Organizational Readiness for Initiating the Implementation of the RAMP Tool : A case study of LKAB Malmberget

Abstract: In Sweden, all employers are obligated to provide occupational health services that prevent and eliminate health risks in the workplace. Risk assessment is one of the recommended procedures of systematic work environment management that employers shall conduct to investigate the occurrence of workplace risks. However, implementation of systematic risk management tools might be challenging for employers because it requires certain organizational preconditions such as enough OHS skills, resources, management commitment or a good workplace climate because these preconditions might facilitate or hinder the implementation. To support the implementation of risk management tools, the organizational readiness for change can be assessed. This master's thesis was written in collaboration with LKAB, the Swedish company operating in the mining industry. Specifically, the aim was to assess the organizational readiness of the worksite LKAB Malmberget for initiating the implementation of the RAMP risk assessment tool. The organizational readiness was evaluated based on the modified theoretical model which was created by combining existing theoretical concepts about organizational readiness for change together with the findings from the empirical pre-study conducted with two ergonomists who worked with the RAMP tool implementation in the Swedish company Scania. The research method was a case study, the data were collected by semi-structured interviews and analysed through directed qualitative content analysis. The evaluation resulted in the identification of facilitating and hindering aspects of organizational readiness. The organizational facilitating factors for RAMP tool implementation were identified as - sufficient organizational resources for work environment activities; high management commitment to improving work environment; good organizational climate for employees' participation in work environment routines; well-integrated technological system for risk reporting; and workers' positive experience with previously done work environment changes. The organizational hindering aspects for RAMP tool implementation were identified as - the prevalence of reactive approach in the systematic work environment management; lack of usage of standardized risk assessment tools, lack of OHS expertise in the execution of the work environment routines; ergonomics was not integrated into the work environment management; top management's tendency to support work environment interventions with clear benefits and timelines. Finally, the evaluation of organizational readiness resulted in the development of practical recommendations for the worksite which could be supported and initiated for the RAMP tool implementation.