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MSST Audit: Guarantee Your Company's Safety and Compliance
MSST audits for companies in the cantons of Vaud, Geneva, Fribourg, Neuchâtel, Valais and Jura.
SafetyFirst’s initial MSST audit is an expert, structured process designed to thoroughly assess all aspects of your workplace safety arrangements.
Our mission: to identify every area for improvement, ensure your compliance with EKAS Directive 6508 and support you in creating a professional environment that is genuinely safe, sustainable and adapted to your actual risks. This service, essential for any company that takes its responsibilities and legal obligations seriously, helps you anticipate inspections, reduce incidents and demonstrate your commitment to your teams and partners.
Objectives of the MSST audit
- Thoroughly assess your workplace safety procedures and arrangements
- Identify priority areas for improvement to reduce risks
- Ensure compliance with EKAS Directive 6508 and applicable Swiss standards
Target audience
This audit is intended for HSE managers, site managers and internal safety coordinators (PERCOs), as well as anyone involved in organising and monitoring workplace safety measures.
An initial MSST audit with SafetyFirst
Benefit from a detailed assessment and a customised action plan. Our experts complement the audit with practical on-site training for PERCOs and key staff, ensuring the effective and sustainable implementation of your occupational health and safety management system.
Implementing an occupational health and safety audit: 4 key phases
To ensure a comprehensive and objective assessment of your safety system, our MSST audit follows a rigorous methodology proven with dozens of companies in French-speaking Switzerland. This transparent process gives you complete visibility at every stage, from planning through to monitoring the actions taken.
For an overview of the legal requirements governing this process, consult our comprehensive guide to occupational health and safety in Switzerland.
Would you like support after receiving the report? SafetyFirst can provide STPS support after the audit to manage the action plan, support your internal managers and monitor the implementation of measures over time.
Preparation and planning
– Data collection: gathering existing documentation (incident records, procedures, previous reports). – Defining the scope: identifying the sites, processes and departments concerned. – Forming the project team: appointing the internal safety coordinator (PERCO) and involving the relevant stakeholders (management, HSE, human resources). – Audit plan: schedule, detailed objectives and assessment criteria based on EKAS Directive 6508.
Inspection and risk mapping
– Site visits: on-site observations of workstations, facilities and behaviour. – Targeted interviews: discussions with operators, supervisors and employee representatives to understand actual practices. – Document review: checking safety data sheets, machine operating instructions and evacuation plans. – Hazard mapping: assessing the severity and frequency of each risk (severity × probability matrix).
Report and recommendations
– Audit report: summary of findings, strengths and identified non-conformities. – Prioritised action plan: list of corrective and preventive measures ranked by urgency and impact. – Feedback workshop: presenting the results to decision-makers, validating the actions and agreeing on a timeline. – Formal documentation: updating procedures and creating or revising the MSST manual.
Monitoring and continuous improvement
– Implementing measures: support with the application of actions (training, improvements, periodic inspections). – Performance indicators: defining and monitoring KPIs (incident rate, equipment compliance, training rate). – Follow-up audits: checks at 6–12 months to measure the effectiveness of the measures and adjust the plan. – PDCA cycle (Plan–Do–Check–Act): regular reviews to embed the OHS process and anticipate regulatory changes.
With more than 150 companies supported in French-speaking Switzerland, SafetyFirst has developed recognised expertise in conducting MSST audits.
Speak with our workplace safety experts
30 minutes with an expert to assess your needs and receive a priced proposal. No obligation.
Accident prevention: From reaction to anticipation
A rigorous MSST audit is your best protection against incidents. It maps potential hazards before they result in costly accidents, absences from work or human tragedies. By taking proactive action, you not only protect your teams: you also safeguard productivity and reduce accident-related costs.
Regulatory compliance: protect your operations and reputation
Our audit ensures that your organisation fully complies with applicable Swiss standards, particularly EKAS Directive 6508. This compliance protects you from legal sanctions, fines and additional insurance costs. More importantly, it strengthens your reputation as a responsible and reliable employer among your clients, partners and future talent.
Continuous improvement: a driver of sustainable performance
Far more than a snapshot at a given point in time, the MSST audit is the starting point for your culture of continuous improvement. Regular assessments help refine your processes, optimise the working environment and strengthen employee engagement. Employees who feel safe are more motivated, more productive and more loyal.
Why Is an MSST Audit a Strategic Investment?
Conducting an MSST audit goes far beyond a simple legal obligation relating to employees’ occupational health and safety. It is an essential strategic process for any company seeking to protect its most valuable asset – its employees – while safeguarding operational performance and long-term viability. By proactively identifying risks, you transform a regulatory requirement into a powerful lever for growth, trust and efficiency.
Initial occupational health and safety audit: a key step in ensuring compliance with the MSST system
The initial occupational health and safety audit offered by SafetyFirst is an essential step in assessing and optimising your organisation in line with the requirements of the MSST system (occupational physicians and other occupational safety specialists). This audit, compliant with EKAS Directive 6508, provides a comprehensive overview of your occupational health and safety at work, while meeting Swiss legal obligations. MSST audits are available in the cantons of Vaud, Geneva, Fribourg, Neuchâtel, Valais and Jura.
Our experts conduct a thorough risk assessment to identify potential hazards in your professional environment. This assessment includes reviewing existing preventive measures, emergency procedures and legal compliance. You will receive a detailed report including a prioritised action plan to eliminate non-conformities and strengthen your processes.
The initial audit also aims to promote a lasting safety culture within your organisation while embedding continuous improvement. Through a tailored approach, it helps you implement a system that complies with the MSST framework, ensuring optimal protection for your employees.
Choose excellence in workplace safety with SafetyFirst and ensure your company’s regulatory compliance while protecting your teams.
SafetyFirst’s MSST audit is not limited to a simple assessment; it forms part of a comprehensive approach to occupational health and safety. To complement this approach, we offer a range of targeted training courses to prepare your teams for all emergency situations. From mastering lifesaving skills through BLS-AED-SRC, IAS 1 and IAS 2, to practical evacuation training and fire safety, each programme strengthens protection in the field. We also offer innovative modules in mental health first aid and conflict management, which are essential in demanding professional environments.
Frequently asked questions about the MSST audit
The duration of the audit depends on the size and complexity of your company. As a general guide, an SME with 10 to 50 employees should allow one to two full days on site. This phase includes inspecting the premises, interviewing key staff and analysing your documentation. The analysis and preparation of the final report then take a few additional days.
To optimise the effectiveness of the audit, it is helpful to gather the following documents in advance: your existing safety concept (if you have one), the accident register for the past three years, the safety procedures in place, safety data sheets for hazardous products and evidence of your employees’ training. Don’t worry—we will provide you with a detailed checklist before our visit.
The audit comprehensively identifies all deviations from EKAS Directive 6508 and provides you with a prioritised action plan to address them. Final compliance depends on your company’s rigorous implementation of this plan. Our role is to provide you with the clearest and most practical roadmap for achieving this objective and approaching any labour inspection or Suva inspection with confidence.
The MSST audit focuses on compliance with Swiss legislation. It is mandatory for many companies and aims to ensure an adequate level of safety. ISO 45001 is a voluntary international standard that certifies an occupational health and safety management system. Although compatible, their objectives differ: the former focuses on legal compliance, while the latter provides international recognition for your management system.
Yes—and it is even a cornerstone of our approach. An audit is only useful if its recommendations are implemented. We offer tailored support to help you implement the action plan, train your teams (particularly PERCOs) and establish a genuine safety culture within your organisation for the long term.
