In any work environment where there are potentially hazardous chemicals or materials in use, making changes to your safety management procedures requires adherence to federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements. OSHA requires that you compile written documentation detailing your safety process, that you involve employees in the process formation and that you train employees in the changes. You should also have written procedures for how you will manage future safety-related change
Instructions.
1
Compile safety information on the products, equipment, materials or processes that are changing. Draft written policy and procedure changes to incorporate the new information. Include information on how you will investigate accidents, audit compliance to safety procedures and plans for emergency response.
2
Establish a method for eliciting employee input on your drafted changes. Suggestions include interviews, group discussions or surveys. Incorporate the employee comments and suggestions into your draft policy and procedure changes.
3
Draft written instructions for all employees on every process in which changes are involved. The procedures must be clear, include steps for performing every operation, cover safety information, state what to do in the case of an emergency and be readily available to the employees performing the procedures.
4
Develop and deliver training on the changes to the employees. Emphasize any safety and health hazards and what to do in the case of an emergency. The training must take place before an employee is allowed to operate the equipment or perform the job that the changes were related to.
5
Establish written procedures for what you will do the next time you have a change in safety management.