Preparing for Mining Audits: A Checklist for Camps and Suppliers
By ATO ASEFOAH DADZIE
Few words can make a site manager sit up straighter than “audit.” Whether it’s environmental, safety, operational, or compliance-related, a mining audit has the potential to uncover weaknesses you didn’t know were there—or worse, confirm the ones you hoped wouldn’t be noticed.
At JOBEX COMPANY LTD in Ghana, we’ve supported both clients and our own teams through countless audits across the mining value chain. From sanitation checks in worker camps to material traceability in procurement files, we’ve seen what a good audit looks like—and, honestly, what a bad one feels like too.
Over time, we’ve developed a working checklist that helps us prepare without panic. Not because we expect things to be perfect, but because we believe readiness is a culture, not a one-time effort.
Let’s walk through it.
Documentation is everything It may sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how often critical records go missing. From fuel logs to safety induction sheets, from procurement receipts to waste disposal slips—auditors will ask to see what you've done and how you recorded it. If it’s not on paper (or in digital systems with time stamps), it’s like it didn’t happen. We recommend a monthly documentation review—just a half-day session to ensure everything is filed, signed, and accessible.
Walk the site before they do A physical walk-through of your camp or work area a few days before the audit can help catch issues early. Are all emergency exits labeled and unobstructed? Is the fire extinguisher mounted and inspected? Is PPE available and in good condition? Fixing these things when an auditor is standing in front of you is too late. We assign one of our team members to do a mock audit every quarter. It helps.
Know your team leads Audits are conversations, not interrogations. But if your personnel don’t know who to speak to—or worse, give contradictory information—it reflects poorly on the entire operation. At JOBEX COMPANY LTD, we designate a “point person” for each operational zone. Housekeeping knows who to call. Kitchen staff have a lead. Drivers have theirs. When everyone knows their domain and who speaks for it, it shows confidence and control.
Waste management and environmental practices Especially for international clients or partnerships, this has become a spotlight issue. Auditors want to see how camps manage greywater, how oil is disposed of, how used batteries are stored. We had one audit where a simple segregation of plastic waste earned us unexpected praise—it wasn’t mandatory, but it showed intent. Think beyond compliance. Think responsibility.
Training and awareness logs Have your staff been trained on safety protocols? Do you have a record? Even informal “toolbox talks” should be logged. We’ve found that a simple A4 binder with dated pages for daily briefings makes a big difference. It’s not complicated. It just shows consistency.
Supplier traceability Auditors may ask how you sourced certain chemicals, construction materials, or even food items. Can you prove the origin? Was the vendor vetted? Did you follow internal procurement processes? Especially in mining camps, where diverse goods are brought in daily, it’s easy to lose track. We've integrated a supplier pre-approval form into our onboarding to create a paper trail from day one.
Safety drills and first aid readiness When was your last fire drill? Who’s trained in basic first aid? Is your emergency plan posted in visible areas? Audits often include scenario questions: “What would happen if...?” Having answers, and showing staff are trained to respond, earns more credit than fancy tech ever could.
I’ll be the first to admit—we didn’t get all this right from the beginning. Our early audit experiences were a mix of stress and scrambling. But we’ve matured. And much of that growth is thanks to clients who expected better, who shared global best practices, and who challenged us to step up.
This commitment to readiness, to process, and to a culture of accountability is part of what’s helped JOBEX COMPANY LTD gain international recognition—including our nomination for the 2025 Go Global Awards in London this November. Hosted by the International Trade Council, it’s more than an awards show. It’s a gathering of companies that understand the world is watching, and that transparency builds trust.
So, are audits nerve-wracking? Sure, sometimes. But they’re also a chance to prove that your systems work, that your team is aligned, and that your operation is built to last—not just built to pass.
