Processes are designed to run in a “normal” mode.  No process is really stagnant and throughout the life cycle of a process, changes will be made.  When defining “normal”, some tolerance should be built in to allow a range of operating conditions for operators to work within.  When changes to operating parameters, or the equipment in the process are required, these must be evaluated and approved. Any effective process safety management system will contain an element to deal with Management of Change (MOC).  
In this Tip of the Month, we look at how to deal with the challenges of managing changes to insure process safety.  This TOTM is an excerpt of a paper presented by JMC Instructor/Consultant, Clyde Young at the 2008 Mary K. O’Connor Process Safety Symposium.  This TOTM continues where the February 2009, TOTM left off.

To learn more about this Tip and past Tips of the Month, visit JMC Tip of the Month.