Five Star Process Safety Audit

The Five Star Process Safety Audit process involves an in-depth examination of an organisation’s entire process safety management system(s) and associated arrangements.

Organisation’s within any sector (of any size) who
  • require a status assessment of their current process safety management system against best practice
  • require a structured route toward best practice status
  • External recognition of process safety management systems to best practice standards
  • Demonstration to stakeholders and other interested parties (including regulatory bodies) of commitment toward health and process safety responsibility
  • Structured route toward continual improvement and best practice.
  • Prestigious awards
Utilising extensive worldwide industry experience and acknowledging aspects of internationally recognised occupational health and safety management systems and standards, the British Safety Council has developed a unique Five Star Audit model that objectively evaluates occupational health and safety management systems and associated arrangements against current best practice techniques. The audit model is reflective of the recognised PLAN – DO – CHECK – ACT management cycle.
The auditor will review all aspects of the organisation’s occupational health and process safety management systems and associated arrangements against the requirements of the British Safety Council’s Five Star Process Safety Audit specification. 

The auditor will also assess the effectiveness of implementation of these arrangements through an inspection of relevant (agreed) site(s) and sampling of operational activities.

During the audit process, management, staff and other stakeholders will be interviewed (as agreed) to confidentially discuss aspects of occupational health and safety and catastrophic risk management relevant to their roles and responsibilities.

A subsequent report is produced identifying the strengths and areas for improvement within the organisation’s process safety management systems. The report also includes observations and recommendations, together with action planning, for consideration.


Audit Process Steps 
  • Review of occupational health and process safety documentation 
  • Interview with management, staff and other stakeholders
  • Site tour, inspection and operational sampling

Scoring System
The Five Star Process Safety Audit process focuses on five sections (65 elements) and five best practice indicators (BPI) as shown below:

Sections
  • Organisational commitment and structure
  • Strategic planning
  • Implementation and operation
  • Performance evaluation
  • Senior (top) management review and continual improvement

Best Practice Indicators
  • Leadership and commitment
  • Stakeholder participation
  • Risk management
  • Organisational health and safety culture
  • Continual improvement
The report content is as follows;
  • Executive summary (graphical performance indicators included)
  • Overall star grading and sectional scoring 
  • Observations
  • Recommendations for improvement
  • Action Planning Tables
British Safety Council consultants and auditors are appropriately qualified, highly experienced health and safety professionals who are subject to a robust internal quality assurance and appraisal process, in addition to the requirements of relevant professional bodies with whom they are members.

All audit reports are technically verified and quality endorsed before being issued to clients. Auditors are also subject to “on-site” monitoring (subject to client agreement) on a sampling basis. Mandatory auditor standardisation meetings also take place on a regular basis.