Step 1: Identify changes
It’s important to continually monitor any newly implemented changes to ensure they are being fully executed and achieve the desired results. Conduct regular audits, inspections, or assessments to evaluate ongoing performance and identify areas where the process of its implementation could be improved.
Each organization or industry has its own MOC system or process. It’s smart to evaluate the MOC process itself to determine improvements that must be made.
An MOC program isn’t only about following compliance and ensuring safety. It offers several other benefits to industrial organizations.
Control measures might include implementing new safety or LOTO protocols, providing additional employee training, or modifying equipment and procedures to enhance safety.
Provide regular training
First and foremost, it’s essential to ensure that changes to operations don’t negatively affect carefully crafted employee safety protocols or the safety of the work environment. Companies that deal with hazardous materials and equipment must pay special attention to these concerns.
Companies operating in highly regulated industries must complete MOC to comply with health, safety, and environmental laws.
Benefits of establishing an MOC process
Let’s take a look at some of the main reasons companies need to conduct MOC.
Improved communication
Step 5: Conduct a prestartup safety review (PSSR)
Management of change (MOC) is a defined process that organizations establish and follow to ensure health, safety, and reduction of risk during periods of change. MOC systems and policies are essential for companies that undergo significant updates to their facilities, personnel, equipment, or operations.
Why is MOC important?
After the changes are identified, the company must conduct a comprehensive risk assessment. It should evaluate the potential effect of the changes on the safety, health, environmental, and operational aspects of the organization.
Step 4: Determine necessary adjustments to proposed changes
The MOC process requires extensive documentation, which results in better record-keeping overall. Recording when changes were made, how they were evaluated, and the steps your organization took to implement them effectively reduces many forms of risk.
These changes could include:
• Changes to raw materials used in their facilities
• Changes to the products they manufacture
• Changes to equipment
• Changes in company technology
• Changes to standard operating procedures
• Any changes that can potentially affect the environment and employee health
This may require quarterly reviews of standard procedures to ensure adherence to changes rather than reverting to the old way of doing things.
Making facility, equipment, and personnel changes can affect production. MOC forces organizations to evaluate the potential that their changes may cause downtime or equipment failure. This allows them to identify those points of potential failure so change can be planned in a way that minimizes them.
One training session to put a new change in place is almost never enough. An effective MOC process should be followed up by regular training sessions, communications, and feedback to ensure that procedure changes are well ingrained into workers’ day-to-day activities.
Preventing unplanned equipment downtime
An MOC system encourages organizations to take a step back and seriously consider the changes they implement. It requires companies to document and communicate each major change and to ensure they meet regulatory and safety standards.
During this step, organizations must evaluate the proposed change based on the risk assessment and determine which adjustments are necessary. Which risks are outweighed by the rewards, and which require an adjustment to your proposed changes?
Safety and risk management
Step 2: Risk assessment
By systematically assessing risks associated with proposed changes, organizations can prioritize mitigation efforts and allocate resources effectively.
Step 7: Train employees
The PSSR usually involves systematically reviewing all aspects of the changes to ensure they meet safety, health, and environmental regulations. If any gaps or deficiencies arise during this phase, they should be addressed before proceeding.
Use technology to implement
Continuously evaluate and improve the MOC system
It isn’t always possible to prevent every risk. So, once the risks are identified, a critical step is to determine how to control or mitigate them. This could involve either measures to reduce the severity of the outcome of a risk, or actions that could reduce the likelihood of a risk becoming an issue.
Step 8: Continually monitor
When going through the MOC process, these best practices can help organizations reap its full benefits.
Conducting an MOC process is critical to ensure a safe approach to operational changes within your organization. Although the process can vary between companies, these general steps can give you an idea of what to expect.
Maintaining compliance with regulations
Improved operational efficiency
More accurate records
Published March 28, 2024, by Limble.