Evaluate Controls, the Program and the Organization’s Performance

Similar to any other programs, it is important to evaluate the effectiveness of control actions, the MSD prevention program, and the organization’s performance. This information provides a comprehensive insight into organization’s road to success.

Action 8.1: Follow-up/evaluate the implemented controls 

Follow-up and evaluation are essential to ensure the effectiveness of control actions and the decision-making process. The organization should track progress in implementing the controls and inspect the controls once they are installed. The organization should also follow-up with relevant stakeholders to evaluate if the new controls are effective during implementation of the changes shortly after their implementation and determine whether additional or different controls may be more effective.

How to do it? 

• Management or supervisors should follow-up with relevant stakeholders during and shortly after the changes are made, for immediate feedback on hazard elimination, mitigation or to identify other concerns.
• The organization should ensure that control actions have been implemented as planned and used correctly and consistently, including those related to MSD.
• The organization should give changes a fair trial by allowing workers to learn and become proficient with the changes before checking on the control’s success.
• The organization should use checklists and multiple workers’ feedback to check whether the changes have removed the original hazards and improved the work or if the changes have introduced new hazards.
• The organization should be prepared to try a few fixes to find the right one for workers and the workplace.
• If the changes are not working: Go to back to Step 5 (if an appropriate one was not chosen) or Go back to step 3 (if the root cause of hazard was not identified or understood).

Note: Consider asking for help if either the problem or solution are unclear.

Action 8.2: Ongoing follow-up of controls 

The organization should conduct regular follow-up evaluations to ensure that all control actions have been implemented as planned, are used correctly and consistently, and are continuing to eliminate or mitigate the hazards, including those related to MSD, as planned.

How to do it?

• The organization should conduct regular follow-up evaluations to ensure that all control actions been implemented as planned and used correctly and consistently and are continuing to eliminate or mitigate the hazards (including those related to MSD) as planned. 
• The supervisor should use checklists and multiple workers’ feedback sessions to check whether the changes have removed the original hazards and improved the work.
• The organization should check if the changes have introduced new hazards: either related to MSD or other safety issues. The organization's HSC should track implementation against targets and goals.
• The organization should communicate the progress on control actions to all relevant stakeholders including workers.

Note: Be prepared to try a few fixes to find the right one for workers and the workplace.

Action 8.3: Check achievement of organizational goals 

It is important for management to ensure achievement of organizational targets and goals. Therefore, the organization should put in place a systematic approach for evaluating the organization’s performance with respect to its targets and goals identified in Step 5.

How to do it?

The organization should have a process to:  

• Monitor the progress towards achieving targets and goals identified in Step 5.
• Keep workers well-informed and provide progress updates including those related to MSD.
• Determine required resources and identify opportunities to improve the OHS program including MSD prevention issues.
• Consult with workers on program performance and possible improvement strategies.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the training program to ensure that workers understand the control actions, including those related to MSD.