Procedure

When should a Safety Audit be conducted?

It is advisable to carry out a Safety Audit during both the day and night to cater for all user groups. If only one Safety Audit can be conducted, after dark is probably best It is the only reliable way to identify if there is a problem with lighting, which is one of the most important safety features. This also focuses on the time of day when people are most isolated and feel least safe.

Taking Notes

It is important to take good notes. When taking notes:

• note the date and time of the Safety Audit, and who participated. This is important if you are looking at maintenance problems over a period of time.
• if the area you are auditing is large or complex, your Safety Audit should deal with one part at a time, for example, one street, or park.
• be as specific as you can about the location of each place you comment on.
• write down any question/s that you have (even if you don't find the answers).
• take notes on everything, including your comments on the process of the audit itself.
• look over your notes later to see if they make sense. Would someone who wasn't on the Safety Audit understand what you mean? If not, try to make your notes clearer.

Tips

Take a torch with you for the after dark phase of the Safety Audit

Consider taking notes or using your camera to document positive features as well as problem areas. It can be beneficial to contrast or compare good and bad examples of the same factor, e.g. a well-lit street and a poorly lit street.

If you do use a camera to photograph an area, it is a good idea to write down the number of each photo and what it represents.

If it is difficult to take notes, consider using a tape recorder.

Stay safe, dress appropriately and remember to conduct the Safety Audit as a team as there is safety in numbers.