Five Star PSM at a glance
A comprehensive view of your process safety performance
Understand how effectively major hazard risks are being managed. The Five Star Process Safety Management Audit provides an independent, structured assessment of your systems, controls and operational arrangements against recognised best practice.
core audit sections
scored elements
available audit points
days for your final report
Plan. Do. Check. Act.
Test your process safety system from leadership to the frontline
The audit follows the recognised PLAN–DO–CHECK–ACT management cycle, examining whether the systems designed to prevent major incidents are understood, implemented, monitored and continually improved.
PLAN
Leadership, commitment & planning
Assess leadership, governance, compliance, responsibilities, competence, resources, risk management and management of change.
DO
Implementation & operation
Examine hazard identification, risk assessment, plant design, asset integrity, operating procedures, permits, operational control and emergency arrangements.
CHECK
Measure, monitor & review
Review performance monitoring, incident investigation, KPIs, auditing, benchmarking and how findings are analysed and communicated.
ACT
Evaluation & continual improvement
Evaluate management review, leadership effectiveness, compliance and opportunities to continually strengthen process safety performance.
See the whole risk picture
Focus on the controls that prevent major incidents
Process safety depends on multiple systems working together. The Five Star PSM Audit helps identify where controls are strong, where vulnerabilities exist and where improvement should be prioritised.
Major hazard identification
Test how effectively major hazard scenarios are identified, understood and translated into appropriate risk controls.
Asset integrity
Review inspection, maintenance, safety critical equipment and the systems designed to maintain plant integrity throughout its life.
Operational control
Examine operating procedures, safe start-up and shutdown, alarm management, permit-to-work and critical operational controls.
Management of change
Understand whether organisational, technical and operational changes are assessed and controlled before new risks are introduced.
Emergency preparedness
Assess emergency response, crisis management and fire safety arrangements for credible major hazard scenarios.
Performance & learning
Review KPIs, incident investigation, audits and benchmarking to understand whether learning is driving meaningful improvement.
The audit process
Go beyond documented systems
Evidence comes from documentation, your people and your operations, helping build a more complete view of whether process safety arrangements are delivering their intended outcomes.
Review your PSM documentation
Your systems, policies, procedures, risk controls and supporting evidence are reviewed against the Five Star PSM specification.
Listen to your people
Management, employees and relevant stakeholders are interviewed to understand how process safety responsibilities and controls operate in practice.
Verify on site
Site tours, visual inspection and operational sampling provide evidence of whether documented arrangements are effectively implemented.
Prioritise improvement
Your report identifies strengths, areas for improvement, observations, recommendations and action planning alongside your quantified audit result.
Ready to strengthen your controls?
Start your Five Star PSM journey
Speak to our team about your operations, your process safety priorities and how the Five Star Process Safety Management Audit could help strengthen assurance and drive continual improvement.
Enquire now →Five Star Process Safety Management Audit
Download the PSM specification
Explore the Five Star Process Safety Management Audit specification to understand the assessment criteria, scoring methodology and audit process.
November 2025 specification
Five Star Process Safety Management Audit
Download the full specification for details of the audit framework, four assessment sections, scoring and grading system, reporting requirements and preparation process.
Format: PDF
Opens the PDF in a new tab
You might also be interested in
Culture Change
We help businesses build a unified culture that aligns with their goals, engages employees, and supports long-term growth. Let us guide you in fostering a culture that drives positive performance through a strong focus on health, safety, and wellbeing.
Learn more
Combined Five Star Occupational Health and Safety Management and ISO 45001 Audit
Our combined audit allows organisations to gain the benefits of both the consultative Five Star Occupational Health and Safety Management Audit and certification to the international standard ISO 45001.
Five Star Wellbeing Audit
A comprehensive and holistic review of an organisation’s wellbeing management protocols and associated arrangements