Since we're both from Utah, and long-time fans of the NBA's Utah Jazz, we've appreciated the philosophy of coach Jerry Sloan. He repeatedly stresses to his players a diligent work ethic and desire to win. The way he puts it they'll all be showing up at game time, dressed in their sneakers and uniforms, the other team will be there along with the refs, the lights will be on and the balls will be full of air_so they might as well try as hard as possible to win the game. A simple philosophy_if you're going to do something, do it right, make a difference, win the game. It applies to a lot of things, but especially to safety auditing and that's what this paper is about. If you're going to do safety audits, why not ensure they make a positive impact? Why not try as hard as you can to add value, preclude incidents, enhance safety, and win the game?
This paper will discuss the keys to performing safety audits that, in our experience, will make a dramatic and positive contribution to improved safety. We hope this information will benefit readers who are considering starting an audit program as well as providing a few ideas that will help seasoned safety professionals to conduct even more effective audits. The keys that will be discussed are:
Key #1: Understanding Audit Objectives
Key #2: Deciding What to Audit
Key #3: Steps to Perform a Successful Audit
Key #4: The Power of Audit Performance Measures
Key #5: Auditor Skills and Traits
Key #6: Corrective Action_Where Change and Improvement Happen
Key #7: Audit Ownership_Enhancing Collaboration and Positive Audit Outcomes
Key #8: Due Care
Key #9: Caution_Auditing Traps
Key #10: Tips for Making a Difference
