Main Types of Changes

Four broad categories of change are:

• Change of Process Technology – When the plant was initially designed, safeguards were built in to keep the process from exceeding safe operating limits. If parts of the process are subsequently altered, a new review should be conducted to ensure it does not compromise the process safety.
• Change of Facility – The introduction of new equipment could also introduce additional hazards or increase the risk.
• Organizational Changes – Occur through the transfer of employees to new assignments or through the addition/reduction of staff. It is very important that this be recognized as a change and the employees acquire the safety-related knowledge required to carry out their new responsibilities.
• Variance Procedures – Occurs when an operations supervisor or maintenance manager wishes to deviate from standard procedures. A review of the deviation should be conducted, and appropriate approval received before the variance should take place.