Management review
Plain-language summary
Top management formally stepping back at planned intervals to judge whether the safety system is working and decide what to change.
What the clause is really asking
Management review is where leadership takes ownership of system performance and steers it. The clause requires top management to review the OH&S system at planned intervals using defined inputs such as incident trends, audit results, compliance status, objectives progress, worker consultation outcomes and changing risks, and to make decisions on improvement, resources and any needed changes. The intent is genuine leadership reflection and direction, not a rubber-stamp meeting.
What auditors look for
Auditors check the review covered all required inputs and produced real decisions with owners and follow-up, not just a record that a meeting happened. They confirm top management actually attended and engaged. They trace a decision from a previous review to see whether it was implemented, which exposes hollow reviews quickly.
Typical evidence
Management review minutes covering the required inputs; attendance showing top management present; documented decisions, actions, owners and deadlines; evidence previous review actions were implemented; resource and improvement decisions.
How to comply — recommendations
Hold the review at a set frequency with top management genuinely present, and use an agenda that covers all the required inputs including incident trends, audit and compliance results, objectives and worker input. Drive the meeting toward decisions with owners and dates, not just discussion. Record the outputs and, importantly, check at the next review that previous actions were done. Keep it focused so it informs strategy rather than ticking a box.
Common nonconformities
Review missing required inputs such as compliance status or worker consultation outcomes; top management not actually present; minutes record discussion but no decisions or actions; previous review actions never followed up; reviews overdue or skipped.
Related clauses
ISO 9001 9.3; ISO 14001 9.3
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.