WHS Audit Checklist: Records to Prepare Before a Safety Review
Use this checklist to organise the records auditors, clients, and principal contractors commonly expect to see.
Quick answer
Use this checklist to organise the records auditors, clients, and principal contractors commonly expect to see.
Core WHS documents
Start with the documents that explain how the business manages safety. These should be current, approved, and available to workers who need them.
- WHS policy
- Risk management procedure
- Incident reporting procedure
- Emergency procedure
- Consultation procedure
Operational evidence
Audits usually turn on evidence. Keep records that show work was planned, workers were briefed, hazards were reported, and actions were closed.
- SWMS and worker sign-offs
- Site inspections
- Hazard reports
- Incident investigations
- Corrective action register
People and contractor records
Training, competency, licences, inductions, and contractor documents should be easy to search by person, role, project, and expiry date.
Frequently asked questions
How often should WHS audits happen?
Set a schedule based on risk, project requirements, client expectations, and incident trends. Many businesses run internal reviews quarterly or before major tenders.
What causes WHS audit gaps?
Common gaps include outdated policies, missing worker sign-offs, incomplete incident follow-up, and expired training evidence.
Can audit evidence be digital?
Yes. Digital records are useful when they are controlled, attributable, exportable, and easy to retrieve.
Next step
Use this guide to check your current evidence, then move the work into a controlled system with documents, forms, registers, and review actions.
Run the free WHS self-check