Health And Safety Audit Checklist
Download your health and safety checklist
Please fill out the form below to access your free health and safety checklist download.
About this health and safety checklist
A health and safety audit checklist gives operations teams a repeatable way to spot risk, fix issues fast, and prove standards are being met. The goal is simple: stop guessing. Start knowing — what’s safe, what’s not, and what needs to happen next.
Use this checklist for routine site audits, manager walkrounds, and pre-visit preparations. It includes preparation checks, in-process checks, clear escalation criteria, and close-out actions so nothing gets lost after the walk.
What this health and safety audit checklist covers
- Audit preparation: scope, PPE, and previous actions
- Safety leadership: reporting, visibility, and “stop work” escalation
- Housekeeping: slip, trip, and fall controls
- Fire safety: exits, doors, alarms, and emergency readiness
- Equipment safety: guards, defects, and basic electrical checks
- COSHH basics: labelling, storage, and access to information
- Manual handling and storage: racking, access equipment, and handling aids
- Welfare and first aid: availability, cleanliness, and shift coverage
- Close-out: owners, due dates, evidence, and sign-off
When to use it
This checklist works best when it’s used consistently — not only after something goes wrong. Typical moments include:
- Weekly or monthly site audits
- Area manager visits
- Pre-opening and end-of-day checks
- After changes to layout, equipment, or processes
- After a near-miss, incident, or repeated defect trend
Escalation criteria you can standardise
Not every issue needs the same response. The checklist includes an escalation level so teams act quickly and consistently:
- Low — fix within 14 days
- Medium — fix within 7 days
- High — fix within 24 hours
- Critical — stop work / close the area until fixed
If you find an immediate danger (for example, a blocked fire exit or exposed live electrics), escalate straight away. Don’t wait until the end of the audit.
Close-out actions that prevent repeat issues
Audits fail when findings don’t turn into action. Close-out is part of the audit, not admin afterwards. This checklist prompts you to assign an owner, set a target date, and define the evidence needed to close each action (photo, maintenance job number, updated record, or briefing completed).
Run audits without the paperwork chase
If you’re still relying on spreadsheets, paper forms, or manager memory, you’re leaving safety to chance. Ocasta replaces guesswork with a consistent audit flow, clear actions, and visibility across sites — so teams know what to fix, by when, and what “done” looks like.
Disclaimer: This checklist is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal, regulatory, health and safety, or professional advice. You are responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable laws, standards, and internal policies.
Included questions
Here's what's included in this health and safety checklist:
Audit details and preparation (7)
Set the scope, confirm access, and make sure the audit can be completed safely and consistently.
-
Text
Site name
Use the official location name used in reporting.
-
Text
Audit date
Record in DD/MM/YYYY format.
-
Person
Auditor
Who completed this audit?
-
Dropdown
Area audited
Choose the primary area covered in this audit.
-
Yes/No
Audit scope and route confirmed before starting
Confirm what you will inspect, where you will go, and any restricted areas or local rules.
-
Yes/No
Required PPE is available and being worn correctly
Check site rules (for example: safety footwear, hi-vis, gloves, eye protection).
-
Yes/No
Actions from the last audit have been reviewed before starting
Spot repeat issues early and confirm what was closed out versus what is still open.
Safety leadership and reporting (4)
Check that people know what ‘good’ looks like and can raise issues without delay.
-
Yes/No
Safety noticeboard and key information are up to date
Look for current contacts, first aiders, fire wardens, and emergency instructions.
-
Yes/No
Accident and near-miss reporting process is visible and usable
People should know how to report quickly and what happens next.
-
Yes/No
Recent near-misses have been reviewed and actions are in progress
Ask for one recent example and what changed as a result.
-
Yes/No
Staff can explain how to stop work and escalate a safety concern
Speak to at least one frontline colleague in the audited area.
Housekeeping and slip, trip, and fall controls (5)
Reduce the everyday risks that cause the highest volume of incidents.
-
Yes/No
Floors are clean, dry, and free from obvious hazards
Check entrances, high-traffic routes, and any wet-process areas.
-
Yes/No
Spill response kit is available and easy to access
Confirm signage, absorbents, and disposal method are present.
-
Yes/No
Walkways and exits are clear of stock, waste, and obstructions
Pay attention to pinch points, doors, and stairways.
-
Yes/No
Cables and trailing leads are managed safely
No loose cables across walkways. Use cable covers or reroute.
-
Yes/No
Waste and recycling are stored and handled safely
No overflow, sharp items contained, and external areas tidy and secure.
Fire safety and emergency readiness (6)
Confirm people can get out quickly and the site can respond in an emergency.
-
Yes/No
Fire exits are unlocked, unobstructed, and open easily
Check exit routes from the audited area to a final exit.
-
Yes/No
Fire doors are in good condition and not wedged open
Doors should close fully and seals should be intact.
-
Yes/No
Fire extinguishers are in date, mounted correctly, and accessible
No missing pins, no damage, and inspection tags are current.
-
Yes/No
Fire alarm call points and sounders are unobstructed
Check visibility and access in the audited area.
-
Yes/No
Emergency lighting appears operational and not damaged
If you can’t test, confirm the most recent test record is available.
-
Yes/No
Assembly point is signposted and known by staff
Ask one colleague to point it out or describe where it is.
Equipment, guards, and basic maintenance (4)
Check that equipment is safe to use and defects are dealt with quickly.
-
Yes/No
Pre-use checks are being completed where required
Spot-check one item (for example: pallet truck, ladder, power tool, cleaning machine).
-
Yes/No
Machine guards and safety devices are in place and not bypassed
If not applicable, record why in notes at the end of the audit.
-
Yes/No
Portable appliances and plugs look safe and undamaged
No exposed wires, damaged casings, or overloaded sockets.
-
Yes/No
There is a clear process to tag out and report defective equipment
Look for tags, quarantine area, and evidence of follow-up.
Hazardous substances and COSHH basics (4)
Check that chemicals are controlled, labelled, and stored to reduce risk.
-
Yes/No
All chemicals are labelled clearly and stored in original containers where possible
No unlabelled spray bottles or decanted containers without identification.
-
Yes/No
Relevant COSHH assessments and instructions are available at point of use
People should be able to find them quickly, not ‘somewhere in the office’.
-
Yes/No
Chemical storage is secure, ventilated where required, and segregated appropriately
Check for leaks, incompatible products stored together, and access control.
-
Yes/No
Safety data sheets can be accessed quickly
Digital or printed is fine — speed matters in an incident.
Manual handling and safe storage (4)
Prevent strain injuries by checking how goods are stored and moved day to day.
-
Yes/No
Heavy or bulky items are stored at a safe height
Avoid storing heavy items above shoulder height.
-
Yes/No
Racking and shelving are stable and in good condition
No visible damage, missing fixings, or overloaded shelves.
-
Yes/No
Step ladders and access equipment are in good condition and stored properly
No broken steps, loose hinges, or unsafe substitutes (chairs, boxes).
-
Yes/No
Manual handling aids are available and used (where appropriate)
For example: trolleys, pallet trucks, lift assists.
Welfare, first aid, and wellbeing basics (3)
Check that people have the basics they need and support is in place if something goes wrong.
-
Yes/No
First aid kit is stocked, in date, and easy to access
Check seal, contents, and location signage.
-
Yes/No
First aiders are identified and available for the shift
Names should be current and match the rota.
-
Yes/No
Welfare areas are clean and usable
Toilets, handwashing, break areas, and drinking water access as applicable.
In-process checks and escalation criteria (5)
Capture what you saw during the audit and make escalation decisions consistently.
-
Yes/No
Any immediate danger identified that requires work to stop now
Examples: blocked fire exit, exposed live electrics, unsafe working at height, chemical spill, serious structural damage.
-
Yes/No
If immediate danger was found, it was escalated to the duty manager immediately
Do not wait until the end of the audit.
-
Dropdown
Escalation level for the most serious issue found
Use this to standardise how quickly issues must be resolved.
-
Number
Number of issues raised during this audit
Count anything that needs an action, not general notes.
-
Text
What was working well
Capture 1–3 specific positives to reinforce good habits.
Close-out actions and sign-off (8)
Make sure issues are owned, prioritised, and followed through.
-
Yes/No
Actions have been assigned to named owners
Every issue should have one clear owner.
-
Yes/No
Target completion dates have been agreed for all actions
Dates should match the escalation level.
-
Yes/No
Evidence required to close actions has been defined
For example: photo, updated record, maintenance job number, staff brief completed.
-
Yes/No
Audit summary shared with the site lead before leaving
No surprises later — align on what will happen next.
-
Text
Site lead / manager name
Who received the close-out summary?
-
Signature
Site lead / manager signature
Confirms the audit was reviewed and actions understood.
-
Signature
Auditor signature
Confirms the audit was completed accurately.
-
Text
Additional notes
Record anything important that doesn’t fit elsewhere (including ‘not applicable’ areas and why).