(148b) In Process Safety - Is 14 Audit Findings a Good Vital Sign

PSM compliance audits are required every three years, what do the audit results tell you about your process safety program? Is the number of audit findings a useful vital sign?

How a company views, performs and uses the results of a process safety compliance audit can greatly impact their overall risk management and therefore the protection of their employees and neighbors. There can be a tendency to look at the number of audit findings and not the potential severity. Some companies focus strictly on the numbers, try to compare results between different operations or incorporate the results into employee performance reviews and/or bonus payouts. These practices can have unintended negative consequences.

The author will share lessons learned while conducting hundreds of compliance audits and discuss how leading organizations manage their audit findings and use the results to improve performance and reduce risks.