Organisational Change and Developme

Case Study: Smith Brown Chemicals

Background information:

Smith Brown Chemicals is a medium-sized chemical distributor located at the rear of a large metropolitan shopping precinct. Smith Brown Chemicals purchase large quantities of cleaning chemicals. These are delivered in 205 litre drums and include solvents, acids and other corrosives and detergents. These products are decanted by Smith Brown Chemicals' workers into retail size containers (not exceeding 30 litres/ kilograms), re-labelled and delivered in company-badged delivery vehicles to retail outlets throughout the metropolitan area. There is, within 25 metres of Smith Brown Chemicals, a local nursing home that cares for elderly residents with age-related conditions including dementia. Across the road from the nursing home is a child care centre that provides day care for children less than five years of age.

Smith Brown Chemicals employs 50 people whose duties include the day-to-day running of the business and decanting of the chemicals into smaller containers. Small spills during the decanting procedures are cleaned up with rags, which are disposed of at the end of the day in the general waste dumpster in the rear yard of the premises. The dumpster is collected by a waste contractor on a weekly basis. The Smith Brown Chemicals building was constructed in 2000 and has been fitted with limited emergency equipment. None of the workers has received any training in safe handling of chemicals or how to cope with emergencies and there is no emergency plan displayed in the workplace. There is no established process for dealing with injuries that happen at work.

The computer with all the employee details and financial records is not password protected and anyone could access and amend the information. The employee detail form requested information about the employee's entire past health issues. The wage and superannuation records seemed to be incomplete.

Smith Brown Chemicals is situated on a busy intersection and there have been several significant vehicle accidents in front of the premise. All empty chemical drums are stored in the rear yard against the back cyclone fence. These drums are collected on a monthly basis and as many as 250 drums can be stored there awaiting collection. Behind the cyclone fence is a large open, overgrown paddock with dry grass, which is owned by the local council. The council has advised Smith Brown Chemicals that they wish to build a community centre on this site at some time in the near future. There is huge water wastage at Smith Brown Chemicals - toilets all use the single flush system and the business currently uses 30,000 litres of water a week. The council explained the federal government is now introducing legislation concerning efficient water usage, especially by industries. The current by-law has fines of up to $50,000 for excessive water breaches.

Project description:

Put yourself in a position of an external change agent who has been hired by senior management of Smith Brown Chemicals (SBC) to oversee major organisational change and to develop Business Change Proposal. The proposal to be delivered in two stages to the SBC CEO and SBC Senior Management before it is implemented.

Part 1:

- Identify and briefly describe all hazards and risks at SBC. (650 words)

- Conduct background research in regards to the legislation and compliance requirements applicable to SBC-in particular those relating to Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and inventories. Describe what hazards are inherent in this situation. (650 words)

- Conduct a risk assessment and risk management analysis - detail and implement the procedures for assessing the likely levels for each risk present at SBC, risk causes, and risk consequences. (600 words)

- Develop a risk assessment matrix and prioritise all risks identified based on urgency how they will need to be dealt with (Extremely High to Low). (600 words)

2500 WORDS