Internal Audit Checklist
A structured process audit, physical area audit, and personnel interview framework to verify your FOD program is working — free form included in the Complete FOD Prevention Program Guide. Get the Free ChecklistQuick answer: An internal audit verifies that a FOD program as practiced matches the FOD program as documented. It provides independent assurance to leadership that the program is functioning and identifies gaps before an external auditor or a FOD event finds them. It is Form 13 in the Complete FOD Prevention Program Guide toolkit, referenced in Section 38.
Who Should Conduct the Audit
Audits should be conducted by someone independent of the area being audited:
- The FOD Program Owner, auditing an area they do not directly supervise
- A quality assurance representative
- A peer from another area or another site
- A cross-functional audit team (safety, quality, operations)
Three Audit Dimensions
The checklist covers three dimensions that together give a complete picture of program health:
- Process audit (11 items) — reviews program documentation and records
- Physical area audit (10 items) — inspects signage, containers, surfaces, and communications
- Personnel interviews (5 items) — verify FOD knowledge and participation, not just attendance records
Audit Frequency by Program Maturity
Audit cadence scales with how mature your program is — from the guide’s Program Maturity Framework (Section 6).
| Maturity Level | Frequency | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1–2 | Monthly | All scheduled walks reviewed for the month. One physical area audited per month, rotating through all areas. |
| Level 3 | Quarterly | Full process audit plus physical audit of a sample of areas (minimum 25% of zones). Documentation review. |
| Level 4–5 | Semi-annually | Comprehensive audit: full process, all areas sampled, documentation review, personnel interviews, trend analysis, benchmark comparison. |
Audit Findings and Corrective Action
Audit findings are graded using the same severity/risk matrix as FOD findings. An audit finding that three shadow board positions are empty with no missing-tool documentation is a high-severity finding.
Each audit finding generates a corrective action in the Corrective Action Tracker, tracked and verified using the same process as FOD-related corrective actions. The audit is closed only when all findings have been addressed — implemented and verified, or risk-accepted with leadership approval — and the report is reviewed at the next management review meeting.
External Audit Readiness
When a customer, regulator, or certification body audits your FOD program, they typically focus on five things:
- Documented program — does a current, approved FOD policy and procedure exist?
- Evidence of execution — are walks completed on schedule, with findings logged and data driving action?
- Training and competency — are personnel trained, with competency verified, not just attendance recorded?
- Corrective action effectiveness — when problems are found, are they fixed and verified?
- Management engagement — does leadership review performance and empower the program owner?
The best preparation for an external audit is a functioning internal audit program.