Job Safety Analysis
Safety interview
Question and Answer
What is a Job Safety
Analysis?
Some
individuals prefer to expand the analysis into all aspects of the job, not just
safety. This approach is known as total job analysis. The methodology is based on
the idea that safety is an integral part of every job and not a separate
entity. In this document, only the health and safety aspects will be considered.
What are the benefits of
doing a Job Safety Analysis?
Initial benefits from developing a JSA will become clear in the preparation stage. The analysis process may identify previously undetected hazards and increase the job knowledge of those participating. Safety and health awareness is raised, communication between workers and supervisors is improved, and acceptance of safe work procedures is promoted.
What are the four basic steps?
Four basic stages in conducting a JSA are:
•
selecting the job to be analyzed
•
breaking the job down into a sequence of steps
•
identifying potential hazards
•
determining preventive measures to overcome these hazards
What is important to know
when "selecting the job"?
Ideally,
all jobs should be subjected to a JSA. In some cases, there are practical
constraints posed by the amount of time and effort required to do a JSA.
Another consideration is that each JSA will require revision whenever
equipment, raw materials, processes, or the environment change. For these
reasons, it is usually necessary to identify which jobs are to be analyzed.
Even if the analysis of all jobs is planned, this step ensures that the most
critical jobs are examined first.
Factors to be considered
in setting a priority for analysis of jobs include:
•
Accident frequency and severity: jobs where accidents occur frequently or where
they occur infrequently but result in disabling injuries.
•
Potential for severe injuries or illnesses: the consequences of an accident,
hazardous conditions or exposure to harmful substances is potentially severe.
•
Newly established jobs: due to lack of experience in these jobs, hazards may
not be evident or anticipated.
•
Modified jobs: new hazards may be associated with changes in job procedures.
•
Infrequently performed jobs: workers may be at greater risk when undertaking
non-routine jobs and a JSA provides a means of reviewing hazards.
How do I break the job into "basic steps"?
After
a job has been chosen for analysis, the next stage is to break the job into
steps. A job step is defined as a segment of the operation necessary to advance
the work.
Care
must be taken not to make the steps too general. Missing specific steps and
their associated hazards will not help. On the other hand, if they are too
detailed, there will be too many steps. A rule of thumb is that most jobs can
be described in less than ten steps. If more steps are required, you might want
to divide the job into two segments, each with its separate JSA, or combine
steps where appropriate.
An important point to remember is to keep the steps in their correct sequence. Any step which is out of order may miss serious potential hazards or introduce
hazards that do not actually exist.
Each step is recorded in sequence. Make notes about what is done rather than how it
is done. This part of the analysis is usually prepared by knowing or watching a
worker do the job. The observer is normally the immediate supervisor. A
more thorough analysis often happens by having another person, preferably a
member of the joint occupational health and safety committee, participate in
the observation. Key points are less likely to be missed in this way.
The
job observer should have experienced and been capable in all parts of the job. To
strengthen full co-operation and participation, the reason for the exercise
must be clearly explained. The JSA is neither a time and motion study in
disguise nor an attempt to uncover individual unsafe acts. The job, not the
individual, is being studied to make it safer by identifying
hazards and making modifications to eliminate or reduce them. The worker's
experience contributes to making job and safety improvements.
The job should be observed during normal times and situations. For example, if a
job is routinely done only at night, the JSA review should also be done at
night. Similarly, only regular tools and equipment should be used. The only
difference from normal operations is the fact that the worker is being
observed.
When
completed, the breakdown of steps should be discussed by all the participants
(always including the worker) to make that all basic steps have been noted and
are in the correct order.
How do I "identify
potential hazards"?
Once
the basic steps have been recorded, potential hazards must be identified at
each step. Based on observations of the job, knowledge of accident and injury
causes, and personal experience, list the things that could go wrong at each
step.
A second observation of the job being performed may be needed. Since the basic
steps have already been recorded, more attention can now be focused on each
potential hazard. At this stage, no attempt is made to solve any problems which
may have been detected.
To
help identify potential hazards, the job analyst may use questions such as
these ( this is not a complete list):
•
Can anybody part get caught in or between objects?
•
Do tools, machines, or equipment present any hazards?
•
Can the worker make harmful contact with moving objects?
•
Can the worker slip, trip, or fall?
•
Can the worker suffer strain from lifting, pushing, or pulling?
•
Is the worker exposed to extreme heat or cold?
•
Is excessive noise or vibration a problem?
•
Is there a danger from falling objects?
•
Is lighting a problem?
•
Can weather conditions affect safety?
•
Is harmful radiation a possibility?
•
Can contact be made with hot, toxic, or caustic substances?
• Are there dust, fumes, mists, or vapors in the air?
How do I "determine preventive measures?"
The final stage in a JSA is to determine ways to eliminate or control the hazards
identified. The generally accepted measures, in order of preference, are:
1. Eliminate the hazard
This
is the most effective measure. These techniques should be used to eliminate hazards:
•
Choose a different process
•
Modify an existing process
•
Substitute with less hazardous substance
•
Improve the environment (ventilation)
•
Modify or change equipment or tools
2. Contain the hazard
If
the hazard cannot be eliminated, contact might be prevented by using
enclosures, machine guards, worker booths, or similar devices.
3. Revise work procedures
Consideration
might be given to modifying steps which are hazardous, changing the sequence of
steps, or adding additional steps (such as locking out energy sources).
4. Reduce the exposure
These
measures are the least effective and should only be used if no other solutions
are possible. One way of minimizing exposure is to reduce the number of times
the hazard is encountered. An example would be modifying machinery so that less
maintenance is necessary. The use of appropriate personal protective equipment
may be required. To reduce the severity of an accident, emergency facilities,
such as eyewash stations, may need to be provided.
In listing the preventive measures, do not use general statements such as "be careful" or "use caution". Specific statements that describe both what action is to be taken and how it is to be performed are preferable.
How should I make the information available to everyone else?
JSA
is a useful technique for identifying hazards so that workers can take measures
to eliminate or control hazards. Once the analysis is completed, the results
must be communicated to all workers who are, or will be, performing that job.
The side-by-side format used in JSA worksheets is not an ideal one for
instructional purposes. Better results can be achieved by using a
narrative-style communication format.
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