What is the purpose of a baseline audit?

A baseline audit serves a critical function in establishing a reference point for an organization’s health and safety management system. This type of audit is conducted before any significant changes or improvements are made, allowing the organization to assess its current practices, policies, and procedures in relation to health and safety. By evaluating these elements, the organization can identify strengths and weaknesses, providing a foundation for future improvements.

The baseline audit is essential for understanding where the organization currently stands in terms of compliance with regulations, adherence to best practices, and overall effectiveness in managing health and safety risks. This initial review is crucial for developing subsequent action plans, setting goals, and measuring progress over time.

The other choices, while relevant to workplace safety and organizational performance, do not align with the core intent of a baseline audit. Reviewing specific accidents is focused on incident analysis, employee satisfaction pertains to workplace culture and conditions, and verifying training completion is a compliance check rather than an assessment of the overall management system.