Five Star Occupational Health and Safety Audit

The Five Star Occupational Health and Safety Audit process involves an in-depth examination of an organisation’s entire health and safety management system(s) and associated arrangements. The audit focuses on the key aspects of managing occupational health and safety in the workplace and offers a structured path for continual improvement towards best practice status.

Organisation’s within any sector (of any size) who:
  • require a status assessment of their current OHSMS against best practice
  • require a structured route toward best practice status.

  • External recognition of OHSMS to best practice standards.
  • Demonstration to stakeholders and other interested parties (including regulatory bodies) of commitment toward health and safety
  • Structured route toward continual improvement and best practice standards
  • Verification and independent recognition of the effectiveness of your health and safety management system(s)
  • A comprehensive audit report outlining the findings of the audit, quantified outcomes, associated areas of improvement with detailed recommendations
  • Potential for improved safety performance, workforce morale and wellbeing
  • Potentially reduced rates of accidents, injuries, ill-health, litigation costs and improved productivity
  • Certificate and logo can be used to demonstrate your success
  • Enhanced reputation and marketing opportunities.
  • Opportunity to win Sword of Honour Award
Utilising extensive worldwide industry experience and acknowledging aspects of internationally recognised occupational health and safety management systems and standards, the British Safety Council has developed a unique Five Star Audit model that objectively evaluates occupational health and safety management systems and associated arrangements against current best practice techniques. The audit model is reflective of the recognised PLAN – DO – CHECK – ACT management cycle.
The auditor will review all aspects of the organisation’s health and safety systems and associated arrangements against the requirements of the British Safety Council’s Five Star Audit specification. The auditor will also assess the effectiveness of implementation of these arrangements through an inspection of relevant (agreed) site(s) and sampling of operational activities. 

During the audit process, management, staff and other stakeholders will be interviewed (as agreed) to confidentially discuss aspects of occupational health and safety relevant to their roles and responsibilities.

A subsequent report is produced identifying the strengths and areas for improvement within the organisation’s health and safety management systems. The report also includes observations and recommendations, together with action planning, for consideration.

Audit Process Steps
  • Review of health and safety management documentation
  • Interview with management, staff and other stakeholders
  • Site tour, inspection and operational sampling

Scoring System
The Five Star Occupational Health and Safety Audit process focuses on four sections (58 scored elements, one unscored element and six Best Practice Indicators (BPI)) as shown below:

Sections
  • Organizational Leadership, Commitment and Planning
  • Implementation and Operation 
  • Performance Measurement and Monitoring
  • Evaluation and Continual Improvement

Best Practice Indicators
  • Leadership
  • Stakeholder participation
  • Risk management
  • Organisational health and safety culture 
  • Continual improvement 
  • Wellbeing
The report content is as follows;
  • Executive summary (graphical performance indicators included)
  • Overall star grading and sectional scoring 
  • Observations
  • Recommendations for improvement
  • Action Planning Tables
British Safety Council consultants and auditors are appropriately qualified, highly experienced health and safety professionals who are subject to a robust internal quality assurance and appraisal process, in addition to the requirements of relevant professional bodies with whom they are members.

All audit reports are technically verified and quality endorsed before being issued to clients. Auditors are also subject to “on-site” monitoring (subject to client agreement) on a sampling basis. Mandatory auditor standardisation meetings also take place on a regular basis.