This is Yamada from the logistics team of the Support Administrative Scrivener Corporation.
The internal audit section of the ``Guidelines for Safety Management in Transportation Business Operators'' published by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism states that ``Business operators should conduct internal audits by utilizing outside human resources as necessary. "can be done."
Support Administrative Scrivener Corporation specializes in supporting the introduction and operation of transportation safety management systems, and also provides support for internal audits conducted by businesses.
■I don't know how to conduct an internal audit
■You assume that you have conducted an internal audit, but you are not sure where the problem actually lies.
■ Internal audit personnel are not trained and internal audits cannot be conducted effectively.
Please feel free to contact us if you are such a business.
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4. Internal audit approach method ②
(1) Selection of internal audit personnel
Deciding who in your company will be in charge of internal audits is the most important factor in implementing effective internal audits.
Management should focus on selecting reliable internal auditors. If you don't have one within your company, develop one as soon as possible.
Internal audits require independence, objectivity, and fairness, and managers also need to be able to point out problems without flattering or flattering them.
Of course, it is also necessary to have knowledge of related laws, safety management regulations, guidelines, etc., and to be able to incorporate this knowledge into your company's operation management system.
(2) Target of internal audit
When it comes to internal audits, there is a tendency to give priority to auditing the sites where operation management is performed, but the guidelines give priority to safety management operations in the business management department, including top management and safety managers, rather than the sites. It is recommended that you do so.
Regarding on-site implementation departments, audits are to be conducted as necessary when safety management initiatives are implemented in on-site implementation departments.
(3) Frequency of internal audits
Guidelines state that internal audits should be conducted at least once a year.
If you do it three or four times a year, you'll end up auditing all year round, including the improvement period, so I think it's actually best to do it once a year.
However, if you conduct an internal audit and there are too many areas for improvement, I think it would be a good idea to conduct an internal audit once every six months.
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Transportation safety management refers to the efforts of railway, automobile, marine, and aviation transport operators to work together from top management to the front lines to establish and maintain a safety management system that incorporates the so-called "PDCA cycle" concept. It is defined as carrying out specific initiatives.
There are certain scopes of businesses that are required to complete procedures with the Transport Bureau, but transportation safety management is mandatory for all businesses.
■Businesses that are required to create and submit safety management regulations (transport safety management manual) from October 1, 2013
Target business operator
Type of business
①Chartered bus business
Expanded scope to all businesses
②Public bus business (those with permission for chartered outsourcing operation)
Expanded scope to all businesses
③Public bus business (excluding ②)
A total of over 200 commercial vehicles for bus rides
④Specified passenger business
A total of 200 or more business vehicles for specified passengers
⑤Truck business
A total of 300 or more business vehicles (excluding towed vehicles)
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Guidelines on how to proceed with safety management in transportation business operators
Internal audit
1) The operator shall conduct an internal audit to confirm the following matters regarding efforts to establish and improve the safety management system. The scope of internal audits is the overall safety management system, and is conducted on top management, general safety managers, etc., and on-site implementation departments as necessary. In addition, businesses can utilize outside human resources to conduct internal audits as necessary.
① Are the efforts to build and improve the safety management system in compliance with the safety management regulations and other regulations and procedures regarding the safety management system determined by the operator?
② Is the safety management system being properly operated and functioning effectively?
2) The general procedures for internal audits are as follows.
① The business operator shall formulate an audit plan that includes the audit policy, priority confirmation items, etc., taking into consideration the status of initiatives to be audited, past audit results, etc.
② The business operator shall determine the scope, frequency, and method of auditing, and shall conduct internal audits of top management, safety supervisors, etc. at least once every year. Furthermore, in the event of a serious accident, etc., we will conduct necessary internal audits as appropriate.
③ When conducting internal audits, the business operator shall ensure the objectivity of the audit, such as by having a person who is not engaged in the operations of the department undergoing the internal audit conduct the audit.
④ In order to effectively implement internal audits, the business operator shall provide necessary education and training to those in charge of internal audits (hereinafter referred to as "internal audit personnel") regarding internal audit methods, etc.
⑤ After completing the audit, internal audit personnel shall promptly compile the audit results and report them to top management and the safety supervisor, as well as explain and communicate the audit results to the relevant personnel of the audited department.
⑥ The person in charge of the audited department shall implement the necessary corrective and preventive measures in order to eliminate the causes of problems pointed out in the audit without delay.
⑦ The operator shall verify the details of the measures taken and report the verification details in a management review.
3) When conducting internal audits, top management and others will provide support by ensuring that the importance of internal audits is thoroughly known within the business.
4) In order to promote effective internal audit efforts for building and improving safety management systems, business operators should regularly monitor and verify the status of internal audit efforts and the competence of internal audit personnel, and Review and improve methods, education and training for internal audit personnel, etc.
