Plan Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

The organization should set up a process for recognizing jobs with MSD hazards, even if there is no injury or discomfort reported by workers. The organization needs to take advantage of information, that they may already collect, and review them to help recognize jobs that expose workers to MSD hazards.  

Action 3.1: Establish risk assessment process and select appropriate assessment method(s) 

The organization needs to establish an effective risk assessment process that allows systematic hazard identification and risk assessment for hazards including those related to MSD. Hazard identification and risk assessment is a collaborative effort and it needs to be done in groups. The organization needs to train internal stakeholders to participate in the risk assessment process. It is essential to have equal representation from management and labour in the risk assessment process. The organization should ensure to use appropriate method(s) for MSD hazard identification and risk assessment.

How to do it? 

• The organization should develop, implement, document, and maintain a risk assessment process that includes MSD hazards.
• The organization should develop a process to involve workers in reporting hazards, discomfort, and injuries including those related to MSD.
• All relevant internal stakeholders should be engaged in all aspect of the risk assessment process. The risk assessment process needs to be approved by both management and labour.
• The role of workers and workers' representative(s) needs to be included in the risk assessment process.
• Key stakeholders should participate in hazard identification, including hazards related to MSD, through a process developed by the organization.
• A workers' representative should participate in all activities related to hazard identification, risk assessment, and control.
• The organization should select MSD hazard identification and risk assessment tools and checklists appropriate for the workplace. The Resource Library provides general tools to be used during hazard identification, risk assessment, and control.
• The organization should develop procedures to assess jobs, including participation of workers, task analysis, what to monitor, who to monitor, when to monitor and what data to collect that is appropriate for the methods chosen including those related to MSD.