What should a safety professional ensure when evaluating an audit instrument?

A safety professional should prioritize that the audit instrument includes validation methods because validation ensures that the tool is measuring what it is supposed to measure and that the results are reliable and valid. This is crucial for making informed decisions based on the audit findings. An audit instrument that has validation methods provides a level of confidence in the results, allowing for effective identification of safety issues, compliance with regulations, and monitoring of safety performance over time.

Validation methods can include various approaches, such as field testing the tool, comparing results to established benchmarks, or consulting with subject matter experts. By having these methods in place, the safety professional can ensure that the audit process is robust and that the data collected is trustworthy and actionable.

While other factors like cost and ease of use are important, they do not contribute directly to the credibility and effectiveness of the audit results in the same way that validation methods do. An audit instrument could be simple or inexpensive, but without validation, it may not produce reliable outcomes, which is essential in maintaining health and safety standards.