What is the purpose of Management of Change (MOC) in process safety?

• A. MOC expands production capacity automatically.
• B. MOC ensures software updates are installed.
• C. MOC documents changes for regulatory compliance only.
• D. MOC verifies risk, updates PSI, and ensures appropriate protections are maintained.

Answer: (D)

Management of Change is a formal process used to ensure that any proposed change to equipment, materials, procedures, or operating conditions is evaluated for its impact on process safety before it is implemented. The best answer captures that MOC verifies risk, updates Process Safety Information, and ensures the appropriate protections are maintained as the process changes. In practice, this means re-assessing hazards and risk levels for the change, updating safety documentation and control strategies, and ensuring that safeguards, alarms, interlocks, training, and maintenance plans still provide the intended protection. It’s about safeguarding the operation whenever something is altered, not automatically expanding capacity, not limited to software updates, and not just for regulatory paperwork.