About ADPHC

Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC) was established on 2019 as per the law of establishment No. (14) for the year 2019 that was issued by his Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan (May God Bless His Soul), President of the UAE. The entity was established to ensure a public health system that maintains the health of the population in the Emirate and guarantee workers' safety through the promotion of public health and preventive health concepts. The Abu Dhabi Public Health Center is the first of its kind in the region.

About OSHMS Version 3.1

Occupational Safety & Health Management System (OSHMS) is an integrated system that takes into consideration all aspects related to protection of the work environment, and the health and safety of the workers. It includes certain components that facilitate the development of the policy, programs and procedures necessary to improve performance in OSH issues. Abu Dhabi Emirate Occupational Safety & Health (OSHAD) System Framework is an Abu Dhabi Government Initiative that was developed to control occupational hazard resulting from workplaces and to ensure safe and healthy conditions for all workers in the Emirate. The OSHAD initiative was officially launched at the national symposium held on 25, 26 and 27 February 2008. Following that, it went through a detailed revision process by different sectors, and in July 2009, documents were re-issued under “Abu Dhabi EHSMS Regulatory Framework”. The first version of the EHSMS Regulatory Framework (version 1.2, issued July 2009) and the second amended version of the EHSMS Regulatory Framework (version 2.0 was issued Feb 2012) includes the EHS Policy, the EHSMS Decree (issued 16th June 2009), the EHSMS Manual, Codes of Practice and Guidance Documents. The latest amended version of OHSAD System framework (Version 3.1, issued March 2017) includes the OSH Policy, the OSHMS Decree, the OSHMS Manual, Codes of Practice and Guidance Documents. These are published on: www.adphc.gov.ae

What is OSHAD Audit

An audit has been defined within the OSHAD SF as a systematic, in depended and documented process for obtaining the audit evidence and evaluating it objectively to determine the extent to which audit criteria are fulfilled.

Why 3rd party audit.

In order to maintain the compliance of OSHAD SF Version and to retain ADPHC Approval certification, entity must conduct on annul basis. Entity shall undertake their initial third-party external compliance audit within one year of official notification of approval of their entity OSHMS from the concerned SRA. Subsequent annual audits shall be undertaken within one year of the previous third-party external compliance audit date.

Audit Team Responsibility

OSHAD 3rd party audit team of GESC shall have a primary duty of compliance checking of occupational safety & health across all functional areas in the entity. They have ethical as well as technical obligations in the fulfilment of their duties as follows:
a.Ethical Obligations

• Provide true and accurate information concerning their investigations;
• Not issue inaccurate audit reports or conceal relevant information from the entity’s management and interested parties as necessary.
• Notify Entity’s management of any imminent hazard to workers, the community, vicinity of the workplace and fraudulent activity, as soon as practicably possible during the course of conducting the audit.

• Refer to updated documents issued by the ADPHC and SRA during the course of conducting the internal audit activity.
• Utilize best practice methods while conducting the assessments;
• Exercise due care, diligence, and professional judgment while conducting the audit activities to a standard expected of a qualified quality, occupational safety & health auditor.
• Conduct audit only in areas within their competence. Ensure that audit statements or reports are based on sound observations and logical deductions & analysis

Conducting the OSHMS / OSHAD Audit

The audit process consists of interviews, review of records and field visits.
Interviews
GESC auditors will interview different levels of people within the organization, to evaluate their perception of Entity’s OSHMS. Interviewees will be selected randomly considering the vertical and horizontal allocation of responsibilities.
Document Review
At the time of audit, GESC auditors will review the required documents/ records to ensure compliance with the approved OSHMS.
Field Visit
The aim of the field visit is to verify the implementation of the HSE practices, which are said in different parts of the OSH system. The field visit includes both administrative and operational areas.
The process of the audit includes.

• Opening meeting
• Records Verification
• Generating audit findings/ observations
• Conclusion of the audit
• Closing Meeting

Scope of OSHMS / OSHAD Audit

The complete scope is to conduct an OSHMS audit, for client, to evaluate the implementation of their approved OSHMS, and the documentation adequacy against the requirements of OSHAD SF 3.1. The OSHMS audit includes “wherever applicable” but not limited to, the following areas.

• OSH Management System including OSH Control Procedures
• All Existing Written OSH Programs
• Compliance to Safe Work Procedures and Practices

GESC Approach & Methodology for OSHAD Audit

The OSH audit will be done as per OSHAD SF Technical Guideline -- Audit and Inspection, V 3.0, which mainly consists of on-site and off-site efforts. GESC shall carry out the OSH audit with competent auditors. Their work will consist of the following stages.

• Initiating the audit
• Conducting the off-site efforts, document review and audit planning
• Conducting the OSHMS audit
• Preparing and submitting the OSHMS audit report.

Initiating the Audit

The OSHMS Audit will be carried out by competent auditors. The selection of auditors will be made by considering their experience and expertise to match the requirements of the audit. The audit criteria will be Client’s approved OSHMS and OSHAD SF 3.1. The audit initiation includes.

• Appointing the audit team leader and audit team
• Defining the audit objective, scope and criteria
• Request of required data

Conducting the Off-Site Efforts, Document Review & Audit Planning

The off-site efforts consist of review of Client’s OSH Management System documentation. GESC will review the OSHMS of the client to ensure that the system is auditable, and it meets the requirements of OSHAD SF 3.1. At this stage GESC will plan the on-site efforts and transmit the audit plan to Client. This stage includes the following.

• Review of approved OSHMS of Entity
• Development of the audit plan
• Development of audit documents “if any”
• Development and Submission of Audit Report

Preparing and Submitting the OSHMS Audit Report.

Upon completion of the OSHMS audit, GESC will finalize & brief the audit findings and will prepare the audit report; the report will follow standard report format which permits detailed comments on management of OSH parameters. The audit report will consist of the following:

• Introduction
• Scope & objective
• Audit Criteria
• Audit Man Days
• Methodology of Audit
• Executive Summary
• Audit Findings
• Objective Evidence
• Conclusions

Audit Details

Audit Location

• Client's premises

• OSHAD SF V 3.1
• SRA’s requirments, and
• Sector Best Practices.

• An extensive and thorough onsite audit to verify the degree of compliance against the audit critera
• Determine the extent to which the documented OHS systems are implemented efficiently and effectively, and
• Identification of areas for improvement.

• Audit Man days will be selected depending on number of employees, departments and number of activites / locations

• Review of documentation including records,
• Interviewing of the personnel,
• Discussion with the Top Managment, and
• Obervation of safe and unsafe 'acts and conditions

• A detailed audit plan shall be submitted to party ‘B’ for their review and distribution to all the auditees.

• Within 03 working days of the last day of the Audit.

Literature Review

Download OSHAD Audit Checklist

Download OSHAD 3rd party Audit Plan template

Download OSHAD Audit Nonconformance Guidelines