Management of change quick guide
Transport (Rail Safety) Act 2010
Rail organisations are regularly introducing change. The
change may be new technology, a new or modified process,
a physical change to operational areas, a new operational
area or a change to organisational structures.
Safety managers within the organisation are responsible
for leading and providing technical instruction to the
organisation and ensuring that processes are suitably
applied.
Such changes may impact how rail organisations operate as
well as the ability for their personnel to perform work safely.
Project managers and middle managers who are responsible
for managing the engineering and technical aspects of the
change must ensure that change management activities are
taking place throughout all phases of the project lifecycle.
Projects and schemes need effective change management to
enable individuals and their organisations to make a smooth
transition to the altered conditions.
What is change?
For the purpose of rail safety management, change includes
anything that has potential to alter hazards or the level of
risk. This is not limited to physical changes and includes
changes to management systems, processes, organisational
structures and personnel.
Why manage change?
Failure to effectively manage change can significantly
increase the risk of major incidents.
Effective management of change:
• identifies risks and challenges at an early stage and
permits successful planning for solutions and control
measures
• allows the organisation to assess the overall impact of a
change
• provides smooth handover from the project team to
operations
• allows the differences to be implemented with minimal
negative impacts to the day to day running of business
• reduces the time required to implement the change
• reduces likelihood of additional, unforeseen monetary
costs
• facilitates the input of employee ideas leading to
improvements in organisational effectiveness and
efficiency.
Who should manage change?
Effective change management requires a variety of people
throughout the organisation to actively fulfil specific roles of
leadership, education and participation in the change.
Dedicated resources should be allocated and
responsibilities must be defined to manage the change.
Without doing this, change management activities will
not be completed and where budgets and timeframes are
limited, change management will be overlooked.
Senior managers within the organisation must actively
sponsor the change and be visible throughout its
implementation.
Connecting Queensland
www.tmr.qld.gov.au
How to manage change
Rail safety legislation prescribes requirements for managing
change and this is described within the majority of this
document.
There is a variety of recognised publications for management
of engineering change for the railway industry. These are
listed as further reading towards the end of this document.
The change management process
Identify changes
Describe changes
Identify and assess risks to safety of persons
Identify and define roles and responsibilities
Identify and consult with affected persons
Notify Transport and Main Roads of changes
Apply for variation to accreditation
Provide information and training
Review the implemented change
Further information
A Management of change fact sheet providing further
detail on the change management process and legislative
requirements for rail transport operators is available from
www.tmr.qld.gov.au or by contacting the Rail Safety and
Transport Security Division of Transport and Main Roads.
Rail Safety and Transport Security Division:
Phone: 07 3066 2915
Email: [email protected]
Post: PO Box 673
Fortitude Valley Qld 4006
Transport and Main Roads