What is a safety observation?
Safety observations determine unsafe and safe practices carried out by employees. The main goal of safety observations is to ensure employees are effectively and correctly performing the tasks at hand. In safety observations, it is important to take note of employees' behavior and practices. In unsafe situations, it is imperative to note what can be done to prevent the action in the future. Also, it is important that employees performing below standard are trained properly to complete specific tasks.
There are many simple and effective steps to take when ensuring the safety of employees within the workplace. Using safety observations to map out strengths and weaknesses within the workplace can help ensure employees are performing tasks correctly. Some examples include failure to wear safety equipment such as goggles, helmets, or gloves, unkept work areas– which can limit the space employees have to perform tasks, proper food/chemical storage, equipment, and designated areas that should be used properly.
By performing safety observations regularly, employers can help reduce the number of injuries that occur within the workplace. Also, they can help employers better understand training aspects that are effective and ineffective. With this, employers have ample opportunities to redefine safety within the workplace.
What is a safety audit?
Safety audits are basic walkthroughs of facilities, and interviews with upper management and employees. During a safety audit, a general inspection of the workplace is conducted followed by walkthroughs through work areas, and general daily tasks performed by employees. Safety audits do not solely monitor and rely on employees' behaviors. Following a safety audit, with the data computed from the audit, replacements or restorations are put in place.
Safety audits are a “check” to ensure obligations within the workplace have been met. Safety auditors interview managers and employees to confirm that there are safety management practices in place to ensure compliance. Audits’ main focuses are health and safety standards, workplace policies, processes, procedures, and training documentation.
Overall, a safety audit is a structured process used to gather information on health and safety procedures and practices used within the workplace.
How do safety observations and audits compare?
Safety observations rely on data collected from observing employee behavior and cautions taken during workplace tasks. Safety observations help employers limit health and safety risks by making changes to policies or procedures following the safety observation. This can improve basic safety management as well as training requirements.
Safety audits rely on data collected from management or employees following basic procedures and processes. Safety audits are to reflect the industry's efficiency, reliability, and safety. Workplaces should be compliant with industry health and safety standards.
It is important to conduct each of these different observations and audits to ensure the proper steps are being taken to ensure health and safety within the workplace. Observations and audits give employers and employees a better understanding of which policies within the industry are effective or ineffective. By using observations and audits, these policies and procedures can be improved or revised.
Digitize your Safety Observations and Audits with SMS360
Rather than completing your safety observations and audits on paper, by using SMS360 you can keep all your documents in one place! SMS360 is fast, easy, and reliable when completing your safety observations and audits. Through our system, you can file your observations online, categorize them, add specific descriptions, and keep track of which changes are being implemented. By using our system, you can input observations as safe or unsafe. Furthermore, stay on top of new policies and regulations.
SMS360 is also very user-friendly and has many shareable options. Meaning that your employees could be viewing the same document as you are at the same time! This helps implement changes much faster and more efficiently.
SMS360 provides a centralized platform for managing these processes and tracking their outcomes.
- Safety Observations: SMS360 can help organizations track and manage safety observations, which are a proactive method of identifying potential hazards and risks in the workplace. Through SMS360, employees can report unsafe conditions or practices and suggest corrective actions. The system can also track the status of each observation, assign corrective actions to responsible parties, and provide reporting on observation trends and corrective action completion rates.
- Safety Audits: SMS360 can also help organizations conduct safety audits, which are a more formal and structured assessment of workplace safety performance. The system can facilitate the creation of audit checklists and schedules, allow auditors to record their findings and assign corrective actions, and provide reporting on audit results and corrective action completion rates.
Overall, SMS360 provides a comprehensive platform for managing safety observations and safety audits, enabling organizations to identify potential hazards and risks, implement corrective actions, and monitor safety performance. By using SMS360, organizations can improve their safety and reduce the risk of incidents and accidents in the workplace.
