Exemplar Global OHSMS Lead Auditor study plan

Map every clause of ISO 45001 (4 through 10) onto a one-page structure diagram, writing the intent of each clause in your own words

Distinguish OH&S management system requirements from ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 counterparts by listing at least eight clause-level differences

Explain the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle as applied to an OH&S MS, using one workplace scenario from your own sector

Define the terms 'hazard', 'risk', 'opportunity', 'OH&S risk' and 'OH&S opportunity' and show with three examples how risk and opportunity differ

Summarise the hierarchy of controls in clause 8.1.2 and identify which controls are elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative and PPE

Trace how clause 6.1.2 (hazard identification and assessment of risks) feeds clause 6.1.3 (determination of legal and other requirements) and clause 6.2 (objectives)

Draft a hazard identification checklist covering physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, psychosocial and organisational hazard categories

Apply a simple risk matrix to five hazards and justify the rating for each in writing

Identify the routes by which legal and other requirements enter the OH&S MS and list three ways an organisation can keep them current

Explain worker consultation and participation requirements in clauses 5.4 and 7.4 and describe evidence an auditor would look for

Differentiate first-party, second-party, third-party, internal, certification, surveillance and recertification audits with a concrete purpose for each

Explain the audit programme requirements of ISO 19011 clauses 5 and 6, including programme objectives, risks, extent, resources and monitoring

Describe the six audit principles (integrity, fair presentation, due professional care, confidentiality, independence, evidence-based approach, risk-based approach) and give a behaviour that violates each

Outline auditor competence requirements from ISO 19011 clause 7, separating knowledge, skills and personal behaviour

Explain impartiality threats and how an auditor would declare and manage a conflict of interest

Write audit objectives, scope and criteria for a hypothetical ISO 45001 certification audit of a 400-person manufacturer, making each element unambiguous

Produce a document review checklist that tests the OH&S policy, scope statement, risk register, legal register and objectives against the relevant clauses

Build a sampling plan that justifies site, shift, process and worker selection using risk-based reasoning

Draft an audit plan (stage 1 and stage 2) allocating time to clauses in proportion to risk and complexity

Identify what belongs in an opening meeting agenda and what must be agreed before fieldwork starts

Apply the three evidence-gathering methods (interview, observation, document review) to the same clause and compare the strength of evidence each yields

Write ten open questions that move from general to specific and avoid leading or closed phrasing

Design a sampling strategy that covers shifts, contractors, high-risk tasks and remote workers, and state its limitations

Practise documenting evidence so that a finding can be traced to objective evidence, criterion and location

Explain how to handle a situation where a worker gives information that contradicts management's account

Audit a risk assessment for adequacy by testing whether hazards were identified, controls selected by hierarchy, and residual risk accepted by an authorised person

Evaluate legal compliance evidence, including how the organisation evaluates compliance and what records demonstrate it

Distinguish nonconformity, observation, opportunity for improvement and conforming practice using at least four borderline examples

Classify five findings as major or minor nonconformity using a written rationale based on system failure, risk and repeatability

Write a nonconformity statement containing requirement, evidence, and the gap, without prescribing the solution

Draft an audit report structure that satisfies ISO 19011 clause 6.6, including conclusions on conformity and audit objectives

Write a closing meeting agenda and a script for presenting a major nonconformity that management disputes

Evaluate a corrective action plan for root cause analysis, correction, corrective action and effectiveness criteria

Design a follow-up verification plan that states what evidence will close each finding and within what timeframe

Explain how the audit is formally closed, including report distribution, record retention and confidentiality

Rehearse three conflict scenarios (disputed finding, uncooperative auditee, team member overstepping scope) and script a response for each

Explain the lead auditor's responsibilities for team selection, task allocation, team meetings and resolving disagreement within the team

Complete a timed 60-question mixed practice set across all nine domains and record the score by domain

Revisit the three weakest domains and rewrite the notes for each into a single summary sheet

Confirm readiness by self-assessing against the ISO 19011 competence criteria and listing remaining gaps