EHS audits in construction projects are carried out to assess the effectiveness of the health, safety and environmental management systems in the organization and on the industrial construction site. The primary objectives of these audits are to ensure compliance with relevant regulations, identify potential hazards, and evaluate the implementation of safety protocols and procedures.
Our types of EHS audits in construction:
- Audit of Health & Safety Plan: We assess the adequacy of the Health & Safety Plan for the project.
- Walk-around audit: We assesses whether the Health & Safety policies are being properly implemented on site.
- Health & Safety management audit: We review the company’s overall Health & Safety management system, including policies, procedures and responsibilities.
- Process Safety audit: We conduct evaluation audit that gathers documentation on process safety management requirements, in which we review documentation of process safety management requirements.
- Environmental audits: We cover a number of aspects including construction methods, materials used, waste management, energy consumption and environmental compliance, as well as document review, interviews with site personnel and, in some cases, environmental testing and monitoring.
The main recurring safety issues identified during our EHS audits are:
- Falling from height and lack of proper fall protection;
- Issues with rigging gear and personal protective equipment (PPE);
- Unsafe working platforms, damaged or faulty scaffolds and ladders;
- Lack of barriers and unprotected trenching and excavation works;
- Lack of fire extinguishing systems and non-compliance with fire regulations;
- Failure to comply with electrical safety requirements.
- Lack of defined access routes on the construction site;
- Violations of environmental regulations, failure to take reasonable and practicable measures to prevent pollution, and ineffective environmental management and control measures.
Conducting safety audits offers several benefits, including:
- Preventing accidents and injuries: We identify and reduce potential risks and hazards on site. Audits help locate potential risks and hazards, allowing organizations to proactively address them and reduce the likelihood of accidents and injuries.
- Ensuring compliance: We ensure compliance with Health, Safety and Environmental standards. Safety audits ensure that organizations adhere to rules, standards, and regulations, helping to avoid potential legal and financial liabilities.
- Identifying hazards and training needs: We reduce the likelihood of accidents, injuries and associated costs. Audits help in identifying workplace hazards and areas where additional training may be required, allowing for targeted improvements.
- Increasing productivity and morale: We improve the overall safety culture and employee morale. A safe work environment leads to higher employee morale and increased productivity, ultimately benefiting the organization.
- Demonstrating commitment to safety: We increase the Client’s reputation and reduce liability. Regular safety audits demonstrate an organization’s commitment to safety, which can be viewed favorably by regulatory agencies and stakeholders.
- Audit process and considerations: Our EHS audit includes an initial meeting, a site inspection, document review, staff interviews, and a final meeting to discuss the findings. We tailor the audit process to the Client’s specific requirements, taking into account factors such as project size, complexity and Client needs.
We focus on effective communication and collaboration between our audit team and construction personnel, which is critical to the success of an EHS audit. Based on the audit results, we send the Client a detailed report that outlines the audit findings, including conformances, non-conformances, improvement requirements, and observations, with conclusions and recommendations for corrective actions and opportunities for continuous improvement. Therefore, EHS audit plays a critical role in the construction industry, helping to ensure the safety and well-being of workers, compliance with regulations and continually improving the organization’s Health, Safety and Environmental management practices.
To find out more, please contact us at info@ek-innovative.com to receive information from experts competent in the respective field.