Evaluation of all critical risks should help improve a firm's outlook on its chances of preventing workplace incidents. A safety audit systematically identifies and assesses risks, which could lead to severe injuries or fatalities, comments, Suresh Tanwar, Head-Audit and Consultancy - India, British Safety Council.

The International Labour Organization has also shown a worrisome trend: almost three million workers die annually from work-related accidents and diseases, increasing by more than 5% since 2015. For example, India's Labour Ministry recorded over 6,500 workplace casualties within the country's construction, mining, port, and factory sectors in just five years. These statistics really emphasise critical needs in improving workplace safety and more particularly in high-risk industries, such as construction, chemicals, power, oil and gas, and pharmaceuticals.

Critical safety risks, defined as events with the potential to cause fatalities or permanent disabilities, are prevalent in hazardous industries. These risks often result from process lapses, leading to incidents like fires, falls, and accidents. While companies frequently respond to such events with investigations and corrective actions, many accidents can be pre-empted through proactive safety measures, which save lives and improve business outcomes.

Evaluation of all critical risks should help improve a firm's outlook on its chances of preventing workplace incidents. A safety audit systematically identifies and assesses risks, which could lead to severe injuries or fatalities. Such audits evaluate high-risk activities like working at heights, confined space entry, and handling hazardous materials in relation to leadership commitment and safety procedures. Engaging employees, conducting inspections, and reviewing safety documentation help assure a comprehensive understanding of risks within the workplace.

• Leadership commitment and planning: Clearly defined safety goals, resources allocation, and promoting a safety-first culture by top management.

• Implementation and operation: Implementation of safety measures by employing people, training them, and provision of tools and protocols. Regulated staff involvement.

• Performance monitoring and measurement: Analysis of incident reports and safety metrics such as compliance rates and near misses to assess safety performance.

• Evaluation and ongoing improvement: Recommendations, observations from audits, and staff feedback are used to update and improve safety procedures to allow adaptation to new risks.

Safety measures compliance protects the employees themselves but also protects business establishments from legal and financial liabilities. Some of the basic advantages are:

• Practical skills of hazard identification and their control.

• Establishment of systematic ways of identifying hazards and controlling safety hazards.

• Creating safe confidence for employees and rewarding good behaviours.

• Benchmarking for safety performances compared to the rest of the industry.

• Avoiding accidents, injuries, and near misses.

• Effectively conducting in-depth root cause analyses in eliminating recurring hazards.

• On-the-job training towards better practices in safety.

• Department-specific safety teams to have a structured response.

In high-risk sectors, regular safety audits come in handy. Continuously assessing and improving the safety protocols are essential to reducing workplace risk, enhancing safety outcomes, and creating a safe environment. A correctly implemented audit system helps management determine what priority areas need attention or what potential hazards exist and instills confidence among the stakeholders involved.

A safety consultancy with a high reputation ensures audits of quality and recommendations that are practical. Experienced auditors bound to global standards will provide detailed reports, technical validations, and training to enhance the strength of the organisational safety.

Not only is it a regulatory requirement, but also a moral and operational necessity. Conducting frequent safety audits can help prevent workplace accidents, protect employees, and increase overall business sustainability through proactive risk management and continuous improvement. When workplace safety is prioritised, security and productivity at work are promoted benefits for both employees and organisations.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Suresh Tanwar is at BSC (British Safety Council) as Head of Audit & Consultancy (India). Prior to joining British Safety Council, he was Chief - Group Safety & Health with Tata Group. He is a Mechanical Engineer and a qualified Safety professional and has had career stints in both- large Indian conglomerates and leading multinational corporations which include heading Health & Safety in Tata Motors, Tata Chemicals, Johnson & Johnson, Castrol-British Petroleum & Essar Steel. He has received ASSP (American Society of Safety Professionals) President’s Award in the year 2016 in Atlanta, USA for recognition of his efforts in enhancing Safety in Indian corporates.