Internal OHS Audits & Compliance Inspections In South Africa
A single workplace fatality can end your business overnight. Yet many South African companies only discover critical safety violations when it’s too late, during a Department of Labour inspection, after a serious incident, or in a courtroom.
At Ambu Certification, with over 20 years serving high-risk industries across Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and nationwide, our rigorous internal OHS audits identify systemic failures and hidden hazards before regulators arrive, before someone gets hurt, and before your reputation is damaged.
The South African Legal Reality: OHS Compliance Isn’t Optional
The Occupational Health and Safety Act (No. 85 of 1993) is not a guideline, it is enforceable law. Section 8 places absolute accountability on employers to provide a working environment that is safe and without risk to health. This legal duty applies to every workplace in South Africa, regardless of size or industry.
Three Reasons Internal OHS Audits Are Non-Negotiable
Internal occupational health and safety audits are more than a compliance exercise, they are a critical layer of legal, financial, and ethical protection for your business.
- Legal Protection: Demonstrate due diligence before you need it. When inspectors arrive or an incident triggers an investigation, the key question will be: “What did you do to prevent this?” A professionally conducted internal audit provides documented proof that management fulfilled its legal responsibilities, evidence that can mean the difference between a corrective notice and criminal prosecution.
- Financial Impact: Turn safety from a cost centre into a profit protector. Safety failures drain businesses through compensation claims, lost productivity, legal fees, higher insurance premiums, equipment damage, and lost contracts. Strong compliance reduces incidents, lowers insurance costs, and improves operational efficiency. Preventing just one serious injury can pay for the entire audit.
- Moral Obligation: Protect the people who trust you. Beyond legal and financial factors, employers have an ethical duty to ensure workers return home safely each day. An effective audit identifies equipment failures, exposes training gaps, and corrects unsafe shortcuts before someone gets hurt. When employees see real improvements, trust grows, but when safety is ignored, morale and engagement suffer.
What Makes Our Internal OHS Audits Different
Most companies settle for quick facility walk-throughs that check boxes but miss root causes. We deliver two integrated services that create genuine safety performance — backed by over two decades of real-world experience in South Africa's most demanding industries.
Who Needs Our Internal OHS Audit Service?
We work with high-risk industries where safety failures can lead to severe injuries, legal liability, and operational shutdowns. Our experience across Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and nationwide means we understand the realities of complex, hazardous environments.
High-Risk Industries We Serve
Mining & Extractive Industries
Extensive experience with major mining operations across South Africa.
Automotive Manufacturing
Including component suppliers and production facilities.
Food & Beverage Processing
Production environments requiring strict safety and hygiene compliance.
Chemical & Pharmaceutical
Managing hazardous substances and complex regulatory requirements.
Metals Fabrication & Heavy Engineering
High-risk mechanical operations and heavy industrial processes.
Logistics, Warehousing & Distribution
Fast-moving environments with vehicle, storage, and manual handling risks.
Construction & Civil Engineering
Dynamic sites with constantly changing hazards and multiple contractors.
Having worked in some of South Africa's most demanding environments, we understand the operational pressures you face — and how to build safety systems that actually work in the real world.
What You Get: Six Strategic Benefits
Our internal OHS audits go beyond compliance checklists — they deliver practical, legally defensible, and operationally useful outcomes that strengthen your entire safety system.
What You Need to Prepare
Our Proven 4-Phase Audit Methodology
Our approach is systematic yet constructive. We're not here to catch you out—we're here to strengthen your systems through collaborative assessment.
Strategic Planning & Preparation
We begin with a discovery consultation to understand your operations, industry risks, and specific legislative compliance requirements. We define audit scope, review core documents, assign specialized auditors matched to your industry, and establish the schedule with minimal disruption.
On-Site Assessment & Evidence Collection
Our team systematically gathers objective evidence through physical inspections, confidential interviews, procedural observation, and record sampling. Throughout this phase, we maintain open communication with your team, clarifying findings and discussing preliminary observations.
Analysis & Comprehensive Reporting
We compare collected evidence against OHS Act requirements, ISO 45001 standards, and your own policies. Every finding is graded by risk priority with photographic and documentary evidence, and we develop specific corrective action recommendations.
Presentation & Implementation Support
We deliver your audit report in a detailed presentation meeting where we walk through findings, answer questions, provide implementation guidance, and establish follow-up schedules to verify corrective actions.
You Need This Audit If You're Facing:
Internal OHS audits are not just for compliance — they are essential when warning signs appear, growth accelerates, or external scrutiny increases.
Pre-certification preparation – Pursuing ISO 45001 or other safety certifications
Incident spike – Increased accidents or near-misses signaling system breakdown
Regulatory scrutiny – Department of Labour inspection anticipated
Post-incident investigation – Demonstrating corrective actions after a serious incident
New leadership – Understanding true safety performance beyond reports
Rapid growth – Operations expanded faster than safety systems
Outdated systems – Last comprehensive review was over 12 months ago
Tender requirements – Contracts requiring documented proof of statutory compliance
Insurance renewal – Demonstrating mature safety systems for better premiums
Benchmarking goals – Comparing performance against industry best practices
Award qualification – Pursuing safety excellence recognition programs
M&A due diligence – Comprehensive safety system assessment required
Client audit preparation – Major clients conducting supplier safety audits
If even one of these situations applies to your organization, an internal OHS audit is no longer optional — it's a critical step in protecting your people, leadership, and business continuity.
Book Your Audit NowWhy Choose Ambu Certification for Your Internal OHS Audit?
We're not just compliance consultants checking boxes. As QCTO-accredited health and safety specialists, we understand workplace realities.
Our Commitment to You
- Affordable and Reliable – Professional audits that deliver exceptional value, with transparent pricing and no hidden costs.
- Quality and Professional Guidance – Expert auditors with real-world industry experience who understand your operational challenges.
- Tailored Solutions – Every audit is customized to meet your specific statutory and regulatory requirements.
Your Next Step: Get Audit-Ready
Don't wait for an incident or inspection to reveal your vulnerabilities. Take control with a professional internal OHS audit that provides the clarity, protection, and roadmap your business needs.
Schedule Your Consultation — We'll Discuss:
✔ Your specific operational risks and compliance concerns
✔ The scope and timeline for your audit
✔ Expected investment and ROI
✔ How we'll minimize disruption to your operations
Frequently Asked Questions
Internal OHS Audits Near You
While we are based in eMalahleni(Witbank), Mpumalanga. We offer our Internal OHS Audits across South Africa, but mainly in:
Witbank(eMalahleni)
Johannesburg
Mpumalanga
Gauteng
Pretoria
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