Hazards Associated with Each Job Step

IDENTIFYING THE HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH JOB STEP 

After all basic steps of the operation of a piece of equipment or job procedure have been listed, each job step should be examined to identify hazards associated with it. The purpose is to identify and list the hazards that are possible in each step of the job. Some hazards are more likely to occur than others, and some are more likely to produce serious injuries than others. Consider all reasonable possibilities when identifying hazards. 

To make this task manageable work with the basic types of accidents, the question to ask is Can any of these accident types or hazards inflict injury on a worker There are eleven basic types of accidents  

Look at each of these basic accident types in more detail. Analyze each job step (first column of the JSA/JHA form in Table 12.1) separately look for only one kind of hazard or accident at a time. 

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Is there a routine mechanism such as Joh Safety Analysis (JSA) in which tasks such as this are systematically reviewed for potential hazards JSA is a procedure that systematically identifies (1) job steps, (2) specific hazards associated with each job step, and (3) safe job procedures associated with each step to minimize accident potential. 

In a typical JSA, the left-hand column shows the basic steps of the job, listed in the order in which they occur. The middle column describes hazards or potential accidents associated with each job step. The right-hand column lists the safe procedures that should be followed to safeguard against identified hazards and to prevent potential accidents. ... 

The end goal of JHA is to make a job safer to work. If supervisors or workers do not know the hazards and injury potential associated with a job, they cannot do anything about the hazards to make the job safe. Therefore, the first thing that must be done to make a job safe is to identify and understand the hazards and potential injuries associated with each job step. 

The job safety analysis (JSA) has been a part of the industrial and occupational safety effort for many years. It is basically a method of developing job procedures that includes a systematic task analysis that examines each step of a job or task, the possible hazards associated with each step, and preventive or corrective actions required to ensure a safe operation. The technique may be appropriate to include in a life cycle system safety effort but has not traditionally been considered a system safety analysis. The JSA may be referred to as a job hazard analysis or job task analysis, even though some make distinctions between the approaches. 

Job Safety Analysis, commonly known as JS A and also called Job Hazard Analysis (JHA), is a process nsed to determine the hazards of, and safe procedures for, each step of a job. A specific job, or work assignment, can be separated into a series of relatively simple steps. The hazards associated with each step can be identified and solntions can be developed to control each hazard. 

The second step is to identify the hazards that go along with the steps of each job task. The process identifies the job steps, the hazards associated with each step, and the abatement strategies for each hazard. This formal analysis helps to insure that hazards are not overlooked. This is a foundational technique for safety management. An example of a very basic analysis instrument may look like Table 35.1. 

ABSTRACT A proper JHA requires much more than observing a job to see if it looks hard . The purpose of this study is to break down a task into its component steps, determine the hazards associated with each step, and focus on the ergonomic connection of those hazards. In order to quantify the risks of musculoskeletal disorders, we calculated lifting tasks and compared those to minimal averages. The results indicated that multiple job tasks were in excess of the recommended weight limits for those tasks. Implementing controls is necessary for reduction of these injuries. 

Supervisors and workers must be trained to both identify hazards in order to prevent accidents, and to identify existing and potential hazards, which can prevail in the workplace. When looking at specific jobs, identify the hazards by breaking the job down into a step-by-step sequence and identify potential hazards associated with each step. Consider the following ... 

As a part of an effective Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) program, a Job Safety Analysis (JSA) has proved to be an effective accident and occupational illness prevention tool in many industries. The JSA, also known as a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA), is a safety management tool in which the risks or hazards of a specific job in the workplace are identified and measures to eliminate or control those hazards are determined and implemented. Most safety programs are considered reactive, an action in response to an incident. A JSA is considered a proactive approach to workplace safety. A JSA is a process of systematically evaluating certain jobs, identifying the hazards or potential hazard associated with each step of the job, and finding effective control measures to eliminate or reduce the risk of hazards and make the workplace as safe as possible, before those hazards have a chance to become accidents. 

Step 2 Look for hazards. Once the basic steps of the job have been recorded, the next step is to identify the potential hazards associated with each step. Consider talking with employees who have performed the job for several years, as they usually have a wealth of information and will be able to describe injuries or near misses they have had conducting the job, or injuries coworkers have experienced. 

Each job is broken down into tasks, or steps, and hazards associated with each task or step are identified. 

A safety management risk assessment techniqne that is used to define and control the hazards associated with a process, job, or procedure. The Job Safety Analysis ensures that the hazards involved in each step of a task are reduced to as low as reasonably practical (ALARP). The assessment starts with a summary of the entire job process. The job is broken into smaller steps and listed in a tabular form. The hazards for each step are then identified and listed. This is repeated for each step in the process and a method of safe work is identified. It may be also called a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA). See also As Low As Reasonabfy Practical (ALARP). 

In many cases, there will be more than one specific hazard associated with a given job step. For this reason, each hazard will be numbered alphanumeri-cally to associate the hazards with the proper job step. For example, if job step 2 contains three specific hazards, then the hazard descriptions in column 2 of the JSA form shall be numbered 2a and 2b and 2c. In this way, it will be quite obvious that job step 2 contains three individual hazards of concern to the worker. 

The next step in developing the JSA is the identification of all hazards involved with each step. Close observation and knowledge of the particular job is required if the JSA is to be effective in defining job hazards. To ensure that all hazards associated with a task (job step) are identified, observers should examine hazards produced by both the work environment and the specific activity being performed. Ask yourself the following questions about each step ... 

This section captures the data collected from the cause and effect diagram and visual observations of the job steps and tasks.This section provides detailed instructions to the employees on hazards associated with specific task and provides a comment for each task on specific actions or control to be implemented. 

Job Safety Analysis (JSA) A safety management tool that is utilized to define and control the hazards associated with a process, job, task, or procedure. Each step of the undertaking is analyzed for hazards and safeguards to ensure they are as low as reasonably practical. 

Identify the hazards or potential injuries associated with each step of the job. 

Job safety analysis A method for studying a job in order to (1) identify hazards or potential accidents associated with each step or task and (2) develop solutions that will eliminate, nullify, or prevent such hazards or accidents. Sometimes called Job Hazard Analysis. 

Column 2 ( Potential Accidents or Hazards"). For each specific step described in column 1 ( Sequence of Job Steps ), provide a description of the hazard(s) and/or hazardous condition(s) associated with the performance of that step in column 2. Important things to remember when completing the information in column 2 ... 

The JHA process begins with the development of an understanding of aU aspects of the organization — many jobs requirements, specific elements, and activities necessary, on down into the required steps and tasks required within each step. The starting point in hazard review and analysis is to consider the workplace as a system of cause and effects or emerging properties with inherent hazards and associated risk built into the work environment. 

Hazards and associated risk within each step are discussed with employees as to what they know about the current work environment. This information is compared against the loss history of the job to assess... 

Care must be taken not to make the steps too general, thereby missing specific steps and their associated hazards. 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 JHA, or combine steps where appropriate. As an example, the job of changing a flat tire will be used in this document. 

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