What phase does the audit team enter when they arrive at the work site?

The audit team enters the audit phase when they arrive at the work site. This phase is crucial because it involves the actual implementation of the audit process, where auditors begin to gather evidence, observe practices, and interact with personnel on-site to assess compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations and standards. During this phase, the audit team conducts interviews, reviews documentation, and makes firsthand observations that are essential for forming conclusions about the organization’s HSE performance.

Prior phases, such as the preparation and planning phases, occur earlier in the auditing process. The preparation phase usually involves establishing the audit objectives, scope, and criteria, as well as assembling the audit team and ensuring that all necessary resources are available. The planning phase follows that, where the audit scope is refined, audit schedules are created, and detailed procedures are outlined to ensure the audit runs smoothly. However, once the team is on-site, the focus shifts to the audit phase where their evaluations and assessments take place.