MARANA GLOBAL

SERVICES LTD
Rc: 1305260

Training Guide for

Unsafe Act Auditing

Website: www.maranaglobal.com, Authorized Training Provider for

www.maranaglobal.com.ng Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria
Email: info@maranaglobal.com
Phone: +2348110141960, 08138591811

www.ispon.gov.ng
CAN WE MEET?
• Tell us your name
• Where you work and what you do
• Why you came for the training
• How you heard about the training
• Have you filled your details on the
attendance register?
What is Unsafe Act Audit?
• This is a programme designed to enable a company
through line staff identify unsafe work practices of
employees.
• Such unsafe acts either cause accidents directly or
create unsafe conditions, which result in accidents
later on.
• Unsafe Acts audits therefore enable management
to sense the safety climate in the worksite and take
appropriate measures to prevent accidents and
associated injuries.
What is Unsafe Act Audit?

• Unsafe Acts audits are conducted mainly by

supervisory staff, however, non-supervisory
personnel may also be involved whenever the need
arises.
• It is about observing people at work, observing
actions of people that are unsafe that may
ultimately lead to accident.
Objectives of Unsafe Act Auditing
The objectives of unsafe act auditing include the
following:
• Increase safety awareness. This will reduce
significantly the potentials for accidents in the
individual’s working habits.
• Raise standards: by improving or reaffirming
accepted standards of safety.
• Promote communication and understanding, and
ensure effective use of the resources of the
business.
Objectives of Unsafe Act Auditing

• Motivate employee’s subordinates: by changing

their attitude towards safety in order to accept
personal responsibility for it.
• This will ensure that:
1.Unsafe practices are not encouraged
2.Safety management is pro-active
3.Safety is seen as an integral part of the
business, having equal priority with production
4.Safety is seen as a collective responsibility,
where unsafe acts and unsafe conditions are
observed, identified and eradicated.
Definitions of Unsafe Practices and Conditions
Unsafe Practice
• An unsafe practice is conduct (whether witnessed or not)
that unnecessarily increases the likelihood of injury,
violates established safety rules, or is contrary to
expected conduct.

An Unsafe Act
• Is an observed unsafe practice (or the consequences of
an unsafe practice) for which responsibility can definitely
be assigned.
• Offers injury potential to the employee involved and may
expose other people to injury, (some rule violations may
not directly involved injury exposure).
• Could be a violation of either an established safety rule
or procedure, or of an unwritten rule of common sense
or good judgment.
The Concepts of Unsafe Act Auditing
• It is a good practice to observe people at work so as
to identify at risk behaviours and take necessary
remedial actions to prevent accidents that may arise.
• Concentrate on people- their actions or behaviours
tell you whether they are working safely.
• When you systematically observe people,
encouraging their safe work practices and addressing
their at-risk behaviours (unsafe acts), you help to
prevent injuries and losses.
The Concepts of Unsafe Act Auditing

(a) A safe behaviour is one that does not expose the

employee or others to the risk of injury.
(b) An at-risk behaviour is one that can cause an
injury to the employee or others.
• At risk behaviours (also called unsafe acts) are
always exhibited by people, not by machines.
Hence, you may look at everything in the workplace
but concentrate on the actions of people to see if
they are safe.
The Concepts of Unsafe Act Auditing
• For instance, someone has spilled oil on the floor of
the workshop and has not cleaned it up- an unsafe
act. Another employee slips on the oil and fractures
his wrist- accident.
• Every unsafe act has potentials to cause serious
problems at workplace. This is why corrections
must be taken immediately to prevent losses.
Using the safety training observation programme
(STOP), we can easily encourage safe work practices,
and positively influence how people work.
On-the-Job Training
Unsafe act auditing offers great opportunity for on-
the-job training.
• It gives you a chance to practice what you learnt,
helping you prevent injuries and improve safety
performance in your area of responsibility.
• One portion of your on-the-job training requires
you to make safety observations every day as part
of your regular work.
• As these observations are made, work
improvements are achieved and the worker has
opportunity to learn on the job.
Techniques for Conducting Unsafe Acts
Auditing

The following can be adopted in doing an UAA

exercise.
1. Preparation.
2. Observation.
3. Discussion.
4. Recording.
5. Follow-Up.
1. Preparation
• Before setting out for the audit, review previous
audit findings and recommendations for the area to
be audited.
• Wear the necessary personal protective equipment
required to gain entry into the area: such good
example impresses workers more than abundant
words.
• Employees should be made aware of this
programme. They should be informed of the
objectives and methodology, and educated on the
benefits and how they can co-operate and
contribute towards its success.
1. Preparation
• Employees should be told that work practices will
be observed for their safety content, that ways of
improving safe working will be discussed with them
and that their ideas will be welcome.
• The amount of time to be spent and the areas to
cover should be determined. Small work sites can
be covered daily or weekly while efforts should be
made to cover all sections of larger sites within a
reasonable period.
• Whilst first line supervisors will often audit on their
own, higher levels of supervisors should involve a
subordinate with responsibilities on the selected
site.
2. Observation
• During the audit, look for unsafe actions. These may
include observed violations of safety rules and
procedures and unsafe conditions.

• Use the Du Pont observation cycle.

Decide: to make an observation
Stop: stop at the station to observe
Observe: observe the worker (s) and the work process
Act: take action if you see an unsafe act or unsafe
condition. Immediately stop the worker and discuss
improvement.
Report: document your observations and actions
taken, noting further actions when required.
2. Observation
• At the work site selected, stop for a few seconds and observe
the work activity in progress.
• Use all the senses- sight, hearing, smell, touch, and feeling.
• Concentrate on the action of people working and not on
things;
• Be alert to unsafe practices that are corrected as you enter
the area (evaporative acts).
• Take notes but not while observing activities.
• Recognize good as well as poor actions.
• Keep an open mind when talking with the workers and asking
questions.
• Develop a questioning attitude to determine what injuries
might occur if the unexpected happens and how the job might
be affected. Find out if the job could be done in a safer way.
• Observe for ideas and not just to determine problems.
2. Observation
Particular attention to:
• Positions of people: is there adequate work space? Is
there unsafe posture, e.g stretching, bending to lift
materials, etc. Is there possibility to be struck by, caught in
between, etc? Is the worker under a suspended load?
• Reactions of people: is there any questionable reaction
because of your presence? Did you notice the worker
trying to cover up something? Any expression on the face
to show something not normal?
• Tools and equipment: are the available? Are they
adequate? Are they in good condition? Are they properly
used? Are they well kept?
• Procedures or work methods: is it available? Is it
understood? Is it adequate? Is it followed?
• Orderliness (housekeeping): is there enough space? Is the
work environment organized? Are tools kept in the right
place?
2. Observation
• Personal protective equipment: is it the right one?
Is it adequate? Is it used properly? Is it in good
condition?
Observing for personal protective equipment:
This can provide barriers against injuries to:
• Head.
• Eyes / face.
• Ears, Nose and mouth.
• Hands and arms.
• Trunks.
• Feet and legs.
2. Observation
Observing positions of people and work equipment:
Look out for risk of:
• Striking against.
• Struck by.
• Caught between.
• Falling.
• Suspended load.
• Exposure to hot/cold temperature.
• Contact with electrical current.
• Hazardous substances: inhale, absorb, swallow.
• Over exertion.
• Poor posture.
• Evaporative acts: be alert for unsafe practices that are
corrected as you enter the area.
2. Observation
Take note of evaporative acts:
These are quick corrective actions taken when workers
become aware that Supervisor or other observing official
is around. In many cases, such actions are not properly
planned and they indicate something that needs to be
addressed.
• Stopping/leaving job
• Attaching grounds/lockouts
• Re-arranging job
• Changing position suddenly
• Adjusting/adding personal protective equipment.
2. Observation
Questioning Approach:
When making observations, it is best to adopt a
questioning approach by asking yourself:
• What could go wrong?
• What could cause it to go wrong?
• What can be done to prevent it going wrong?
• What can be done to minimize the negative
consequences if it does go wrong?

This will help make effective observations and

correct failures before they develop into
consequences.
3. Discussion
The purpose is to ensure that employees participate in
improving performance through recognition and
correction of their own unsafe acts.
• Take time to put employees at ease.
• Be open, direct and friendly, not confrontational.
• Commend good performance.
• Ask questions and listen to answers.
• Allow employees themselves to detect/identify the
hazards and the probable solutions.
• Guide discussions, do not manipulate or lecture.
3. Discussion
• Do not blame but rather help the employees.
• Audits should normally not be used to discipline
employees or the company by the main client.
Sanctions can only be imposed where safety rules are
consistently violated.
• Encourage workers to discuss their safety concerns and
offer ideas.
• Take note of their requests and ideas. Follow them up
and furnish employees with feedback.
• Discuss your observations with employees before
leaving the area.
• Commend them for participation and co-operation.
4. Recording
• List the unsafe acts observed, discussed and
corrected.
• Items for further action should be noted.
• Make copies available for follow-up.

5. Follow Up
• Use report to correct lapses and weaknesses
• Train where required
• Check on the safety performance trends in the area or
site.
• Discuss important report points including action plans to
improve the situation at safety meetings.
Implementation

For this programme to be effective:

• Management’s commitment is vital.
• The frontline supervisor who is the key man in this
programme should be adequately trained to ensure
effective implementation of the scheme.
Reasons for Line Supervisor to Conduct
Unsafe Act Auditing
The line supervisor:
• Understands the job better.
• Has the technical know- how.
• Has authority to make changes.
• He is always there.
• Can interact easily with the workforce.
Keys to Good Safety Supervision
You must:
• Set good examples
• Know the operation, not necessarily as an expert
but good knowledge is sufficient.
• Be alert for unsafe conditions
• Inspect often, inspect intelligently
• Take effective corrective actions
• Maintain discipline
• Know your employees.
Qualities of a Good Leader
You must be:
• Approachable.
• Accessible.
• Recognize limitations.
• Polite.
• Keen observer.
• Communicates effectively.
• Knowledgeable.
• Show good example.
• Maintain discipline.
• Take immediate corrective actions.
• Know his employees.
Qualities of a Good Observer
• Is selective
• Know what to look for
• Asking: why? What if?
• Keep an open mind
• Look deeper into things
• Not satisfied with over view impressions
• Record observation systematically
• Is safety conscious.
Conclusion
• Unsafe act audit constitutes a very useful tool in
preventing accidents.
• Management should introduce and sustain it in all
the company’s operations.
• Employees are to be encouraged to co-operate and
participate in the conduct of unsafe act audits.
• The companies as well as employees stand to gain
if they regularly conduct unsafe act audits in their
worksites.
Submission of Continuous Assessment

• You are required to answer the continuous

assessment questions and submit by email to
assessment@marana-global.com

• If you have questions, send to

marana-training@maranaglobal.com

• For general information and complains, send to

info@maranaglobal.com
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Core values: Safety-Professionalism-Integrity-Improvement-Competence-Quality