Global Community

Last week, we looked at  Clause 7.1  Resources and Clause 7.2 Competence

 This week we  shall look at Clause 7.3: Awareness

Clause 7.3 : Awareness

 

Excerpts from the standard:

 

Workers shall be made aware of:

 

a). OH&S policy and OH&S objectives

b). Their contribution to the OH&S management system, including the benefits of improved OH&S performance

c). The implication and potential consequences of not conforming to the OH&S management system requirements

d). Incidents and outcomes of investigations that are relevant to them

e). Hazards, OH&S risks and actions determined that are relevant to them

f). The ability to remove themselves from work situations they consider present an an imminent and serious danger to their life or health as well as the arrangements for protecting them from undue consequences for doing so.

Awareness is critical for organizations implementing an Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) management system. As we always point out, this system is not just a collection of documents to be kept in a file cabinet and retrieved solely for audit compliance. The OH&S policy we create and the objectives we set must be communicated to workers clearly so they can understand and apply them daily.

While induction training is an excellent opportunity to introduce new employees to the OH&S policy and objectives during onboarding, it only captures a fraction of the workforce. Organizations must establish an ongoing process to keep all workers informed when updates occur. Team meetings and toolbox talks are highly effective for this purpose.

Additionally, OH&S Team meetings and toolbox talks and handbooks serve as excellent communication tools. They help workers understand their direct contribution to the effectiveness of the system, the benefits of improved safety performance, and the potential consequences of failing to conform to requirements. It is equally important to share information regarding relevant incidents and investigation outcomes. Remember, workers must actively participate in hazard identification, incident investigations, and the determination of corrective actions (Clause 5.4: Consultation and participation of workers). They must always be aware of the specific hazards, risks, and determined actions that affect them.

Finally, organizations need a robust system-such as a dedicated Stop Work Policy-that empowers workers to remove themselves from situations they believe present an imminent and serious danger to their life or health. This system must include clear arrangements that protect workers from any undue consequences for doing so.

Next week, we shall look at Clause 7.4 communication

Thank you! I appreciate your warm wishes and look forward to hearing your thoughts

------------------------------
Nosakhare Aisagbonhi Irabor
------------------------------

Item f is the one I test hardest, because a stop work policy is easy to write and hard to live. Most workers can repeat that they are allowed to stop a job, so I ask instead whether they know anyone who actually did and what happened to that person next. If the answer is a pause and a nervous laugh, the awareness is there but the protection from undue consequences is not, and that gap is usually a leadership finding rather than a training one.

------------------------------
Dilawar Laghari
Auditor, Consultant and Trainer
Audit Workshop
https://auditworkshop.com/
------------------------------

You are absolutely correct, Dilawar. I have consistently reminded our workers during toolbox talks, and our stop-work policy is clearly displayed on the notice board. However, I have not yet had any worker stop work due to unsafe conditions.

------------------------------
Nosakhare Aisagbonhi Irabor
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-12-2026 11:43 PM
From: Dilawar Laghari
Subject: QHSE at a glance

Item f is the one I test hardest, because a stop work policy is easy to write and hard to live. Most workers can repeat that they are allowed to stop a job, so I ask instead whether they know anyone who actually did and what happened to that person next. If the answer is a pause and a nervous laugh, the awareness is there but the protection from undue consequences is not, and that gap is usually a leadership finding rather than a training one.

------------------------------
Dilawar Laghari
Auditor, Consultant and Trainer
Audit Workshop
https://auditworkshop.com/
------------------------------

That is worth watching, Nosakhare, because a zero stop count can mean the site is genuinely safe or that nobody has felt able to be the first. The next best evidence is a near miss or a concern someone did raise, and how the supervisor handled it in the moment.

------------------------------
Dilawar Laghari
Auditor, Consultant and Trainer
Audit Workshop
https://auditworkshop.com/
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-13-2026 07:40 AM
From: Nosakhare Aisagbonhi Irabor
Subject: QHSE at a glance

You are absolutely correct, Dilawar. I have consistently reminded our workers during toolbox talks, and our stop-work policy is clearly displayed on the notice board. However, I have not yet had any worker stop work due to unsafe conditions.

------------------------------
Nosakhare Aisagbonhi Irabor
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 09-12-2026 11:43 PM
From: Dilawar Laghari
Subject: QHSE at a glance

Item f is the one I test hardest, because a stop work policy is easy to write and hard to live. Most workers can repeat that they are allowed to stop a job, so I ask instead whether they know anyone who actually did and what happened to that person next. If the answer is a pause and a nervous laugh, the awareness is there but the protection from undue consequences is not, and that gap is usually a leadership finding rather than a training one.

------------------------------
Dilawar Laghari
Auditor, Consultant and Trainer
Audit Workshop
https://auditworkshop.com/
------------------------------

Thanks, Dilawar. This is profound. I will do as you advised. 

------------------------------
Nosakhare Aisagbonhi Irabor
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-15-2026 11:32 PM
From: Dilawar Laghari
Subject: QHSE at a glance

That is worth watching, Nosakhare, because a zero stop count can mean the site is genuinely safe or that nobody has felt able to be the first. The next best evidence is a near miss or a concern someone did raise, and how the supervisor handled it in the moment.

------------------------------
Dilawar Laghari
Auditor, Consultant and Trainer
Audit Workshop
https://auditworkshop.com/
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 09-13-2026 07:40 AM
From: Nosakhare Aisagbonhi Irabor
Subject: QHSE at a glance

You are absolutely correct, Dilawar. I have consistently reminded our workers during toolbox talks, and our stop-work policy is clearly displayed on the notice board. However, I have not yet had any worker stop work due to unsafe conditions.

------------------------------
Nosakhare Aisagbonhi Irabor
------------------------------



Original Message:
Sent: 09-12-2026 11:43 PM
From: Dilawar Laghari
Subject: QHSE at a glance

Item f is the one I test hardest, because a stop work policy is easy to write and hard to live. Most workers can repeat that they are allowed to stop a job, so I ask instead whether they know anyone who actually did and what happened to that person next. If the answer is a pause and a nervous laugh, the awareness is there but the protection from undue consequences is not, and that gap is usually a leadership finding rather than a training one.

------------------------------
Dilawar Laghari
Auditor, Consultant and Trainer
Audit Workshop
https://auditworkshop.com/
------------------------------

Excellent breakdown, Nosakhare. I particularly appreciate your emphasis that awareness under Clause 7.3 goes beyond induction training and documented communication-it must translate into workers understanding the hazards, risks, responsibilities, and their right to act when facing imminent and serious danger.

The link you make with Clause 5.4 is also important: effective awareness is strengthened when workers are genuinely involved in consultation and participation, rather than simply being recipients of information. Looking forward to your discussion on Clause 7.4.

------------------------------
Francisco J. Tapia Guerrero
ftapia@qualitascertification.com
www.linkedin.com/in/franktapiaguerrero
------------------------------

------------------------------
Nosakhare Aisagbonhi Irabor
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-14-2026 09:36 PM
From: Francisco J. Tapia Guerrero
Subject: QHSE at a glance

Excellent breakdown, Nosakhare. I particularly appreciate your emphasis that awareness under Clause 7.3 goes beyond induction training and documented communication-it must translate into workers understanding the hazards, risks, responsibilities, and their right to act when facing imminent and serious danger.

The link you make with Clause 5.4 is also important: effective awareness is strengthened when workers are genuinely involved in consultation and participation, rather than simply being recipients of information. Looking forward to your discussion on Clause 7.4.

------------------------------
Francisco J. Tapia Guerrero
ftapia@qualitascertification.com
www.linkedin.com/in/franktapiaguerrero
------------------------------

Nosakhare, this is a useful explanation of Clause 7.3, particularly the connection you make between awareness, worker participation and the right to remove oneself from imminent and serious danger.

From an auditing perspective, I believe the real challenge is distinguishing between communicated awareness and demonstrated awareness.

A worker may have attended induction, signed a training record, attended toolbox talks, and even correctly repeat the Stop Work Policy. But these records demonstrate that information was communicated; they do not necessarily demonstrate that awareness exists in practice.

When auditing this area, I prefer to test it through practical questions:
"What would make you stop this job?"
"What would you do if your supervisor asked you to continue despite a serious hazard?"
"What happened after the last incident or near miss in your area?"
"Can you identify the most significant OH&S risks associated with the task you are performing now?"

The answers often reveal much more about the effectiveness of Clause 7.3 than the training records themselves.

In my view, awareness becomes credible audit evidence when the worker can recognize the risk, understand the consequence, know the required action, and feel able to act without fear of undue consequences.

This is also where Clauses 7.3 and 5.4 become closely connected in practice.

Thank you for opening an important discussion.

------------------------------
Ahmed Rashidy Abdo

Founder & Managing Director | Quality For All (QFA)
Quality Management Consultant | Management Systems Auditor | International Trainer

Building professional competency and organizational excellence across the Middle East & Africa.

https://qfaplus.com
------------------------------