Management of change
Plain-language summary
Assessing the safety impact of changes before you make them, so a new machine, layout or process does not introduce fresh hazards.
What the clause is really asking
Many serious incidents happen right after a change, because new hazards slip in unnoticed. The clause requires you to control planned changes, whether to processes, equipment, products, people or procedures, and to assess their OH&S consequences before implementing them. It also asks you to review the unintended effects of changes and act on them. The intent is to think about safety before you change something, not after it goes wrong.
What auditors look for
Auditors pick a recent change, such as a new machine, a layout change or a new chemical, and ask for the safety assessment done before it went live. They check that risk assessments, procedures and training were updated to match the change. A change implemented with no prior OH&S review is a strong finding.
Typical evidence
Management of change procedure; pre-change OH&S risk assessments; updated risk assessments, procedures and training after changes; approval records before implementation; review of unintended consequences.
How to comply — recommendations
Set up a simple management of change process that triggers a safety review before any significant change to equipment, process, chemicals, layout or staffing. Assess the new and changed hazards, update the risk assessment, procedures and training, and get sign-off before going live. Do not forget temporary changes and emergency repairs, which often skip the process. Review afterward for any effects you did not anticipate.
Common nonconformities
Changes made with no prior OH&S assessment; risk assessments and procedures not updated after a change; new equipment or chemicals introduced without reviewing hazards; temporary or emergency changes bypassing the process; no review of unintended consequences.
Related clauses
ISO 9001 6.3 / 8.5.6; ISO 14001 8.1 (change, implied)
Qlause provides interpretive guidance only and is not a substitute for the standard. Refer to your licensed copy of the relevant standard for the authoritative text.