What is often a consequence of management not prioritizing health and safety in an audit process?

When management does not prioritize health and safety during the audit process, one of the notable consequences can indeed be the unavailability of executive management for interviews. This unavailability often stems from a lack of awareness or commitment to health and safety policies, which signals to the audit team that these issues are not valued by the leadership. As a result, critical insights and directives that could be gathered through executive interviews may be lost, leading to ineffective audit outcomes. The absence of management during interviews can also reflect a culture that does not take health and safety seriously, potentially hindering the effectiveness of the audit and the organization's overall commitment to improvement in this area.

In contrast, factors like increased profits, improved employee satisfaction, and stronger compliance with regulations typically arise from effective health and safety management, which requires prioritization and active engagement from the top levels of management. Without that prioritization, organizations may experience issues, including inadequate compliance and decreased morale among employees, rather than the benefits associated with a robust safety culture.