Identifying safety challenges related to major change processes

Abstract

In this paper we have tried to identify the main safety challenges in a major change processes. We have explored actual large‐scale changes during deregulation of aviation and rail, and we have explored large‐scale changes in the oil and gas industry. Based on the main safety challenges we have tried to develop a framework to assess the safety of a general change process. The framework consists of key issues to be discussed among the actors involved in the change process. The actors are operators (management and workforce), safety authorities and suppliers. The use of the framework should help assess the status of the change process. We are suggesting that the status of the change process can be categorized as satisfactory (continue), not satisfactory (adjust but continue with caution) or unacceptable (halt, major adjustments must be implemented). The status of the change process can be evaluated prior to the change and during the change. The evaluation of the change prior to the change could be used as a proactive/leading indicator of the change process. The framework is going to be used in several large change processes to gather more experience and to validate and verify the framework