Form library · Health and safety
Safety audit checklist
A health and safety audit form that marks each requirement as conforms, nonconformity or observation across walkways and exits, first aid, fire equipment and records. Findings are graded with evidence, a corrective action, an owner and a target date, and both sides sign at the closing meeting. Every question is listed below, and you can fill the live form in on this page.
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What should a safety audit checklist include?
A safety audit checklist should state the scope and the criteria the site is audited against, then record a result for each requirement with the evidence seen. Each nonconformity needs a corrective action, an owner and a target date. HSE says larger organisations should have formal procedures for auditing and reporting health and safety performance. Close with a meeting so the auditee sees the findings first.
Last updated . Facts checked on 26 September 2026 against regulation 5 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and HSE's plan, do, check, act: Check.
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Every question in the safety audit template
Workplace audit with walkways, first aid, fire equipment and records, findings and corrective actions, closing meeting. 8 sections and 97 questions. Follow-up questions and guidance appear only when an answer calls for them, so the person on site never sees the ones that do not apply.
Details you only enter once
Add this form to a project in SiteSurvey and it fills in what the project already knows, so nobody on site retypes it and every form on the job uses the same names. Anything filled in can still be changed.
- Project: the project name
- Site: the site, when the form is opened for a space or a product
Audit details
What is being audited, against what, and by whom.
- ProjectShort answerFills in from the project name
- Audit referenceShort answer
- Site*Short answerFills in from the site, when the form is opened for a space or a product
- Date of the audit*Date
- Type of audit*Choose one
- Internal audit
- Supplier audit
- Follow-up audit
- GuidanceInternal audit. The auditor should not audit their own work. Record who the auditor reports to if they work on this site.Shown when “Type of audit” is “Internal audit”
- Does the auditor work in the area being audited?Yes or NoShown when “Type of audit” is “Internal audit”
- CheckThe auditor works in the area being audited. Say in the report how the findings will be checked by someone else.Shown when “Type of audit” is “Internal audit” and “Does the auditor work in the area being audited?” is Yes
- Supplier auditedShort answerShown when “Type of audit” is “Supplier audit”
- Reference of the audit being followed upShort answerShown when “Type of audit” is “Follow-up audit”
- GuidanceFollow-up audit. Check the evidence that each action was completed, and that it worked. Record anything that has come back as a new finding.Shown when “Type of audit” is “Follow-up audit”
- Areas in scopeTick all that apply
- Warehouse aisles
- First aid points
- Offices and kitchen
- Loading bays and yard
- Records
- Other (describe)
- Audit criteriaNotes
- Auditor name and roleShort answer
- Auditee name and roleShort answer
- Was an opening meeting held?Yes or No
- Why not?Short answerShown when “Was an opening meeting held?” is No
- Were all areas in scope audited?Yes or No
- Which areas were not audited, and why?NotesShown when “Were all areas in scope audited?” is No
Walkways and exits
Walk each route to its exit. Record a result for each requirement.
- GuidanceWalk the route. Start where people work and walk to the final exit. Photograph the route and the exit door.
A clear warehouse aisle leading to double fire exit doors with exit signs above - W1. Routes to fire exits are clearChoose one
- Conforms
- Nonconformity
- Observation
- Not checked
- What was seen, and where?NotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Was the route cleared before you left?Yes or NoShown when “W1. Routes to fire exits are clear” is “Nonconformity”
- WarningBlocked escape route. In England and Wales the Fire Safety Order says routes to emergency exits, and the exits themselves, must be kept clear at all times where that is needed to keep people safe. Tell the auditee now.Shown when “W1. Routes to fire exits are clear” is “Nonconformity”
- WarningThe route is still blocked. Do not leave it only as a line in the report. Make sure the person in charge of the area knows today.Shown when “W1. Routes to fire exits are clear” is “Nonconformity” and “Was the route cleared before you left?” is No
- W2. Fire exits are marked with signsChoose one
- Conforms
- Nonconformity
- Observation
- Not checked
- What was seen, and where?NotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- W3. Exit doors open easily from insideChoose one
- Conforms
- Nonconformity
- Observation
- Not checked
- What was seen, and where?NotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- How many exit doors were tried?NumberShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- WarningExit door does not open easily. The Fire Safety Order says emergency doors must not be locked or fastened so that they cannot be easily and immediately opened by anyone who needs to use them in an emergency.Shown when “W3. Exit doors open easily from inside” is “Nonconformity”
- W4. Floors and walkways are free from obstructionChoose one
- Conforms
- Nonconformity
- Observation
- Not checked
- What was seen, and where?NotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Was it removed during the audit?Yes or NoShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- W5. Racking end frames and guards are undamagedChoose one
- Conforms
- Nonconformity
- Observation
- Not checked
- What was seen, and where?NotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
First aid provision
Open the box. Check the contents and the dates.
A green wall mounted first aid box with two eyewash bottles below it - A1. First aid box is marked, easy to reach and stockedChoose one
- Conforms
- Nonconformity
- Observation
- Not checked
- What was seen, and where?NotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- A2. Contents and eyewash are in dateChoose one
- Conforms
- Nonconformity
- Observation
- Not checked
- What was seen, and where?NotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Is any item past its expiry date?Yes or No
- Which items, and what are the dates?NotesShown when “Is any item past its expiry date?” is Yes
- CheckHSE guidance says first aid items should not be used after their expiry date, and should be disposed of safely. This is guidance.Shown when “Is any item past its expiry date?” is Yes
- Is mains tap water close by for washing eyes?Yes or No
- Sealed sterile eyewash at this point (litres)NumberShown when “Is mains tap water close by for washing eyes?” is No
- CheckLess than 1 litre. Where mains tap water is not readily available, HSE guidance says to provide at least one litre of sterile water or sterile saline in sealed, disposable containers. This is guidance.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- A3. Checks of the box are recordedChoose one
- Conforms
- Nonconformity
- Observation
- Not checked
- What was seen, and where?NotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- A4. First aiders are trained and named on the noticeChoose one
- Conforms
- Nonconformity
- Observation
- Not checked
- What was seen, and where?NotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
Fire equipment
Check access, the gauge and the service label on each one you sample.
A fire extinguisher and a fire blanket mounted on a kitchen wall - E1. Extinguishers are in place, signed and easy to reachChoose one
- Conforms
- Nonconformity
- Observation
- Not checked
- What was seen, and where?NotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Extinguishers on siteNumber
- Extinguishers checked in this auditNumber
- Share of extinguishers checked (%)Worked out by the formShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- CheckMore checked than are on site. Check the two numbers.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- E2. Gauge in the green, pin and seal in placeChoose one
- Conforms
- Nonconformity
- Observation
- Not checked
- What was seen, and where?NotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- E3. Annual service is in dateChoose one
- Conforms
- Nonconformity
- Observation
- Not checked
- What was seen, and where?NotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Longest time since a service, from the labels (months)Number
- CheckMore than 12 months since the last service. Government guidance for factories and warehouses says extinguishers should be maintained by a competent person each year. This is guidance. Raise a finding.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- E4. Fire blanket is in place and easy to reachChoose one
- Conforms
- Nonconformity
- Observation
- Not checked
- What was seen, and where?NotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- E5. Monthly visual checks are recordedChoose one
- Conforms
- Nonconformity
- Observation
- Not checked
- What was seen, and where?NotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- How many monthly checks are missing from the last 12?NumberShown only when the answers above make it relevant
Records
Ask to see the record. A record you have not seen is not evidence.
- R1. First aid needs assessment is currentChoose one
- Conforms
- Nonconformity
- Observation
- Not checked
- What was seen, and where?NotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- R2. Fire risk assessment has been reviewedChoose one
- Conforms
- Nonconformity
- Observation
- Not checked
- What was seen, and where?NotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- R3. Actions from the previous audit are closedChoose one
- Conforms
- Nonconformity
- Observation
- Not checked
- What was seen, and where?NotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Actions raised at the previous auditNumber
- Actions closed with evidenceNumber
- Actions still openWorked out by the formShown when “Actions raised at the previous audit” is answered and “Actions closed with evidence” is answered
- CheckActions from the previous audit are still open. Carry each one into the findings for this audit.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- R4. Induction and fire drill records are keptChoose one
- Conforms
- Nonconformity
- Observation
- Not checked
- What was seen, and where?NotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
Summary of results
Counted from the results you recorded in sections 2 to 5.
- Requirements checkedWorked out by the form
- ConformsWorked out by the form
- NonconformitiesWorked out by the form
- ObservationsWorked out by the form
- Share conforming (%)Worked out by the formShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- GuidanceNo requirements have been marked yet. Go back and record a result for each one you checked.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- CheckNonconformities were recorded. Each one needs an entry in section 7, with a corrective action, an owner and a target date.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- GuidanceEvery requirement checked was met in the sample seen. An audit is a sample taken on one day.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Audit conclusionNotes
Findings and corrective actions
Grade each finding and agree it with the auditee before you leave.
- GuidanceOne entry for each finding. Attach the evidence that supports it, so that someone who was not there can see what was found.
- FindingsRepeat for each finding. Each one asks:
- Which area does the finding belong to?Choose one
- Walkways and exits
- First aid
- Fire equipment
- Exact locationShort answer
- Requirement checkedShort answer
- GradeChoose one
- Major nonconformity
- Minor nonconformity
- Observation
- WarningMajor nonconformity. Record what was done to make the area safe before you left, and who was told.Shown when “Grade” is “Major nonconformity”
- What was done to make it safe, and who was told?NotesShown when “Grade” is “Major nonconformity”
- CheckMinor nonconformity. It needs a corrective action, an owner and a target date.Shown when “Grade” is “Minor nonconformity”
- GuidanceObservation. The requirement is met. Record the improvement so it can be looked at again at the next audit.Shown when “Grade” is “Observation”
- What was foundNotes
- EvidenceTick all that apply
- Photograph
- Record or document seen
- Equipment label
- What a person said
- Measurement
- PhotographsPhotos
- Which record or document?Short answerShown when “Evidence” includes “Record or document seen”
- Corrective actionNotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- OwnerShort answerShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Target dateDateShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Has the auditee seen and agreed the finding?Yes or No
- What does the auditee say?NotesShown when “Has the auditee seen and agreed the finding?” is No
Closing meeting and sign-off
- Was a closing meeting held?Yes or No
- Why not?Short answerShown when “Was a closing meeting held?” is No
- Auditee response to the findingsChoose one
- All findings accepted
- Some findings disputed
- Not yet seen by the auditee
- Which findings are disputed, and why?NotesShown when “Auditee response to the findings” is “Some findings disputed”
- CheckThe auditee has not seen the findings. Share them before the report is issued, so they are not reading them for the first time in the report.Shown when “Auditee response to the findings” is “Not yet seen by the auditee”
- Is a follow-up check needed?Yes or No
- Follow-up dateDateShown when “Is a follow-up check needed?” is Yes
- Auditor nameShort answer
- Auditor signatureSignature
- Auditee nameShort answer
- Auditee signatureSignature
Safety audit template questions
What is the difference between a safety audit and a safety inspection?
An inspection looks at conditions on the day. This audit also checks the site against stated criteria and asks to see records, such as the first aid needs assessment, the fire risk assessment review and the actions from the previous audit. HSE describes periodic audits as checking how well management structures and risk controls are working.
How are audit findings graded?
Each finding is a major nonconformity, a minor nonconformity or an observation. A major one also records what was done to make the area safe and who was told. Major and minor findings both need a corrective action, an owner and a target date, and an observation records an improvement where the requirement is already met.
Is a health and safety audit a legal requirement?
Regulation 5 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires every employer to have arrangements for the planning, organisation, control, monitoring and review of their preventive and protective measures. An employer with five or more employees must record those arrangements. An audit is one way to show that monitoring and review happens.
What does it check on fire exits?
It checks that routes to fire exits are clear, exits are signed and exit doors open easily from inside. In England and Wales, the Fire Safety Order says routes to emergency exits and the exits themselves must be kept clear where that is needed to keep people safe. It also says emergency doors must not be fastened so that they cannot be easily and immediately opened by anyone who needs them in an emergency.
Can an auditor audit their own area?
The form's guidance is that an auditor should not audit their own work. If an internal auditor works in the area being audited, the form asks for that to be recorded and for the report to say how someone else will check the findings.
Can the auditee sign the audit on site?
Yes. The closing section records whether a closing meeting was held, the auditee's response and any disputed findings, then takes the auditor's and the auditee's signatures on the device. In the SiteSurvey app it works offline, with photos attached to each finding.
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Hazards, who might be harmed, controls and risk scores, with a briefing record and review date.
How a task will be done safely: scope, crew and competence, numbered work steps with hazards and controls, permits, emergency arrangements, briefing and approval. Links to the risk assessment by reference.
Record a toolbox talk: topic, key points, attendees with signatures.
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