Step 2 - Plan

How do we plan to manage the risk of MSI?

1. Gather information from all workplace parties.
2. Establish goals and clearly define their purpose.
3. Set priorities to focus where change can be made.
4. Form an action plan to allocate resources and efforts on managing MSI risks to have the greatest impact.
5. Track progress to monitor and evaluate ongoing efforts, revealing successes and opportunities for improvement

Planning to manage MSI risks successfully

Begin with gathering information and data from all workplace party sources to help determine where the priorities should be. Consider the following:

• What jobs or positions currently have the highest rate of MSIs? Are injury claims tracked to identify injury trends and areas of concern across different jobs?
• Is there currently a process to report MSI signs and symptoms? Are they tracked and reviewed across different jobs?
• Is there currently a list of jobs or tasks where MSI risk factors have been identified?
• Do regular worksite inspections include questions relating to objects handled, workstation layout, repetition or other factors which influence the physical demands?
• Are incident investigations conducted for MSIs to understand risk factors and develop effective risk controls?
• Is there a way to invite and evaluate and leverage ideas, concerns, and opportunities?

Without clear goals, priorities, or a concrete action plan laying out what you need to do, managing MSI risk will be difficult. Planning builds a process of accountability and helps to determine the best use of valuable resources such as people, time, money, equipment, to have the best chance for success. Form an action plan involving workers, supervisors, joint health and safety committee members or representatives from across the organization to help ensure all aspects of work are considered.

It is important to recognize that the nature of work is dynamic and always evolving. Regularly tracking progress is a way to ensure that the efforts are continuous and evaluate whether changes need to be made. Involving all workplace parties during this process can help guide what next steps need to be taken to re-focus where the greatest impact can be made.

Read more

Preparing to manage MSI in 3 key steps

• Managing MSI risk
• Step 1 - Commit
• Step 2 - Plan
• Step 3 - Engage
• Case study - A recipe for sucess: How an employer is effectively managing the risk of MSIs

Events, webinars, and resources

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We're here to help

For resources, please visit worksafebc.com/ergonomics. If you have questions about ergonomics or human factors, or need help managing the risk of MSI in your workplace, please contact us at HumanFactors@worksafebc.com