What is the primary purpose of an HSMS audit?

• A. Increase costs
• B. Replace risk assessments
• C. Identify strengths and weaknesses and opportunities for continual improvement
• D. Ensure 100% compliance only

Answer: (C)

An HSMS audit examines how well the health and safety management system is designed and actually functioning in the workplace. Its main purpose is to identify strengths and weaknesses and reveal opportunities for continual improvement, so actions can be taken to strengthen controls, update risk assessments, and enhance training and incident management. This focus on improvement and evidence-based gaps helps the organization reduce risk and improve safety performance over time. It’s not about increasing costs, replacing risk assessments, or chasing 100% compliance; audits aim to learn from findings and drive ongoing enhancement of the system.