Conduct Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments

Hazards, including hazards related to MSD, need to be proactively identified and assessed through a collaborative process. 

Action 4.1: Anticipate MSD hazards and identify possible MSD hazards using existing information 

The best and the most effective way to eliminate MSD hazards in the workplace is to anticipate and design out MSD hazards before workers work in new workplaces or re-designed spaces. However, this may not be easy to do so. Therefore, organizations need to use existing information to identify possible MSD hazards when workers are working. The organization may use existing data including lagging or passive surveillance data. This could include data related to reports of hazards, injuries, and discomfort including MSD.

How to do it? 

• The organization should have a process in place to  anticipate MSD hazards before a work system is operational using, “pre-start safety reviews”, procurement policies and design reviews during: initial planning, detailed design, installation, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning.
• The organization should analyze incidents and injuries, including those with reported MSD, to identify jobs or tasks with possible MSD hazards.
• The organization should have a process to review workers’ compensation records and reports, including those related to MSD, (MSD Lost Time Injuries and No-Lost Injuries) to identify jobs or tasks with possible MSD hazards. This is called passive surveillance of injuries, hazards and reports (not surveillance of workers).

Action 4.2: Collect workers’ input on hazards and new information to identify possible MSD hazards 

The organization should have a process to collect workers' input on specific hazards in their workspace and receive their inputs. The organization also needs to collect new data on exposure to MSD hazards. This should be done through active collaboration with workers.

How to do it?

• The organization should use workers' input, reports of pain and discomfort, and fatigue to help identify high demand tasks or MSD hazards.
• The organization should collect and review worker concerns, type, and number of MSD reports of the job or task; concerns related to absenteeism and/or production; and the findings from the MSD hazard identification tool(s). An example of an MSD hazard identification tool can be found here.

Action 4.3: Conduct a basic screening, root cause analysis, and risk analysis 

The organization should go through a process to first screen for possible hazards, conduct root cause analysis for relevant MSD hazards, then conduct a more in-depth risk analysis where necessary.

How to do it?

• The organization should collect information about hazards (including MSD) using information from multiple sources (Active and Passive surveillance): hazard identification, risk assessment (as needed), incident investigations, walkthrough inspections, workers reports, discomfort diagrams. 
• The organization should use results of simple checklist, inspections, workers comments, discomfort diagrams and previous reports of pain and discomfort to prioritize hazards for further analysis.
• For each of the agreed-upon MSD hazards, have the workers brainstorm or discuss the root causes of the hazard. The organization should identify underlying root causes of MSD hazards by 5 WHYs, fish-bone diagrams, brainstorming, or other methods. Look at all of the factors that could cause the hazard. These factors can be categorized as process, equipment, materials, environment, and human. For additional resources visit the Resource Library.
• If an MSD hazard is well agreed by management, workers, and a practicable control that can be put in place soon is available, proceed to control and do not proceed to risk analysis yet.
• If an MSD hazard cannot be eliminated, is not clearly identified or understood, or the root cause is unclear, consider asking for help to conduct an in-depth MSD risk assessment.