The audit of process safety

a corporate comfort blanket?

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Auditing in the dock?

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Auditing Frailties

Pre-occupation with audit scoring

Lack of worker engagement
Confusion of audit criteria
Lack of auditor independence
Proliferation of audit paperwork

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Audit Choreography

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The Audit Process

1. Plan the
Audit

2. Conduct
the Audit

No

Findings

Yes

4. Findings &
Corrective
Action

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3. Report and
Document
Audit Results

The organisation of process safety audits

Process safety part of SHE

Audits
Dedicated process safety
audits

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Audit team composition

Internal Only, Staff from

other sites

Internal with single

External Contractor
Mainly External with
Internal Specialists

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Internal Auditors
PROS

CONS

Internal auditors know the

Internal auditing takes
organisation and where to look
resources away from normal
for evidence
work for both training and
planned audits
Findings are more likely to be
seen as realistic by auditees
Internal auditors can be
disposed to insularity
Using internal auditors helps
the transfer of good practices

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Methods of gathering audit methods

No interviews

All modes

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Collecting audit evidence

Physical

Written

Verbal

Benchmarking safety audits processes with peers

Formal benchmarking
with peer companies

Benchmarking informal or
not implemented

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Audit team size range

12
10

8
Max

Min
4
2
0
A

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Auditing Options
Extent of
auditor
involvement

Location of Auditor
On-site

Remote

Human
Interaction

Conducting interviews
Filling checklists and
questionnaires with auditee
participation
Document review with auditee
participation

Via communication means:

Conducting interviews
Filling checklists and questionnaires
Document review with auditee
participation

No Human
Interaction

Observation of work performed

Site visit
Filling checklists
Sampling (eg products)
Document review (eg records)

Document review
Observation of work performed via
surveillance means

ISO 19001
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Perceptions of auditors

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Questions?

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