From field operations to the corporate office, SPAN’s integrated approach validates and verifies that operational performance is being achieved, risks are being mitigated and commitments are being met. Executives and Board Members demand clear line of sight into your organization. To meet this demand, SPAN designs, implements and embeds operational audit and assurance programs to ensure the right information is available for accurate reporting.
A cornerstone of any top performing company is the ability to verify operational performance and management system effectiveness over time and continually eradicate gaps in operational processes that can lead to failures. Advanced engineering and technology solutions are effective in preventing failures, but incidents do still occur. Major incident investigations continually identify that the root cause of incidents are often breakdowns in processes and human interactions over time.
Managing and reducing risk is a critical component of all organizations. An effective assurance program helps you identify risks and prevents failures from happening, or happening again in some circumstances. The most effective way to prevent incidents is to have the right mechanisms to identify and track areas of improvement. We help organizations leverage existing data, and set up systems to collect new data to manage risk, improve employee performance and drive continuous improvement.
“A number of past CSB investigations have found companies focusing on personal injury rates while virtually overlooking looming process safety issues – like the effectiveness of barriers against hazardous releases, automatic shutoff system failures, activation of pressure relief devices, and loss of containment of liquids and gases. Furthermore, we have found failures by companies to implement their own recommendations from previous accidents involving, for example, leaks of flammable materials.”
- Dr. Rafael Moure-Eraso, Chairperson, US Chemical Safety Board
SPAN caters to every business' specific needs by tailoring one or more of the following services:
SPAN can help you and your team work more efficiently to get results faster. Our Audit and Assurance experts help you:
Our Auditors are well versed in:
SPAN's risk based and operational assurance approach, experience and tools have been built up over years of first-hand experience as internal audit group leads as well as through the provision of audit and consulting services.
SPAN has honed its approach to operational assurance into a practical and efficient model for companies to use. SPAN’s philosophy is that assurance must be embedded into operations to extract the greatest level of value - ensuring all inspection, monitoring, assessment, and audit activities are identified, managed and working effectively.
SPAN offers a flexible approach to conducting Gap Assessments identifying any assurance gaps and verifying they get addressed as part of the program design and implementation. Critical assurance practices that already exist throughout the organization should be identified and tested for effectiveness at providing reliable assurance.
At the top of the assurance pyramid is the formal audit program that provides independent and objective management system and compliance assurance. These activities are very resource intensive and SPAN ensures they are designed and implemented in the most efficient manner, and confirms they are providing the Board and Executive team with the assurance they need.
The Right Experience
SPAN has decades of experience designing and implementing in-house assurance programs and conducting management system and compliance audits. Our team continuously learns and improves to stay at the forefront of emerging standards, regulations and techniques. Our clients benefit from our up-to-date learnings through the design and implementation of audit and assurance programs, auditor and specialist training, coaching, and other knowledge sharing activities.
SPAN has extensive experience working on assurance programs for clients. We have proven methods and tools to leverage, including:
Our tested and proven methods including our built in approaches based on extensive experience, allows us to work more efficiently and get results faster, all while maintaining the highest quality standard of care.
Assurance Practice Lead | Senior Consultant
Assurance Practice Lead | Senior Consultant
Evan is SPAN’s Assurance Practice Lead, specializing in environmental, regulatory and assurance systems. He has worked in upstream and midstream oil and gas, pipelines, utilities, water and wastewater plants, rail, power plants, wind energy, and other high-risk industries in Canada, the US, Europe and South America.
Evan has extensive experience conducting EHS and other operational and management system audits and gap assessments, and developing and managing audit and assurance programs, management systems, environmental impact assessments and applications, and leading environmental teams, programs and projects.
Consultant
Consultant
Heather is an environmental professional with expertise in environmental assessments, project management and technical communications. She has worked on commercial, industrial, pipeline, midstream and upstream oil & gas projects throughout Western Canada.
Heather is a skilled coordinator, material developer, and communications specialist with experience in design and stakeholder support for management systems.
