How to Get Ready for an ISO Audit Without the Panic

A simple checklist to help you prepare with confidence—not chaos.

If just hearing the words “ISO audit” makes your stomach drop, you’re not alone.

Whether it's ISO 9001, 14001, or 45001, preparing for an audit can feel overwhelming—especially if documentation is scattered or systems aren’t quite as watertight as you’d like.

The good news? With the right approach (and the right support), you can get everything in order—without the last-minute stress.

✅ Your ISO Audit Preparation Checklist

Here’s where to focus your energy to stay ahead of the curve:

1. Review Your Documentation

Make sure all your policies, procedures, and manuals are up to date, properly version-controlled, and easy to access.

🔹 Gemma’s Tip: Organise documents in a clear, logical file structure—digital or physical—so nothing gets lost on the day.

2. Check Your Training & Competence Records

Auditors will want to see that your team is trained, competent, and records are accurate.

🔹 Gemma’s Tip: Have a central place for all qualifications, CPD logs, inductions, and training plans—especially for safety-critical roles.

3. Confirm You’re Following Your Own Procedures

It’s not enough to have a process written down—you need to show you’re actually following it.

🔹 Gemma’s Tip: Do a quick internal audit or spot check to compare what’s happening in practice with what’s on paper.

4. Prepare for a Site Walkthrough (if relevant)

For ISO 14001 or 45001, physical conditions matter. Check signage, PPE use, waste management, and H&S practices on-site.

🔹 Gemma’s Tip: A pre-audit walkthrough can highlight any minor fixes before the auditor sees them.

5. Track Your Non-Conformances and Improvements

Have you logged and addressed any previous non-conformities? Can you show evidence of improvement actions?

🔹 Gemma’s Tip: Keep a simple log that tracks issues, actions taken, and who followed up—it shows control and commitment to continual improvement.

💡 How I Help

With over 20 years in construction, engineering, and aviation, I know exactly how high-compliance industries operate—and how stressful audits can be when systems aren't quite ready.

That’s where I come in.

I support clients by:

• Reviewing and updating documentation

• Preparing for audits (internal and external)

• Conducting mock audits or site walkthroughs

• Creating user-friendly systems that actually work in practice

• Handling the details—so you don’t have to

Don’t Wait for Panic Mode to Set In

The earlier you prepare, the smoother your audit will be—and the more confident you’ll feel.

📩 If you’d like some help getting audit-ready, drop me a message at gemma@sullivanconsultant.co.uk.

Let’s make your next audit feel like just another day at the office.