Process safety management (PSM) failures are common across industry. Many of these failures trace their roots back to lack of understanding and support by senior management. Inadequate resources, improper metrics and unrealistic expectations are some of the reasons for such failures. Formal audits often fail to disclose the reasons why PSM may not provide its full intended benefits. This article discusses some of the principal reasons for process safety shortcomings. (C) 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog 30: 307-309, 2011