Step 7: Implement and Evaluate the Alternative

This step will help you develop a plan to implement the alternative at full scale, monitor the impacts, and continue to improve the process.

After you successfully test the alternative on a small scale, you should plan the technological and organizational changes necessary to implement substitution at full capacity. This includes: developing a step-by-step plan for implementation; documenting the implementation plan; deciding who should be involved in implementation; communicating the plan to workers; and developing and performing the necessary training. The team should regularly communicate with workers throughout this process, which will help identify practical issues with implementation and contribute to problem solving.

Monitoring and evaluating the full implementation of the alternative will help ensure that it meets your expectations. This may include tracking the actual impacts on: worker health and safety; performance and efficiency of the tasks or processes; sales; and services. This evaluation may also include periodic assessments of hazards, discussions with workers about the impacts of the transition, and evaluations of benefits and any changes in productivity or sales. Once you’ve effectively implemented a safer alternative, you can share your story through our website.

It is also important to keep yourself informed of any new alternatives. There may be safer, better performing, less costly innovations coming on the market in the future that would benefit your operation.