are factors to consider before embarking on audit on-site activities to guarantee the safety and health of an auditor.

Below are the 9 factors to consider before embarking on audit on-site activities to guarantee the safety and health of an auditor or audit team members.

1. Permission for access.

Make sure that there is adequate permission and access to the auditee’s location. Do this according to what is in the audit scope. An audit scope will also determine the access to places for the audit.

2. PPE.

Confirm with your auditee the availability of PPE for the location. The PPE that’ll be needed may include a safety boot, hand glove, and safety helmet. Most times, accessing some location without adequate PPE is a license to harm and damage. The wearing of the PPE by the audit team will guarantee their safety in locations where they are doing the audit.

3. Security.

Ensure the security of your team when doing the audit on-site activities. Ensure that the auditors have adequate security information.

4. Audit scope and objectives.

Ensure you inform the people in the location of your visit and the objective of your audit even before you embark on the visit as an auditor or member of the audit team. Doing this will help to keep them aware of the visit and make the necessary individual arrangements that they have to make. However, there could be exceptions when the visit is emergency, ad hoc or unscheduled. 

5. Emergency procedures.

Communicate all the necessary emergency procedures to the audit team before the audit. Also, learn the location of the emergency exit, muster points, fire doors, etc.

6. Seek permissions.

Always seek permission as an auditor before you take any document that belongs to the auditee. Asking for permission will put you in a better position as a professional. Ensure that you don’t reveal confidential and security matters.

 7. Watch out for equipment.

Ensure you seek permission before using any equipment as an auditor. 

8. During Taking Photographs.

Always ask for permission before taking a photograph when carrying out an audit of on-site activities. Don’t just take pictures of everything because some organisations may not allow it. Always ask for authorisation from the management before you consider taking a photograph.

9. Manage incident situations carefully.

When carrying out the audit on-site activities, and there is an incident during those times, ensure you handle it carefully. The audit team leader should review the situation with the auditee and carefully agree with the auditee on whether to interrupt, reschedule or continue the on-site audit activities.

Conclusion.

For your on-site audit activities to be safe, healthy and secure, always remember to put the above factors into action. Whenever you meet any unpleasant situation, ensure you review it immediately as an auditor and keep the auditee in the know.

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