Group Activity: Applying the Turtle Diagram to Evaluate Process Effectiveness in OH&S Management System #
Purpose of the Activity: #
To provide participants with a scenario-based exercise that enables them to:
- Understand how to determine the context and scope of an OH&S Management System.
- Learn to apply the Turtle Diagram approach during process-based auditing.
- Frame audit questions that link process inputs, outputs, risks, controls, and competencies with the intended outcomes of ISO 45001:2018, particularly: “To prevent work-related injury and ill health to workers and to provide safe and healthy workplaces”.
Scenario Background – “Night Shift, Narrow Escape” #
[Company Name] has implemented an OH&S Management System and is preparing for a surveillance audit. The audit scope includes its PCB assembly night shift, which recently experienced a near-miss incident.
During one production night, a conveyor jam occurred. An operator climbed onto the machine to dislodge a component manually, without deactivating the power supply or applying the Lock-Out Tag-Out (LOTO) procedure. No injury occurred, but the event was recorded as a high-potential near-miss.
The updated SOPs were emailed to shift leaders one month ago, but many operators are non-English speakers and had not received any verbal briefing or translated communication. Posters outlining the new procedures are available, but only in English.
You, as the auditor, have been assigned to assess the process for “Managing Equipment Maintenance and Safe Work Procedures” using the Turtle Diagram method.
Procedure available for samples #
| Betamek | Procedures |
| Hotayi | Procedures |
| Tc Marine | Procedures |
🐢 Activity Instructions for Participants #
🔎 Step 1: Apply the Turtle Diagram #
Participants shall apply the Turtle Diagram model to analyze the process of managing safe equipment operation and maintenance during night shifts.
Each group must identify elements of the Turtle Diagram as follows:
- Process Name: e.g., Equipment Operation & Maintenance Control
- Inputs: What triggers or initiates this process?
- Outputs: What are the results or deliverables of this process?
- With What Resources?: Facilities, materials, technologies, tools
- With What Competence?: Skills, qualifications, training records
- With What Methods/Controls?: SOPs, LOTO protocols, monitoring
- Who Does It?: Responsible personnel or roles
- How Is It Measured?: Performance indicators, KPIs, incident logs
✍️ Step 2: Draft Audit Questions #
Participants are to generate 3–5 audit questions per Turtle Diagram element, ensuring that each question aligns with:
- The intended outcome of the OH&S Management System
(i.e., prevention of work-related injury and ill health, provision of safe workplaces) - The relevant ISO 45001:2018 clauses, particularly from:
✅ Expected Output (Example from Participants) #
🐢 Turtle Diagram – “Safe Equipment Operation (Night Shift)” #
| Element | Description | Sample Audit Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Inputs | ||
| Outputs | ||
| Resources | ||
| Competence | ||
| Methods / Controls | ||
| Responsibilities | ||
| Measurements |