How Often Should You Do a Health and Safety Audit?

Audit frequency is dependent on several factors.

Your health and safety management system needs regular check-ups, just like your car needs an MOT.

A health and safety audit is one of the most effective ways to check that your business is keeping people safe. It’s a structured review of your policies, procedures, and practices.

But how often should health and safety audits be carried? What is covered by a health and safety audit? What makes the difference between a useful audit and a box-ticking exercise? And should you bring in someone from outside your business?

Let’s get practical about this.

The Short answer

For most small to medium businesses, annually.

But that's just the starting point. Your actual frequency depends on your risk level, how fast your business changes, and what your industry demands.

What factors affect audit frequency?

Your risk profile

Higher-risk operations need more frequent audits. A chemical processing plant might need quarterly reviews. A small office might manage with annual audits.

Rate of change

Expanding fast? New locations, new processes, new staff? You need more frequent audits to keep pace.

Previous audit findings

Serious gaps found last time? Schedule a follow-up audit within 6 months to check that the improvements are working.

Industry requirements

Some sectors have specific audit frequencies. Construction often requires six-monthly audits for larger projects.

Insurance and certification needs

Your insurer might require annual audits. ISO 45001 certification definitely will.

Your risk profile is a key driver in determining audit frequency.

Different types of audits

Not all audits are the same. Here's what you might need:

1. Full system audit

Everything gets reviewed. Annual or bi-annual for most businesses.

2. Compliance audit

Checking you meet specific regulations. Frequency depends on regulatory changes in your sector.

3. Incident-driven audit

After accidents or near misses. Timing depends on what happened.

4. Process-specific audit

Focusing on high-risk activities. Quarterly or six-monthly for critical processes.

5. Pre-tender audit

Before major contract bids. Timing is driven by business opportunities.

Why external audits matter

You could audit internally, but here's why external audits deliver more value:

Fresh eyes

Your team might miss obvious problems because they're used to "how we do things here."

No internal politics

External auditors ask difficult questions without worrying about office dynamics.

Industry benchmarking

They've seen what works elsewhere and can suggest improvements you hadn't considered.

Credibility

External audit reports carry more weight with insurers, clients, and regulatory bodies.

Objectivity

Internal audits can become exercises in confirming what you want to hear.

What is covered by a health and safety audit?

An audit looks at your entire health and safety system, not just whether paperwork exists, but whether it's being used, understood, and effective. It looks at:

Documentation

Policies, procedures, risk assessments. Are they current and relevant?

Implementation

What actually happens versus what's written down. This is where the real insights come.

Training and competence

Do people know what they should do? Can they prove it?

Incident management

How you handle accidents, near misses, and complaints.

Monitoring and measurement

Your systems for checking everything stay on track.

Management commitment

Whether leadership actually supports health and safety or just pays lip service.

An audit isn’t an inspection or a compliance check. It’s a broader, more useful review that gives you clarity.

A good audit covers your entire health and safety management system.

Red flags that mean you need an audit soon

Don't wait for the scheduled date if you notice:

1. Increased incidents or near misses

Your systems aren't preventing problems.

2. Staff complaints about safety

The people doing the work have spotted issues.

3. New regulations

Rules have changed, and you need to check compliance.

4. Major changes to operations

New equipment, processes, or significant staff changes.

5. Client or inspector concerns

Outside parties have raised questions.

6. It's been more than two years

Too long between audits for any business.

What you get from a proper audit

A good external audit gives you:

Clear gap analysis

What's working, what isn't, and why.

Prioritised action plan

Not everything needs fixing immediately. Good audits tell you what's urgent and what can wait.

Cost-benefit insights

Understanding where investment in safety improvements will give the best returns.

Benchmarking data

How do you compare to similar businesses?

Documentation improvements

Often, policies and procedures need updating to reflect actual practice.

Training needs identification

Specific areas where staff need development.

Evidence for stakeholders

Proof for insurers, clients, and regulators that you're managing risks properly.

Making audits work for your business

Don't treat audits as pass/fail exercises

They're diagnostic tools. Finding problems is the point.

Act on the findings

An audit report that sits in a drawer helps nobody. Plan improvements and track progress.

Use audit preparation as a review opportunity

Getting ready for an audit often highlights issues before the auditor arrives.

Build relationships

Working with the same external auditor over time means they understand your business better and give more targeted advice.

Budget for improvements

Plan to spend money fixing what the audit finds. Otherwise, why bother auditing?

The business case

External health and safety audits typically cost £500-£2,000 for small to medium businesses, depending on complexity. That investment usually pays for itself through:

1. Lower insurance premiums

Many insurers offer discounts for businesses with recent external audits.

2. Reduced incident costs

Better systems mean fewer accidents and their associated costs.

3. Improved efficiency

Good health and safety management often improves overall operational efficiency.

4. Contract opportunities

Many clients require evidence of robust health and safety management.

5. Legal protection

Audit trails help demonstrate due diligence if things go wrong.

Getting started

Ready to schedule your next health and safety audit? Here's your action plan:

Review when you last had a comprehensive external audit

If it's been more than 18 months, you're overdue.

Consider your current risk profile

Has your business changed significantly since the last audit?

Check your calendar

Plan audits for quieter periods when staff can engage properly with the process.

Budget for improvements

Set aside funds to act on audit findings.

The right external auditor brings expertise, objectivity, and a fresh perspective to your health and safety management. They spot problems before they become incidents and identify improvements that benefit your whole operation.

Don't wait for something to go wrong. Regular external audits keep your systems sharp and your people safer.

What happens when we work together?

We carry out audits that are simple, honest, and useful. You’ll get:

• A practical review of your systems

• A walk-through of your workplace or site

• Real-world advice you can act on straight away

• A written report that’s clear and easy to follow

• A roadmap for improvements, and, if needed, we can help you carry them out

START HERE

With our simple and straightforward audits, you'll know exactly where you stand.

Final thoughts

Health and safety audits shouldn’t be painful or overly technical. Done well, they’re a powerful tool to improve how your business runs.

If it’s been more than a year since your last audit, now’s a good time. If things have changed, or you’re not quite sure how things stand, get in touch.

We’ll keep it simple and make it count.

FAQs

1. How often should I do a health and safety audit?

The general rule for most small to medium businesses is annually. However, the frequency can vary depending on your industry, the level of risk, and how quickly your business is changing. If you’ve had major operational changes or identified gaps in previous audits, more frequent reviews might be necessary.

2. What factors affect how often I should audit?

• Risk Profile: High-risk operations (like manufacturing or chemical processing) may need audits quarterly, while lower-risk businesses (such as offices) can usually manage with annual audits.

• Rate of Change: Expanding fast? New processes or locations? A growing business needs audits more often.

• Previous Audit Findings: If serious issues were uncovered in your last audit, consider scheduling a follow-up sooner than the usual cycle.

• Industry Requirements: Some sectors, like construction, have specific audit schedules (e.g., six-monthly for larger projects).

3. What types of audits should I consider?

• Full System Audit: A comprehensive review of everything. Typically done annually or biannually.

• Compliance Audit: Focuses on specific regulations, with frequency depending on sector changes.

• Incident-Driven Audit: Triggered after accidents or near misses.

• Process-Specific Audit: Focusing on high-risk processes, these can be quarterly or semi-annual.

• Pre-Tender Audit: Carried out before bidding for major contracts.

4. Why is an external audit better than an internal one?

External audits offer key advantages, such as:

• Fresh Perspective: External auditors bring an unbiased view and might spot issues your team overlooks.

• Industry Benchmarking: They can compare your practices with similar businesses, suggesting improvements you hadn’t considered.

• Credibility: An external audit is seen as more credible by insurers, clients, and regulators.

• Objectivity: Internal audits may unintentionally focus on confirming what you want to hear, while external audits provide a clearer, more accurate picture.

5. What does a good health and safety audit include?

A quality audit looks at the entire system, not just the paperwork. Key areas include:

• Documentation: Are policies, risk assessments, and procedures current and relevant?

• Implementation: Does the practice on the ground align with written procedures?

• Training & Competence: Do staff understand, and can they prove it?

• Incident Management: How are accidents, near misses, and complaints handled?

• Monitoring & Measurement: Are your systems in place to monitor safety performance?

• Management Commitment: Does leadership actively support health and safety?

6. When should I schedule an audit outside the regular cycle?

• If there’s a significant increase in incidents or near misses.

• When staff raise safety concerns.

• If there are new regulations you need to comply with.

• After major operational changes, like new equipment or processes.

• If it’s been over two years since the last audit.

7. How much does an external health and safety audit cost?

External audits typically range from £500 to £2,000 for small to medium businesses, depending on complexity. While this is an investment, it usually pays off through:

• Lower insurance premiums (many insurers offer discounts).

• Reduced incident costs due to better safety systems.

• Improved efficiency and fewer disruptions.

• New contract opportunities where robust health and safety management is a must.

8. How do I make audits work for my business?

• Don’t treat them as just a pass/fail test; view them as a diagnostic tool.

• Act on the findings immediately and track improvements.

• Prepare by reviewing your systems before the audit.

• Build a relationship with your external auditor to get targeted advice over time.

• Budget for improvements based on the audit’s findings to ensure real change.

9. What’s the business case for investing in audits?

While an audit can cost £500–£2,000, it can save much more through reduced risks, fewer incidents, and potential insurance savings. Well-managed health and safety often leads to better operational efficiency, enhanced client trust, and legal protection if anything goes wrong.