Rank: Super forum user 
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I am setting up a comprehensive H&S Management System, following the lines of OHSAS 18001 and the other usual suspects. One of our internal departments has just emailed me asking me to remove all references to audit/auditee/auditor etc from our H&S audit procedure. A quick thesaurus check came up with inspection as an alternative which is not right. Does anyone have any other suggestions as to what I can call this process so people know what we are up to, it demonstrates the difference between audit and inspection, and will enable compliance with the audit section of the management system? Thanks in advance
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Rank: Forum user
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Evaluation or examination and verification are a few phrases that spring to mind.
Why on earth do they object to the term Audit?!
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Rank: Super forum user
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Internal control assessment?
It does raise the question Seabee81 mentions.
Andy
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Rank: Super forum user
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OHSAS18001 clearly defines audit at 3.2 as "a systematic, independent and documented process for obtaining “audit evidence” and evaluating it objectively to determine the extent to which “audit criteria” are fulfilled".
It would be difficult to replace the term "audit" and still make sense of the definition and indeed the requirement at 4.5.5 "internal audit".
I imagine you have management support if you are setting up a comprehensive system? I would suggest you tell the department in question, politely to mind their own business or draw their reticence to said management!
Good luck...
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Rank: Super forum user
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I always take audit to mean, a thorough evaluation of a H&S system, ie you look at the location of the work how it is being managed; what sort of controls are being applied etc. An inspection means having a look to see what they are doing and what the facilities look like: rather different. Why don’t they like the word audit?
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Hopeful, why do they want the reference removed? There may be misunderstanding or a perception of "encroaching on to their territory"
Audit is a well-established part of most management systems and if you ever want your system to be subject to external overview or accreditation you will struggle to convince many "auditors" that you have an effective system without any reference to audits.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Forgot to add: No is often an acceptable word to use in response to a request.
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Rank: Forum user
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lol!
My lot are proper scared of the 'a' word too, but I've had to persevere with it for many of the above reasons. I've lost count of the number of times I've said "All I'm doing is getting you to tell me what you do (there doesen't necessarily have to be a written procedure for it), then checking evidence to see if you did it"
Good luck, Kay
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Rank: Super forum user
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First stop is to be really clear on your definitions
Audit - A thorough examination of the system and its operation which is not routinely carried out but has a schedule usually 6 or 12 monthly
Inspection - An activity carried out on a regular routine basis to check documents and activities. Inspection reports would be checked and examined in audits
Routine Check - An activity involving the operative in performing such as checklist operations
Examinations - A detailed checking by a competent person to meet a set of pre determined standards
If you are stating that you will undertake audits at ech visit to an area then I am not surprised you are getting push back. OHSAS and other standards DO NOT involve audit schedule which entails weekly, daily or monthly audits.
I suspect the department is suffering from audit overload and you need to liaise with the managers and if necessary other auditors. Look at it from their point of view - audits can be disruptive of time.
Bob
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Rank: Forum user
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You could try "Standards Compliance Confirmation"
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Rank: Super forum user
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hopeful wrote:I am setting up a comprehensive H&S Management System, following the lines of OHSAS 18001 and the other usual suspects. One of our internal departments has just emailed me asking me to remove all references to audit/auditee/auditor etc from our H&S audit procedure. A quick thesaurus check came up with inspection as an alternative which is not right. Does anyone have any other suggestions as to what I can call this process so people know what we are up to, it demonstrates the difference between audit and inspection, and will enable compliance with the audit section of the management system? Thanks in advance
Is it he process that they object to or just the name?
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