Carrying out periodic warehouse safety audits is a job that’s as important as it can be time consuming and inconvenient. There’s no escaping them, but making sure they get done effectively, efficiently and without putting a huge dent in available resources can be a challenge.

Checking every aspect of the warehouse and its current operational standards can take time – even in the instances of smaller facilities and businesses. Which is why it’s a good idea to take on-board a few helpful tips from the experts, in order to ensure that job gets done properly and efficiently.

Know What You’re Auditing

For example, one of the most important tips of all is to be as thorough and detailed as possible when it comes to the planning process. The simple fact of the matter is that you will need to know exactly what you are looking for, where you should be looking for it and why before even thinking about going ahead. This means studying the results of prior audits and inspections, or if this is to your first, perhaps searching online for a quality checklist to help. You need a structured plan of action to follow from start to finish, in order for the audit to be successful.

Split the Audit Into Sections

Whatever your approach to auditing, it will need to be modified in accordance with the area/section of the facility you are studying. For example, evaluating the safety of industrial storage solutions demands a different approach to inspecting employee safety practices. Which is why the audit should be split into as many sections as possible, grouping together anything similar where possible. Customisation of approach and flexibility are both of the utmost importance in getting the job done right.

Familiarise Yourself with All Important Standards

If you are planning to audit any areas of your warehouse or operations in accordance with established health and safety standards, you will of course need to first ensure you are fully familiar with them. This usually means carrying out a little research to find the most up to date standards and codes of practice as set out by the government, in order to give yourself a frame of reference by which to measure your findings. As these standards and codes of practice are reviewed and updated regularly, it is good working practice to revisit them from time to time.

Create an Action Plan

Last but not least, there is technically nothing to gain from going about an audit if you do not then go on to create an action plan in accordance with your findings. Your audit plays a key role in determining what is being done correctly, what could be improved and what is currently unacceptable. After this, it’s a case of acting on the findings to create a plan of action covering everything in need of attention. In theory, this should ensure that the next audit brings to light far fewer or perhaps no problems whatsoever.