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 a hazard identification and risk assessment process 

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.

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.

Action 3.2: Worker’s reporting system 

The organization should develop a process to record and encourage reporting of hazards including those related to MSD. By following up promptly on all reports, management can address issues before workers get injured, or develop MSD.

How to do it? 

• The organization should develop a process to involve workers in reporting hazards, discomfort, and injuries including those related to MSD.
• Supervisors and managers should encourage workers to report signs and symptoms of MSD, receive reports positively and follow up.
• The organization should use workers' input and reports of pain, discomfort, and fatigue to help identify high demand tasks or hazards.  
• Supervisors and managers, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, review information with workers to identify potential MSD hazards.

Action 3.3: Creating a risk assessment team 

Hazard identification and risk assessment is a collaborative effort and needs to be done in groups. The organization need 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.

How to do it?

• The organization should provide required training to those involved in the risk assessment on the specifics of the hazard identification, risk assessment process, tools and methods. Training should include hazards related to MSD.
• The organization should invite key stakeholders (such as workers, supervisors, managers, maintenance personnel or engineers) to participate in hazard identification and risk assessment on a case by case basis. This is especially valuable for hazards related to MSD.
• 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.

Action 3.4: Choose risk assessment methods 

The organization should ensure to use appropriate method(s) for MSD hazard identification and risk assessment.

How to do it?

• The organization should select MSD hazard identification and risk assessment tools and checklists appropriate for the workplace. The Resource Library provides additional general tools to be used during hazard identification, risk assessment, and control. Use the filters to refine your search.
• 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.