What is the primary purpose of safety audits?

The primary purpose of safety audits is to assess compliance with established safety policies and regulations while also identifying areas for improvement within an organization's safety practices. By conducting thorough audits, organizations can evaluate whether employees are adhering to safety standards, if the existing policies are being effectively implemented, and where gaps or deficiencies may exist. This ongoing assessment helps ensure that the workplace remains safe and conducive to employees' well-being, ultimately aiming to reduce incidents and enhance overall safety culture.

In the context of the other choices, identifying potential new hazards is important but comes secondary to assessing compliance, which requires understanding current practices and regulations. Evaluating employee performance in safety practices, while relevant, is more focused on individual behavior rather than the broader policies and systems in place. Lastly, ensuring that safety equipment is functional is a critical aspect of safety management but is again a specific task within the larger framework of compliance and improvement that safety audits aim to address.