Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

Monitoring, review and audit
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in priority order (those actions which are most 
important rather than those which can be easily 
done quickly)
➤
identifying those responsible for taking remedial 
actions, with sensible timescales to track progress 
on implementation
➤
periodic monitoring to identify common themes 
which might reveal underlying problems in the 
system
➤
management information on the frequency or nature 
of the monitoring arrangements.
Appendix 7.1 gives examples of poor workplaces which 
can be used for practice exercises. Appendix 7.2 shows 
a basic list of inspection issues, which can be adapted 
to any particular organization’s needs. A policy checklist 
is given in Chapter 2.
7.6.3 Safety 
sampling
Safety sampling is a helpful technique that helps organ-
izations to concentrate on one particular area or sub-
ject at a time. A specifi c area is chosen which can be 
inspected in about thirty minutes. A checklist is drawn 
up to facilitate the inspection looking at specifi c issues. 
These may be different types of hazard; they may be 
unsafe acts or conditions noted; they may be pro-active, 
good behaviour or practices noted.
The inspection team or person then carries out 
the sampling at the same time each day or week in the 
specifi ed period. The results are recorded and analysed 
to see if the changes are good or bad over time. Of 
course, defects noted must be brought to the notice of 
the appropriate person for action on each occasion.
7.7 
Who should monitor performance?
Performance should be measured at each manage-
ment level from directors downwards. It is not suffi cient 
to monitor by exception, where unless problems are 
raised, it is assumed to be satisfactory. Senior managers 
must satisfy themselves that the correct arrangements 
are in place and working properly. Responsibilities for 
both active and reactive monitoring must be laid down 
and managers need to be personally involved in making 
sure that plans and objectives are met and compliance 
with standards is achieved. Although systems may be 
set up with the guidance of safety professionals, man-
agers should be personally involved and given suffi cient 
training to be competent to make informed judgements 
about monitoring performance.
Other people like safety representatives will also 
have the right to inspect the workplace. Each employee 
should be encouraged to inspect their own workplace 
frequently to check for obvious problems and rectify 
them if possible or report hazards to their supervisors.
Specifi c statutory (or thorough) examinations of, for 
example, lifting equipment or pressure vessels, have to 
be carried out at intervals laid down in written schemes 
by competent persons – usually specially trained and 
experienced inspection/insurance company personnel.