Aug 10, 2023
In this article we will be highlighting in an easy to understand question and answer format advantages of independent safety and security auditing / inspections.
1. What is independent auditing and inspections?
Audits and inspections are independent if they are conducted by an external professional body on your organization. The auditing organization shall not have any bias, conflict of interest or business ulterior motive. Their work is purely based on factual, professional opinions and the application of the latest knowledge of their fields.
2. What aspects are looked into during independent safety and security audits / inspections?
We look at several aspects during such audits / inspections namely physical security, procedural security, emergency preparedness, fire safety, occupational health and safety risks and general safety risks.
2. Why should companies go for independent safety and security audits / inspections?
There are several benefits of independent audits such as due to the fact that organizations find it difficult to find fault within themselves and many managers and staff are reluctant to disclose or find fault within their systems. Use of an independent auditor / inspector gets the fault out in the open so that management can rectify the issues before it becomes a major incident.
Often times, in many companies, it is not financially feasible to have a staff to monitor compliance, safety, security and occupational health issues. Thus, when it is outsourced to an independent auditing company, for a fraction of the cost, companies can manage these risks continuously helping prevent major disasters and incidents.
3. In which instances can companies use independent auditing / inspections?
There are many instances where independent auditing / inspections are hugely beneficial. One example is that when a company moves into a new building or expands the business to have new premises, these premises first need to be inspected by an independent auditing firm. The independent inspector will inspect the site and recommend what needs to be done in terms of fire safety, security, OHS risks, etc. Based on his recommendations, then the company can ask an installer to fit the fire equipment and security equipment accordingly saving thousands in cost.
Another instance is that when organizations grow, its assets grow and risk increase. It is needed to manage this risk continuously. This continuous monitoring can be outsourced to an independent audit / inspection company so they will conduct inspection at periodic intervals giving peace of mind to the organization in know that the risks are continuously been identified and mitigated cost effectively.