| Safety management audits (eg. ISRS Manager, TRIPOD, RoSPA, BSC 5-star) |
| Description | - Audit processes devised to examine key aspects of the safety management system.
- Based on underlying models of safety management that include aspects of safety leadership, competence and commitment to safety.
- Normally look for both presence of a system and its effectiveness.
- Use trained or accredited auditors – normally external – to perform audits.
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| Advantages | - Provide a detailed and extensive examination of the safety management process.
- Reveals many tangible aspects of safety culture and management commitment to safety.
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| Limitations | - Does not reveal much about workforce attitudes and behaviours.
- Debatable how well underlying SMS model fits some organisations/industry sectors.
- Does not give opportunity for all employees to give their views and participate in the process.
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| When and how to use | - Useful for a comprehensive review of safety management systems.
- Approaches such as ISRS Manager can be used effectively to drive the organisation’s safety culture – ethos of continual improvement against elements; element leaders/champions etc.
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