1910.119(o): PSM Compliance Audits
Employers must certify at least every three years that they have evaluated compliance with the process safety management standard. The audit must be done by at least one person knowledgeable in the process, produce a written report, and lead to a prompt, documented response to each finding with corrections documented. The two most recent reports must be kept.
Key takeaways
- 1910.119(o) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart H).
- OSHA cited it 42 times in the last 3 years, in 40 inspections, with $227,917 in current penalties.
- Most citations: MI (7), VA (7), PA (3).
- Related part: 1910.119(o)(1) (32 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.119(o) ("Compliance Audits") is one requirement inside 1910.119 Process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart H). It includes 5 sub-paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(o) Compliance Audits. 42 citations
(1) Employers shall certify that they have evaluated compliance with the provisions of this section at least every three years to verify that the procedures and practices developed under the standard are adequate and are being followed. Open (o)(1) 32 citations
(2) The compliance audit shall be conducted by at least one person knowledgeable in the process.
(3) A report of the findings of the audit shall be developed.
(4) The employer shall promptly determine and document an appropriate response to each of the findings of the compliance audit, and document that deficiencies have been corrected. 8 citations
(5) Employers shall retain the two (2) most recent compliance audit reports. 2 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.119.
Export the list: 40 inspections cited 1910.119(o) in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 14 |
| 2025 | 12 |
| 2026 | 12 |
Top states: MI (7), VA (7), PA (3), WI (3), MN (3)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| ACCURATE ENERGETIC SYSTEMS, LLC | MC EWEN, TN | $70,000 |
| GOLDEN GATE PETROLEUM OF COLORADO, LLC | FRUITA, CO | $11,585 |
| 107317 - HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION | AUSTIN, MN | $11,200 |
| THE HOME CITY ICE COMPANY | CHICAGO, IL | $11,000 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.119(o).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.119(o)(1) 32 citations
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Frequently asked questions
How often are PSM compliance audits required?
At least every three years.
Who must be on the audit team?
At least one person knowledgeable in the process.
How many audit reports must be kept?
The two most recent compliance audit reports.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.119 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-11-06
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.