1910.119(l): Management of Change
Employers must establish and implement written procedures to manage changes, except replacements in kind, to process chemicals, technology, equipment, procedures and facilities affecting a covered process. Before a change, the procedures must address its technical basis, safety and health impact, operating procedure updates, time period and authorization, affected workers must be informed and trained before start-up, and process safety information and procedures must be updated.
Key takeaways
- 1910.119(l) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart H).
- OSHA cited it 70 times in the last 3 years, in 55 inspections, with $783,383 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: OH (8), VA (8), TN (7).
- Related part: 1910.119(l)(1) (46 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.119(l) ("Management of change") is one requirement inside 1910.119 Process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart H). It includes 10 sub-paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(l) Management of change. 70 citations
(1) The employer shall establish and implement written procedures to manage changes (except for “replacements in kind”) to process chemicals, technology, equipment, and procedures; and, changes to facilities that affect a covered process. Open (l)(1) 46 citations
(2) The procedures shall assure that the following considerations are addressed prior to any change: Open (l)(2) 11 citations
(i) The technical basis for the proposed change; Open (l)(2)(i)
(ii) Impact of change on safety and health; 4 citations
(iii) Modifications to operating procedures; 1 citations
(iv) Necessary time period for the change; and, 1 citations
(v) Authorization requirements for the proposed change. 1 citations
(3) Employees involved in operating a process and maintenance and contract employees whose job tasks will be affected by a change in the process shall be informed of, and trained in, the change prior to start-up of the process or affected part of the process. 2 citations
(4) If a change covered by this paragraph results in a change in the process safety information required by paragraph (d) of this section, such information shall be updated accordingly. Open (l)(4) 6 citations
(5) If a change covered by this paragraph results in a change in the operating procedures or practices required by paragraph (f) of this section, such procedures or practices shall be updated accordingly. Open (l)(5) 5 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.119.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.119(l).
At 8:15 a.m. on July 3, 2024, Employee #1, Employee #2, and Employee #3 were inserting smoke composition material into aluminum pyrotechnic vessels when an explosion occurred. Employee #1 was fatally injured. Employee #2 was hospitalized, and Employee #3 sustained non-hospitalized injuries. The incident involved…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 25 |
| 2025 | 19 |
| 2026 | 18 |
Top states: OH (8), VA (8), TN (7), IL (5), MA (4)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| ACCURATE ENERGETIC SYSTEMS, LLC | MC EWEN, TN | $280,000 |
| CARTRIDGE ACTUATED DEVICES, INC. | BYRAM TOWNSHIP, NJ | $132,411 |
| POLYCARBON INDUSTRIES, INC./SEQENS SAS | NEWBURYPORT, MA | $31,250 |
| THE PICTSWEET COMPANY | BRIDGEVILLE, DE | $24,500 |
| ULTIUM CELLS LLC | WARREN, OH | $16,131 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.119(l), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- "Applicability of the PSM standard's mechanical intergrity requirements to refinery structures." (2010-02-01)
- PSM compliance for ammonia refrigeration systems. (2006-07-12)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.119(l)(1) 46 citations
- 1910.119(l)(2) 11 citations
- 1910.119(l)(4) 6 citations
- 1910.119(l)(5) 5 citations
- 1910.119(l)(2)(i)
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Frequently asked questions
What changes need management of change?
Changes to process chemicals, technology, equipment, procedures, and facilities that affect a covered process, except replacements in kind.
What must be considered before a change?
The technical basis, impact on safety and health, modifications to operating procedures, necessary time period, and authorization requirements.
Who must be trained on the change?
Employees involved in operating the process and maintenance and contract employees whose job tasks will be affected, prior to start-up.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.119 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-24
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.