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boomerang02  
#1 Posted : 17 May 2010 21:13:59(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
boomerang02

My friend works in a company which is internally executing 6 sigma quality improvement initiatives. One of the suggestions from the 6 sigma is to incorporate safety checks within the workers' daily 5s checklist eg housekeeping etc. The reasoning is that since the workers will be doing their own daily safety checks, the annual internal environmental, safety and health audits are unnecessary and a "waste of time". The logic is "why wait for a whole year to check safety issues that need to be checked daily?". Please give your comments.Are the EHS annual audits part of government/ISO regulations? Is it ok to do away with them for the aforementioned reason?
pete48  
#2 Posted : 17 May 2010 21:33:35(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
pete48

Boomerang, just a quick reply from me as I expect there will be others who will be more specific. The idea of combining safety checks into other workplace checks can work very well. They are all about reducing loss or the potential for loss are they not? Why wait a year indeed! However, annual audits are about something different. They are about, are we doing the right thing, the right way at the right time. They are an overview of the whole picture, not a snapshot on any particular day or time. There is a lot of syngergy between EHS and Q; seek it out and that is where you find your QI success. P48
pete48  
#3 Posted : 17 May 2010 21:36:24(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
pete48

"Syngergy" where did that come from? Sad old fellah. Can't even get it right with the Firefox "spull chicker". Sorry. s/read synergy. P48
boomerang02  
#4 Posted : 17 May 2010 21:44:24(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
boomerang02

That's ok. The message went home.Rgds
Steve Sedgwick  
#5 Posted : 17 May 2010 22:02:59(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Steve Sedgwick

The answer is no, you cannot replace an audit with a system of operator checks or inspections. Unless the annual audit is simply an inspection and not really an audit. Audits are detailed assessments of the H&S Management Systems and risk control measures that are inplace. They check that the policies and procedures that should be inplace do exist and that they are being followed in practice. An Audit is more than a Inspection or tour of the workplace. The operator daily checks that you are implimenting are good and an essential part of a good HS Mangement System. These checks may become part of the annual audit to verify that they are still relevant and being followed as described. It is a common mistake to call inspections and tours "Audits" Steve
KenTaylor  
#6 Posted : 18 May 2010 00:56:03(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
KenTaylor

Quite right, Pete & Steve. To emphasise the distinction: one aspect of the audit would be to consider whether scheduled operator and other checks are being undertaken in accordance with the safety management system.
peter gotch  
#7 Posted : 18 May 2010 14:15:20(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
peter gotch

.....and the audit might be done by someone who is less likely to become used to the custom and practice, i.e. less likely to have tunnel vision. P
JESU  
#8 Posted : 19 May 2010 10:24:38(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
JESU

Hi Gents, Are you not aware of the HSEQ Integrated Audit? Each and every finding in an audit shall have a ref. clause no. of an ISO standarnd, and failing to comply will result in a NC (Non confirmity), there are observations, area for improvement.. you cannot never compare these procedures with a inspection or checklist. Jesu
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