3.5 Management of change

Written by Imran Qureshi (NEBOSH)

NEBOSH IGC · Health and safety management · 15 questions

Name: ____________________ Date: ____________

Which of these is a way to manage the impact of change?
- A Carry out a risk assessment before the change
- B Avoid telling workers
- C Wait for incidents to show the problems
- D Remove emergency procedures
Moving a machine in a workshop is an example of:
- A A routine matter for the cleaners
- B A change that needs a risk assessment
- C A change that needs no thought
- D A legal violation
Change should be reviewed:
- A Only if an incident occurs
- B During and after it is made
- C Only before it starts
- D Never
Which of these is a typical workplace change that needs managing?
- A Moving to a new calendar year
- B Repainting a sign the same colour
- C Replacing a broken light bulb with the same type
- D Installing new equipment
A risk of change is that it may:
- A Make existing controls ineffective
- B Make training unnecessary
- C Lower the cost of insurance
- D Remove all hazards
Before a change is made, the organisation should:
- A Carry out a risk assessment
- B Tell workers after it is finished
- C Wait for an incident
- D Ask the enforcement agency to approve every detail
Which of these helps to manage a change?
- A Skipping emergency procedures
- B Keeping the plan secret
- C Communicating and cooperating with the people affected
- D Hiring the cheapest workers
When building work takes place beside a working area, a control is to:
- A Let workers walk through the site
- B Segregate the work area from other people
- C Stop all inspections
- D Remove the fire alarm
A change to the layout of a workshop could block:
- A The policy statement
- B An escape route
- C The company's insurance
- D The enforcement agency's licence
After a change, emergency procedures should be:
- A Left as they were
- B Amended to suit the new situation
- C Kept secret from workers
- D Withdrawn
Why should the change be reviewed after it is done?
- A To check that the controls worked and nothing unexpected happened
- B To avoid any training
- C To record the weather
- D To prove the change was cheap
Who should be appointed to manage a significant change?
- A Competent people
- B Any available worker
- C Nobody until a problem arises
- D Only the contractor
Which welfare provision may need to be provided for people doing building work during a change?
- A A holiday
- B Washing and toilet facilities
- C A pay rise
- D A company car
Workers who are used to the old way of working may:
- A Never need instruction
- B Be confused by the new way and make mistakes
- C Be unaffected
- D Always learn instantly
A new supplier delivers a different, stronger cleaning chemical to a factory. The first step should be to:
- A Tell workers to use more water
- B Assess the risks of the new chemical before it is used
- C Wait for a complaint
- D Use it straight away to save time

Answer key

1. A, 2. B, 3. B, 4. D, 5. A, 6. A, 7. C, 8. B, 9. B, 10. B, 11. A, 12. A, 13. B, 14. B, 15. B

Assess before change.
Even small changes can create new hazards, such as blocked exits.
Review during and after.
Construction works, new processes, new equipment and new working practices are typical changes.
A change can disable a control without anyone noticing.
Assessing in advance prevents new hazards.
People affected by the change need to know and be involved.
Segregation keeps workers away from the new hazards.
A small change can affect emergency arrangements.
Escape routes and assembly points may have moved.
The review closes the loop on the change.
Competence is needed to assess and control the new risks.
Welfare is part of managing the people involved.
Change can confuse people used to the old way.
A change in materials is a change that needs risk assessment.