How to Prepare for an OHS Compliance Audit
An occupational health and safety compliance audit is a structured examination of legal duties, workplace controls and evidence. A useful audit does more than count documents: it tests whether the organisation understands its risks, assigns responsibilities and implements controls that work in practice.
Define the audit scope
Identify the sites, departments, activities, contractors and time period covered. Clarify whether the review is a legal compliance audit, management-system audit, client-readiness review or focused technical inspection. No single checklist covers every workplace or regulation.
Build the audit criteria
Use current applicable legislation, regulations, incorporated standards, permits, client specifications, company procedures and risk assessments. Verify that the sources are current. Mining, construction, manufacturing, healthcare and office environments can have materially different requirements.
Review leadership and appointments
- OHS policy, responsibilities and management oversight.
- Written appointments and acceptance where applicable.
- Health and safety representatives and committees.
- Competence evidence for supervisors, operators and specialised roles.
- Objectives, resources, consultation and corrective-action governance.
Test risk-management controls
Sample baseline, issue-based and task risk assessments. Compare the documented controls with work as actually performed. Check safe work procedures, permits, personal protective equipment, machinery safeguards, chemical controls and change-management arrangements.
The JAFO HIRA guide explains how hazards, risk ratings and controls should connect.
Inspect workplace conditions
Walk through representative areas and speak to employees. Examine access, housekeeping, emergency routes, signage, electrical safety, equipment condition, storage and the controls for high-risk activities. A clean file cannot compensate for unsafe conditions on the floor.
Examine competence and emergency readiness
Review inductions, task training, certificates, expiry dates and shift coverage using a structured OHS training matrix. Check first aid, fire, evacuation and communication arrangements and confirm that drills lead to documented improvements.
Sample incidents, inspections and contractor records
Test whether incidents are reported, investigated and closed with effective corrective action. Review inspection findings and repeat issues. For contractors, examine selection, scope, agreements, competence, inductions, risk assessments and ongoing monitoring—not only the initial approval pack.
Classify findings clearly
State the evidence, requirement, risk and responsible owner for each finding. Use consistent categories such as critical, major, minor or improvement opportunity, with definitions agreed in advance. Avoid declaring full legal compliance where the scope or evidence does not support that conclusion.
Close actions and verify effectiveness
Assign realistic deadlines based on risk. Closure should include proof that the control was implemented and checked. Analyse recurring findings to identify weak systems, insufficient resources or ineffective supervision.
Common audit weaknesses
- Using an outdated generic checklist.
- Reviewing documents without observing work.
- Accepting signatures as proof of competence.
- Ignoring contractors, shifts or remote areas.
- Closing actions without effectiveness checks.
JAFO can provide an OHS compliance audit, focused workplace review or improvement plan tailored to the agreed scope.
Frequently asked questions
Does passing an internal audit guarantee legal compliance?
No. An audit provides assurance only within its scope, criteria, sampling and evidence. Conditions and legal requirements can change.
How often should audits be completed?
Set frequency according to risk, legal and client duties, operational change, previous findings and incident history.
Should managers participate?
Yes. Management provides resources and owns many system controls, while employees provide essential information about work as performed.
This guide is general information and is not a legal opinion or certification of compliance.