LMRA (last minute risk analysis): steps and use under VCA
The LMRA stands for Laatste Minuut Risico Analyse (last minute risk analysis). It is a personal check you carry out just before you start a task. The aim: pause to look at the current situation. Are the conditions still as planned? Is it safe to start?
Under VCA certification, the LMRA is a required part of the VCA standard. The requirement applies to all levels: VCA*, VCA** and Petrochemie. The LMRA is also a standard term on the VCA terms page, but it deserves its own explanation because of how it is applied in practice. Your client may ask for an LMRA card or for written records.
Why the LMRA works
Many workplace accidents happen not because of a lack of knowledge, but because of distraction, haste or a changed situation. The TRA (Taak Risico Analyse, task risk analysis) is a formal risk analysis you make in advance. But it describes the planned situation, not the situation at the moment itself. The LMRA fills that gap.
A simple example: you have made a TRA for replacing a pump at two metres’ height. On the day of the work, another team unexpectedly starts working directly below your workplace. That combination was not included in your TRA. An LMRA gives you the chance to spot this before you start, rather than halfway through.
The four questions of the LMRA
The LMRA is structured around four core questions. In practice, it takes one to five minutes. You do not need to write anything down, unless your client requires it.
| Step | Question | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Observe | What hazards do I see? | Look around: falls, crushing, electricity, traffic, other work activities |
| 2. Assess | Can I work safely? | Check PBM’s (persoonlijke beschermingsmiddelen, personal protective equipment), tools, conditions, permits |
| 3. Compare | What is different from the plan? | Weather conditions, other people nearby, deviations from the TRA |
| 4. Decide | What do I do if it is not safe? | Stop the work, report it to your supervisor, find a solution |
The strength lies in step 4. The LMRA only makes sense if employees actually stop when the situation is unsafe. That requires a culture in which you are not punished for reporting an unsafe situation. You can make this topic discussable in the toolbox meeting.
The LMRA card
Many companies and clients use an LMRA card: a small card (credit card size) with the four questions on it. Every employee carries that card with them. It is a memory aid, not a form.
An LMRA card typically contains:
- The name of your company or client
- The four LMRA questions in plain language
- An instruction: “If in doubt, stop work”
Some clients, particularly in the petrochemical industry, use a more extensive version in which you fill in and sign an LMRA form for each working day. That form is kept as evidence.
There is no fixed standard format for the LMRA card. The SSVV does not provide a template. As a company, you may make your own card, as long as the four core questions are on it.
When is the LMRA mandatory under VCA?
The LMRA is a must-have requirement in the VCA checklist for all certification levels. In concrete terms, the auditor expects:
- A procedure that describes when and how the LMRA is carried out
- Employees who know what the LMRA is and how to apply it
- Evidence that the LMRA is actually used (cards, records or testimony during the audit)
During the site visit, the auditor may ask employees how they apply the LMRA. If employees do not understand it or cannot explain what they do, that is a finding.
A company that has a procedure but where employees at the work location do not know what the LMRA is does not comply. VCA 2026/6.1 puts more emphasis on demonstrable behaviour in practice, not only on paper procedures.
LMRA versus TRA: the difference
| LMRA | TRA | |
|---|---|---|
| When | Just before the task starts | In advance, as part of the preparation |
| Who | Everyone who carries out the work | Supervisor or safety expert |
| Recording | Not always, depending on the client | Always in writing |
| Duration | 1-5 minutes | 30 minutes to several hours |
| VCA requirement | All levels | All levels |
The LMRA does not replace the TRA. They serve different purposes. The TRA describes the risks of a task as planned. The LMRA checks whether reality matches the plan. You can find a completed example of a TRA on the page task risk analysis (TRA) under VCA.
Practical tips for introducing it
Make it part of the routine. The LMRA works best when it is a fixed habit, not something you do if you happen to remember. Discuss it in a toolbox meeting and repeat it regularly.
Give an example. Walk through an LMRA once with an employee at a real work location. That is more effective than any explanation.
Bring it back after incidents. If there is an incident, always ask whether an LMRA was carried out and what it produced. This way the LMRA becomes part of the incident analysis and you learn from what went wrong.
More information
- VCA terms: all VCA terms in one place
- Toolbox meeting: frequency, topics and records
- VCA requirements: the full checklist per level
- The VCA standard: scheme, versions and structure
- The audit process: how does the auditor assess the LMRA?