Audit health and safety practices

Health and safety internal audit program

The Health, Safety, and Wellness (HSW) Division conducts an internal audit program to evaluate the effectiveness of health and safety systems across UQ.

The purpose of this program is to assure UQ’s senior executives that health and safety risks are being managed effectively. It also supports compliance with the HSW Policy and helps maintain UQ’s Workers’ Compensation Self Insurance Licence.

Audit status and outcomes are regularly reported to the UQ Senior Executive Team
Level 1 local area audits

Under normal circumstances, the HSW Division conducts the following audits each calendar year:

an Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS) audit of one or more organisational areas
a risk factor audit based on the UQ Top Health and Safety Risk Register
a Corrective Action Plan audit whereby a previous closed audit’s action plan is reviewed.

At least one of these audits will be conducted with a UQ controlled entity.

Each year, in consultation with the HSW Safety Network, the HSW Division proposes the following years audit program to the University Senior Executive Team (USET) for approval.

Audit types and structure

UQ’s health and safety audit structure includes three levels:

Level 1: Local audits of carried out in line with each organisational unit’s annual HSW Management Plan and risks on their Risk Register conducted by local HSW personnel
Level 2: HSW Division initiated and led audits of OHSMS and risk factors
Level 3: External audits of WHS management systems and risk factors (e.g. UQ Safe-Insurance WHS Management Systems audit).

Corrective actions

All non-conformances identified during audits are addressed through corrective action planning. Corrective actions are agreed through the following process:

A draft audit is presented to the organisational unit, management reviews and, through discussion and negotiation, confirms the correction action plan and dates for completion
The HSW Audit team validates actions before closing corrective actions.

Tracking responsibilities for corrective actions:

Level 2 and Level 3 audits
The HSW Division audit team monitors corrective actions through a central register, follows up on progress, and verifies completion before closure.
Level 1 audits (local audits)
Corrective actions are tracked by the relevant Organisational Unit. Local HSW personnel document issues, monitor progress and ensure resolution in line with their unit’s HSW Management Plan.

Corrective Action Plans should be tabled at the Organisational Unit (or Faculty/Institute) HSW Committee meeting and remain on agendas until fully resolved.

Audit tools and resources

Local workplace inspections

Annual workplace inspections

All UQ faculties, institutes, and divisions must inspect their workplace at least once a year. The number of workplace inspections to be completed is nominated at the beginning of each calendar year and documented in the HSW Management Plan to be endorsed by the HSW Committee at its first meeting.

Inspections should be completed by the local WHS Coordinator (WHSC), with support from the Health and Safety Representative (HSR) of the workgroup.

Inspections are completed in UQSafe - Checklist Module. Select "Complete an inspection checklist".

Other regular inspections

Other inspections may be required for specialised purposes. These may include:

Chemical Safety Inspections: Annually for facilities that purchase, store, use or dispose of chemicals
Chemicals of Security Concern (CSC): Annual inspections for the top 15 high-risk chemicals
Medicines and poisons inspections.

Support

Contact the HSW Division about audit or inspection processes or requirements.