Posted By George Wedgwood Peter, there is no real short-cut to doing a base-line audit based on (for example) HS(G)65. This can be as detailed as you like but I suspect what you need is a good auditor, who will ask questions aside from the main key areas and weave the findings into the report on compliance. Many organisations will tell you they can do this but it helps if the auditor understands some of your business beforehand. Then you can agree a protocol to work from. The generation of findings will then allow you to start constructing more detailed audit protocols in the main work areas that concern you - i.e. if you main area is manufacturing, you would probably want a detailed protocol on PUWER for example. The main output will be to quickly identify the key hazard areas and those will let you see where the relevant lagal compliance should be focused. It is then easy to pick up the im portant non-compliances. Don't get me wrong - if this has not been done before, you will probably find many non-compliances and some very large gaps! The important thing is to start and be prepared to manage some significant outcomes. These can be prioritised in terms of risk and then built into an action plan for compliance and given back to each manager to implement to an agreed timescale. Short term, be prepared for some showstoppers and deal with them firmly. My final message would be not to get bogged down in the minutia of legal compliance as it will only confuse and divert from some of the major cultural aspects of poor safety management that really need sorting along with the fire-fighting! Regards, George