A novel methodology for evaluating the change of existing operational staffing levels (MCSL) in the chemical industry

Operational manning levels in the chemical industry not reflecting real circumstances and/or not taking into account various possible accident scenarios can be financially adversarial and can even lead to (minor and major) accidents. This paper provides a methodology to assist chemical companies in analyzing changes of their existing operational staffing levels. The method can be implemented within the entire organization or within a part thereof (i.e., a business unit or an installation). The method has been applied in a major chemical company in Belgium. The Belgian case illustrates the user-friendliness of the suggested manning level risk analysis method.