Independent PSM Audits

When it comes to Process Safety Management (PSM), objectivity isn’t optional, it’s a regulatory expectation. Facilities with more than 10,000 pounds of ammonia must complete a compliance audit every three years, yet many refrigeration contractors still perform those audits on their own work. While it may seem efficient, it creates the exact conflict of interest OSHA cautions against: the same people responsible for building and maintaining a system are also certifying that they followed every safety, documentation, and training requirement.

What OSHA and the EPA Expect from a True PSM Audit

OSHA and the EPA are clear: at least one member of the audit team should be independent of the process, ensuring an unbiased evaluation that stands up to scrutiny. Independent audits not only strengthen compliance credibility, they reinforce safety culture, improve legal defensibility, and demonstrate true due diligence.

Independent PSM audits offer a level of integrity and protection that self-auditing simply can’t match. Because the auditor has no stake in the work being evaluated, the review is truly unbiased and objective — no one is grading their own homework. This independent perspective also carries stronger credibility with OSHA, the EPA, insurers, and corporate safety teams, all of whom rely on trustworthy documentation. In the event something goes wrong, an outside audit demonstrates real due diligence, providing better legal protection for your organization. Most importantly, independent audits elevate PSM from a routine checkbox to a meaningful, safety-focused practice that strengthens your entire operational culture.

At Superior Industrial Refrigeration (SIR), we don’t self-grade. We partner exclusively with independent PSM professionals whose sole role is to assess, evaluate, and verify, with no mixed motives and no compromise. It’s how we ensure real compliance, stronger safety, and complete confidence for every facility we serve.

Want to Talk About Your Next Audit?

208-361-8700 / parts@superiornh3.com

Real Work. Real Compliance. No Conflicts.