Plan Evaluation & Improvement

Once a safety plan is established, it should be evaluated initially to verify that it is being implemented as intended. After that, employers should periodically, and at least annually, assess what is working and what is not, and whether the plan is on track to achieve its goals. Whenever these assessments identify opportunities to improve the plan, employers, managers, and supervisors—in coordination with workers—should make adjustments and monitor how well the plan performs as a result. Sharing the results of monitoring and evaluation within the workplace, and celebrating successes, will help drive further improvement.

Plan evaluation and improvement includes:

• Establishing, reporting, and tracking goals and targets that indicate whether the plan is making progress;
• Evaluating the plan initially, and periodically thereafter, to identify shortcomings and opportunities for improvement; and
• Providing ways for workers to participate in plan evaluation and improvement.

Monitor Performance and Progress

The first step in monitoring is to define indicators that will help track performance and progress. Next, managers, supervisors, and workers need to establish and follow procedures to collect, analyze, and review performance data.

Both lagging and leading indicators should be used. Lagging indicators generally track worker exposures and injuries that have already occurred. Leading indicators track how well various aspects of the plan have been implemented and reflect steps taken to prevent injuries or illnesses before they occur.

To monitor performance and progress, employers should: