Internal audit
Plain-language summary
Checking your own safety system at planned intervals, by impartial auditors, to confirm it meets the standard and is actually working.
What the clause is really asking
Internal audit is your early warning system before something, or an external auditor, exposes a weakness. The clause requires planned internal audits that check the system both conforms to ISO 45001 and your own requirements and is effectively implemented and maintained. Auditors must be objective and impartial, and results must reach the relevant managers and drive correction. The intent is honest self-examination that finds problems while you can still fix them.
What auditors look for
External auditors review your audit programme for coverage of all clauses and areas over time, and check auditor impartiality, so people are not auditing their own work. They look at the depth of findings, since audits that only ever find minor paperwork issues suggest weak auditing. They verify findings were reported to management and led to corrective action.
Typical evidence
Internal audit programme and schedule; audit plans and reports; auditor competence and impartiality records; findings raised and tracked to closure; evidence results were reported to management; coverage of all areas and clauses over time.
How to comply — recommendations
Plan a programme that covers every part of the system and all areas over a reasonable cycle, weighted toward higher-risk activities. Use trained auditors who do not audit their own work so findings are credible. Audit how things really happen on the floor, not just whether documents exist, and be willing to raise real findings. Report results to management and track every finding to closure.
Common nonconformities
Audit programme does not cover all clauses or areas; auditors auditing their own work, undermining impartiality; audits only ever find trivial issues, suggesting they are superficial; findings not reported to management; corrective actions from audits left open; audits skipped or behind schedule.
Related clauses
ISO 9001 9.2; ISO 14001 9.2
Qlause provides interpretive guidance only and is not a substitute for the standard. Refer to your licensed copy of the relevant standard for the authoritative text.