Audits can vary greatly in scope, and it’s important to understand the practical differences between them. While there may be little difference between a focused internal audit and an inspection in some cases, inspections tend to focus on observing the physical workplace while audits are more concerned with systems and processes. The table below provides a clear illustration of the differences between inspections and external audits.
Inspections are straightforward visual observations of the workplace and workplace activities at a particular point in time. They are usually completed quickly and frequently, and can be carried out by workers, managers, supervisors or worker representatives. The resulting report or completed checklist identifies specific actions that need to be taken. Inspections require fewer resources and are typically carried out by internal workers.
External audits, such as certification audits, involve a complete examination of the documented health and safety management system. They take much longer to complete than inspections, often occurring once every 2-3 years, and are carried out by external auditors. Auditors require a higher degree of skill and competence to complete the audit, and the resulting comprehensive report identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the management system. Audits require significantly more resources than inspections, often requiring input from multiple people.
| Inspections
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External audits (eg certification audits)
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| Consist of straightforward visual observations of the workplace and workplace activities at a particular point in time (eg identification of hazards) | Consist of a complete examination of the documented health and safety management system
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| Usually take a short time to complete | Lengthy processes that take much longer to complete than inspections
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| Tend to take place frequently; Only take place occasionally; timescales timescales vary, but they could occur vary, but they could perhaps take place every 1-3 months
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Only take place occasionally; timescales vary, but perhaps once every 2-3 years
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| Usually carried out by an internal worker
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Carried out by an external auditor |
| Require less skill to complete; they could be carried out by workers, managers, supervisors or worker representatives
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Higher degree of skill required to complete; they need to be carried out by competent auditors
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| Result in the production of a short report/completed checklists, identifying specific actions that need to take place
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Result in the production of a comprehensive report that identifies strengths and weaknesses of the management system
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| The resources needed for inspections are fairly limited, for example, they could be completed by one person
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The resources needed for audits are significant and considerably greater than for inspections; for example, they may require input from multiple people
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