Management of Organizational Change OSHA 1910.119
Introduction
One topic that is well understood in the industry is the Management of Change (MOC); however, the Management of Organizational Change (MOOC) is not as clearly understood or effectively implemented. In many situations, MOOC is overlooked, often lacking clear procedures on when and how to apply them, which contrasts with the well-established practices of MOC .
What is MOOC and why is it important:
Changes within the organization can have a major impact or emergency response. New equipment may be added to an operator’s responsibility during a plant expansion. A small workload increase might not seem like a big deal, but what if the changes in responsibility made it impossible for the operator to perform all the tasks required during an emergency, like shutting down critical systems during a power outage? Managing changes within the organization is just as crucial as your MOC processes.
Challenges with Current Methodologies
Even when methodologies for MOOC do exist, they are often poorly implemented. A prime example of this is the reliance on simplistic checklists with basic Yes/No questions. Some of the questions generated include:
– Can the operator(s) reasonably complete all tasks necessary to shut down the process safely?
– Does the answer change if all instrumentation fails simultaneously?
– Is staffing adequate for pre-emergency communications (local and facility communications; affected units)?
– Do operators have sufficient time to activate emergency systems (e.g., sprinkler systems, fire water monitors)?
– Will the responsible operator be able to monitor critical controls and alarms during both normal and emergency conditions?
Typically, these questions are answered by a single engineer or manager with a simple Yes or No response. This practice is unacceptable; companies must demonstrate that their collective operators can fully execute these tasks.
The Staffing Methodology
The UK Health & Safety Organization initially promoted a more effective method, leading to the development of a Staffing Methodology that was not originally intended as a MOOC. At the core of this methodology is a demonstrative approach that utilizes various scenarios to ensure that tasks can be completed successfully.
Often, assumptions about individuals’ availability or capability are overstated. For example, while executing emergency procedures, a field operator might be assigned additional tasks in different locations, increasing their workload and potentially delaying their return to emergency duties.
The methodology emphasizes the operations team’s capacity to detect situations, diagnose appropriate responses, and implement timely actions. As procedures are followed, a timeline is generated that outlines all tasks to be completed by the operations team, with some tasks occurring in series and others in parallel.
Key Objectives
The key objectives of the methodology include:
– Identifying Areas of Risk: Recognizing potential areas of unacceptable risk resulting from how scenarios are detected, diagnosed, and handled.
– Testing Arrangements: Evaluating the effectiveness of staffing arrangements against six principles of safe control room operations. Notably, it does not attempt to calculate the exact number of personnel needed for specific scenarios.
– Examining Staffing Reliability: Identifying potential issues associated with staffing arrangements by assessing the reliability of detection, diagnosis, and recovery from hazardous scenarios.
– Justifying Existing Controls: Justifying existing controls in situations where principles of safe operation are violated.
By adopting a comprehensive and systematic approach to MOOC, organizations can better prepare for and manage change in ways that prioritize safety and operational effectiveness.
Organizations that manage change effectively are more agile and better positioned to respond to future challenges.
Improves Employee Morale: Involving employees in the change process and addressing their concerns can enhance morale and engagement.
In summary, the management of organizational change is a critical discipline that enables organizations to navigate the complexities of evolution and transformation, helping them adapt to internal and external pressures while aligning their operations with strategic goals.
Don’t hesitate to contact UCDS Inc. for more detailed information on MOOC Methodology. UCDS offers a train-the-trainer service and a comprehensive MOOC Service that will provide a chairperson to lead the MOOC and a scribe to document the results.
[1] OSHA 1910.119 refers to the “Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals” (PSM) standard. This regulation outlines the procedures and requirements for managing the safety of processes that involve highly hazardous chemicals to prevent releases that could result in catastrophic consequences.
[1]. Management of Organizational Change refers to the process of systematically planning, implementing, and managing changes to an organization’s structure, strategy, processes, or culture to achieve desired outcomes. Change is inevitable in any organization due to various factors. Organizational Change refers to the process of systematically planning, implementing, and managing changes to its structure, strategy, processes, or culture to achieve desired outcomes. Change is inevitable in any organization due to various factors such as technological advancements, market dynamics, competition, regulatory changes, and internal factors like workforce shifts. Effective management of this change is crucial for ensuring the organization adapts and thrives in its environment.
[1] . The MOC procedure is essential for ensuring that any modifications to processes, equipment, or personnel that might affect the safety of operations are reviewed and managed appropriately.