Management Reviews: How and Why
07/01/2019
As we start the New Year, it is a great opportunity to conduct a management review of your health and safety management system. So why and how would we do this?
Many people get confused between a management review and an audit. An audit is defined as the independent collection of information on the efficiency, effectiveness and reliability of the health and safety management system, measured against specific standards. Conversely, the Management review is the routine evaluation of systems by senior managers to check they are performing as intended and producing the desired results as efficiently as possible.
Probably the best way to explain a management review is as the chance to get the senior managers together once a year to talk about how well the quality system meets their needs. It should look at how things are currently working and future planned events that may require changes to the management system. The management review is an opportunity to strengthen your business, and plan for the future.
So how are management reviews conducted? The key is in the preparation and making sure you have the relevant information to hand to discuss, and the right people in the room. It is important that there is management by in and senior managers are present and contribute to the process. Some items to consider are:
- Are all the process measures running the right way and are these measures relevant?
- Are the customers satisfied?
- Are employees satisfied?
- How must the system develop to meet market needs in the foreseeable future?
- Do they as managers need to provide any resources to meet the expected needs?
- Are we taking action to address internal and external corrective actions?
- Preventive actions are they in place?
- Is our own internal review of processes (the audit) telling us we are doing the things we say we want to do?
There are a number of documents that can be utilised as part of the review, including but not limited to:
- Accident statistics
- Absence records
- Inspections
- Employee feedback
- Customer feedback
- Audit findings
- Prosecutions
- Risk assessments
- Safe work method statements
- Health screening
- Training records
- Awards
By documenting the review and assigning actions moving forward, it is an opportunity to strengthen your business and ensure health and safety systems are efficient and effective, whilst also planning for the future. It is essential that any findings from the management review, are followed up integrated and implemented in the health and safety management system.
If you feel you need help with facilitating your health and safety management system review, or any part of your health, safety and environment management system, contact us to find out how we can help you: enquiries@sandfordhodges.com or 01843 6399711.