Beyond the Checklist: Risk-based EHS Compliance Process Audits

Compliance auditing is a commonly used, highly relied upon practice within the EHS management world. The outcome is a list of noncompliance observations that management can learn from and address. Clearly, standard compliance audits assist management in assessing compliance, allocating resources, and decision-making. However, the audit report does not identify why compliance did or did not occur. Plant management is left to make this determination or face the likelihood of repeated compliance failures during future EHS audits.
A risk-based, process audit is a better approach. It includes a compliance component, but does not end with the list of noncompliance observations. Auditors provide a prioritization of findings based upon the associated risks.  In addition, auditors become more involved in root-cause and program gap analysis providing plant management with a valuable tool - the ability to apply long-term corrective actions to address the root causes for the compliance failures identified. This results in increasingly more compliant facilities, and systematic and sustainable compliance programs.
Laureen McMurray will focus on key considerations when designing, implementing, and executing risk-based EHS audits including tried-and-tested tools, tricks and lessons-learned. Questions and interactive dialogue welcome.