Job Safety Analysis Step by Step

Six Steps to Completing an Effective 

Job Safety Analysis

As an Health Safety and Environment practitioner protecting to employees lives and property within the organization is utmost priority, to achieve above aim it is very essential to identify associated hazards in each stage of task to mitigate inherent risk during work activity, missing to identify any of hazard in activity might be impose danger on employees lives and property of organization.

What are the Hazard Identification Methods?

There are various methods that might be used to identify hazards in a workplace as part of a risk assessment process:

1. Inspections

2. Task analysis
3. Legislation
4. Manufacturer’s Information
5. Incident data

To identify associated hazards effectively in particular task, comprehensive techniques and group of different people required to accomplish Job Safety Analysis without missing hazard from the task.

What is Job Safety Analysis?

A  job safety analysis (JSA) is a procedure which helps integrate accepted safety and health principles and practices into a particular task or job operation.

Job safety analysis is task based analysis to identify hazards into particular task or job operation.

For Example:

Manual Handling Task

A group of people who are working in warehouse has to lift an object from one area to designated place.

Why Job Safety Analysis need to be carryout?

As per OSHA and other legislation recommendation, it is responsibility of employer to develop a written document of Safe system of work such as safe work practices or standard work procedure for particular task and operations which are being conducted within the organization. To identify hazards in each particular task Job safety analysis is essential to carryout for developing safe system of work.

How to select team to conduct Job Safety Analysis?

Selection of Team

Preparation of Job Safety Analysis is not liability of single person, oftentimes in many of organizations it is misinterpreted or due to negative HSE culture only HSE personnel or department are liable to carryout Job Safety Analysis, but this method is completely wrong, because it might be possible that HSE personnel are not practically sound comparatively to technical team to identify hazards in particular activity.

To conduct a Job Safety Analysis effectively it is important to select team wisely, Job Safety Analysis team must have minimum following personnel but not limited to conduct JSA effectively,

1. HSE personnel

2. Technical team member i.e. Engineer, Supervisor

3. Maintenance team member

4. Representative member from employees

5. Operator of particular task

Each of above members must have to contribute their expertise to identify hazards in particular activity. It is important to accept every opinion from each members.

How to identify affected group of people in particular task prior to commence JSA?

Prior to start Job Safety Analysis for a particular task, selected team has to identify which people are exposed and who are affected for particular task, for example Operator, Helpers, Supervisors and surrounding working people, also consider the suppliers and visitors if they are involved or part of in activity in particular task.

The outcomes of this exercise is to identify lone working people, vulnerable people such as pregnant women, young or aged people etc., conclusion for special requirement such as extra vigilance, additional emergency lifesaving equipment, health checkups etc.

How to commence Job Safety Analysis step by step?

Job Safety Analysis Step by Step

Job Safety Analysis can be conducted effectively in six steps, there is a useful acronym for task based Safety analysis -

SREDIM:

1. Select the task.

2. Record the steps or stages of the task.

3. Evaluate the risks associated with each step.

4. Develop the safe working method.

5. Implement the safe working method.

6. Monitor to ensure it is effective.

1. Select the Task.

To commence Job Safety Analysis first step is select the task which is being performed within the organization.

Let’s take previous Example:

Manual handling in warehouse.

Task is being conducted by helpers to lift an object from one place to keep at their designated place.

2. Record the steps or stages of the task.

In second step break selected task in to defined sequence of individual steps or stages to identify hazards in each steps of task without omitted anyone.

It’s important to avoid defining individual job tasks too narrowly or too broadly. Generally speaking, a job should contain no more than ten individual tasks. If your JSA exceeds this number, consider separating the job into two or more separate phases.

For example:

1. Prior to Manual lifting

2. During the manual lifting

3. After Manual handling

3. Evaluate the risks associated with each step.

In third step hazards should be identified after the observation and break down of each stage of selected task.

A number of questions should be asked in each stage to assess the potential hazards in performing individual job tasks. Proceed through the sequence of job tasks one at a time and answer questions such as:

Prior to Manual lifting

1. Location from where an object need to be lifted.

2. Load of Object.

3. State of material, i.e. Solid, Liquid or Gases.

4. Are there any pinch points?

5. Capacity of person.

6. Capacity of container.

7. Shape and Condition of object i.e. Sharp, Hot etc.

8. Grip in object.

9. Travel distance i.e. is designated location near or far away?

10.  Location at where an object being to be kept.

During the Manual lifting

1. Engaged employee awareness for manual lifting. I.e. lifting techniques, holding position etc.

2. Any obstruction in pathway.

3. Condition of floor i.e. slippery, uneven etc.

4. Condition of foot wear.

5. Interference by vicinity activity. I.e. Vehicle movement, hot work etc.

After Manual handling

1. Placing of object at designated place.

2. Load bearing capacity of rack.

3.Fastening to object.

4. Develop the safe working method.

In fourth step control measures of each hazards should be develop to mitigate risk in particular task.

The hierarchy of control which is common tool to be used broadly to develop control or preventive measures for each identified hazards.

The hierarchy of control are separated in five sections, in order of effectiveness, with the following description:

Hazard control hierarchy

Elimination – Physically remove the hazard

Substitution – Replace the hazard

Engineering controls – Isolate people from the hazard.

Administration controls – Change the way people work.

PPE – Protect the worker with personal protective equipment.

Hazard elimination and substitution broadly considered to be the most effective solution to improve safety.

Note: It is important to consider property damage and environmental impact and not just personal injury.

Wherever possible, control measures higher in the hierarchy should be used, providing they are reasonably practicable, and emphasis should be placed upon control at source.

A combination of measures will usually be necessary in order to reduce the level of Risk as Low as Reasonably Practicable (ALARP). It should also be considered that when specifying controls, any associated risk that they bring with them needs to be assessed and controlled.

Typical Control Measures can be placed in the following categories:

Control Measure	Typical Examples
1. Physical	>Removal of fuses; Insert spade or blank flange in pipe work; >Lock off valve; >Erect mechanical barrier; Use locked enclosure >Keep people at a distance (e.g., signs, warning tape); >Eliminate or substitute toxic substances; >Substitute noisy machinery; >Use mechanical handling equipment.
2. Procedural	>Test for pressure build-up or leaks; >Examination of flushing fluid; >Test for hazardous chemicals in liquid, solid or gaseous form; >Procedure for control of simultaneous or adjacent work; >Prohibition of hot work; >Equipment lock-out; >Develop contingency plan,
3. Human	>Use of independent specialist personnel; >Regular or constant monitoring of the Task; >Use of method statements / detailed procedures; >Clear instructions and warnings to workforce; >Clear definitions of roles and responsibilities during the task; >Adequate supervision; >Ensure competency of personnel for the activity
4. Time	>Limit duration of the Task or time of day when the activity occurs; >Use time-saving measures such as hot-bolting, good work site preparation and planning for the movement of materials, tools.
5a. Contingency (Control)	>Emergency shutdown, deluge and blow-down systems, reduction of inventory.
5b. Contingency (Mitigation)	>Emergency response system, fire/blast wall, water curtain, provision of PPE, rescue equipment, etc.

Once the hazards and control measures have been identified, each should be allocated to either an individual or a role, all the findings and individuals’ responsibilities should be documented and Safe working method should be developed. Prepared safe working method should be reviewed and approved by concern folks prior to dissemination among employees.

5. Implement the safe working method.

After Job Safety Analysis has been completed and safe working method has been developed, the document should be made available with engaged employees or exposed people with particular task.

Safe working method should be discussed among all engaged people in “Tool Box Talk” prior to commence activity. Also, explored preventive control measures should be adhered during entire activity to mitigate risk.

Also, it is necessary that adequate resources should be provided to work force to embrace and implement safe working method effectively within the organization.

6. Monitor to ensure it is effective.

After completion of Job Safety Analysis, monitoring of safe working method should be carried out by various manner to assess effectiveness of developed safe working method.

Regularly reviewing of leading and legging key performance indicators KPI’s such as Safe man-hours, numbers of observations, Injury frequency rate, numbers of incidents etc. is one of the essential tool to monitor effectiveness of developed safe working method or Job Safety Analysis.

If a workplace injury occurs, a review of the relevant JSA should occur to see if it had a shortcoming that may have contributed to the incident. A good practice is to involve workforce in a periodic review exercise for existing JSAs to make sure they still accurately capture the job tasks as performed today and address all associated risks.

Flow chart to prepare JSA

Here is the Job Safety Analysis work sheet where all the findings should be recorded.

JSA Worksheet

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