National Audit Tool (NAT)

What is the NAT?

The National Audit Tool is an OHS audit tool developed in 2005 by a multi-jurisdictional working party of regulatory bodies under the Heads of Workers Compensation Authorities which draws on the standard AS/NZS 4801 and other industry-accepted audit tools, including SafetyMAP, the New South Wales Self Insurance Audit Tool, and the South Australian Performance Standards for Self-Insurers.

The objective behind the National Audit Tool (NAT) Program is to provide organisations, either those that are self insured for their Worker’s Compensation or those that are not, with a set of common criteria and guidance notes which can be used to review the effectiveness of their safety management systems and to help drive system and performance improvements.

In addition to this, the NAT also helps to assess an organisation’s legislative compliance to the relevant legislation that applies within their jurisdictions.

Certification against the NAT allows for the assessment of all facets of a safety management system and ensures the consistency of these systems across different states.

NCS International is accredited to JAS-ANZ to provide certification against the NAT.

The Audit Process

The full range of benefits on offer from the NAT Program can only be realised through independent verification by an accredited verification body such as NCSI.

In order to achieve certification a detailed and thorough audit, including the examination of an organisations processes and documentation, will be carried out to assess effectiveness, verify implementation and provide guidance for further development.

Once an audit has been carried out, a report will be prepared identifying both the positive aspects of the organisation’s safety management system and areas not yet meeting audit criteria.

The NAT looks at five key components of an organisations safety management system and processes, with specific auditable criteria listed for each.

1.    Health & Safety Policy
2.    Planning
3.    Implementation
4.    Measurement & Evaluation
5.    Management Review

Click the image below to view our National Audit Tool Brochure.

For more information, and to find out how we can help, please email us on info@ncsi.com.au, or

call on 1300 856 554.

NB - Whilst the NAT Program was initially developed as a nationally consistent OHS audit tool, not all states and territories have yet recognised third party certification to NAT as compliance for self insurance requirements. As at January 2011, third party certification against the NAT Program is only recognised by WorkSafe in Victoria as an indicator of compliance.

Self insured organisations operating in Victoria may opt for third party certification to the NAT Program as they may have done with SafetyMAP Advanced Level. The NAT Program has been designed to replace SafetyMAP Advanced for self insurance purposes.

Those organisations with operations outside Victoria may still choose to acquire certification to the NAT Program however may still be required to schedule a visit or undergo an assessment from the relevant state regulator.