The Job Safety Analysis

how does one ensure that adequately trained workers are performing their assigned tasks safely There are no guarantees, but a good step is to have a qualified person perform a job safety analysis. The job safety analysis (ISA) has taken on many names over recent years. Some people refer to safety task analysis (STA), job hazard analysis (JHA), or other names. In this book, this useful tool is simply referred to as a ISA. 

Simply stated, a JSA breaks down work tasks into key components. This may start with prejob tasks that take place before the inception of work activity and continue through activity completion. Each task component is broken down into steps, and each step is analyzed for potential hazards. Once the hazards from each step are identified, control measures or a protective system(s) is chosen that protects the worker performing the task from the hazard(s). These protective systems typically include engineering and/or administrative controls and/or personal protective equipment (PPE). 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has outlined this procedure in a publication entitled Job Hazard Analysis. The main body of this OSHA publication is included in Appendix A of this book. The complete publication is available on the Web at www.osha.gov/publications/osha3071.pdf. 

Handling heavy Successfully complete back Wear a back belt 

The use of a table coupled with a bulleted format is encouraged. Other forms of JSAs can also be used however, I use this format most often and prefer it to others I have tried. The bullets present this important information in the most concise and comprehensible way. Each key point is separated, and not too many words are used for the descriptions. This keeps the JSAs relatively simple, even though they may be lengthy. 

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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. 

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). 

The job safety analysis (JSA) [also referred to as the job hazard analysis (JHA)], which is a more simplified form of task analysis, has been a longstanding tool for task and function analysis. JSA has been available and utilized in general industry for many years by the industrial safety community. However, many practitioners do not understand or are simply unfamiliar with the connection between the JSA and the system safety tasks of hazard identification and analysis. It has even been suggested by some in the profession that the JSA itself is a type of oversimplified system safety analysis and, if performed earlier in the job development phase, could be used as the basis of a preliminary hazard analysis for a specific task or set of tasks. However, because JSA is often (if improperly) used to analyze a function only after it has been implemented, much of the data is not factored into the system safety process. The primary purpose of the JSA is to uncover inherent or potential hazards that may be encountered in the work environment. This basic definition is not unlike that previously discussed regarding the various system safety analyses. The primary difference between the two is subtle but important and is found in the end-use purpose of the JSA. Once the job or task is completed, the JSA is usually used as an effective tool for training and orienting the new employee into the work environment. The JSA presents a verbal picture of a specific job. 

The following discussion of accident types assists in determining the potential hazards for the job safety analysis. 

Worksite analysis involves a variety of worksite examinations, to identify not only existing hazards but also conditions and operations in which changes might occur to create hazards. Lack of awareness of a hazard, stemming from failure to examine the worksite, is a sign that safety and health policies and/or practices are ineffective. Effective management actively analyzes the work and worksite, to anticipate and prevent harmful occurrences. This requires periodic examination of the workplace through inspections, audits, and the application of other safety tools such as the job safety analysis. 

The Job Safety Analysis Process A Practical Approach. The precept behind using JSA/JHA is that fatalities, accidents, and injuries can be reduced by working together and sharing safety knowledge. An accident prevention method that has proven effective in industry is the Job Safety/Hazard Analysis program. 

Recommended preventive actions should make it very difficult, if not impossible, for the incident to recur. The investigative report should list all the ways to foolproof the condition or activity. Considerations of cost or engineering should not enter in at this stage. The primary purpose of incident investigations is to prevent future occurrences. Beyond this immediate purpose, the information obtained through the investigation should be used to update and revise the inventory of hazards, and/or the program for hazard prevention and control. For example, the Job Safety Analysis should be revised and employees retrained to the extent that it fully refiects the recommendations made by an incident report. Implications from the root causes of the accident need to be analyzed for their impact on all other operations and procedures [6]. 

Task Analysis An expansion of the Job Safety Analysis (JSA) method of identifying hazards associated with a given job or task. Differs from the JSA in its level of specific detail and consideration of the human interface in all aspects of the job performance. 

The Job Safety Analysis (JSA) is a process used to determine 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 for each step can be identified and the solutions developed to control each hazard. 

If a JSA is available, it should be used as the basic information and guideline for the observation. The supervisor should watch each step of the job and be alert for compliance with the safe job procedures. The supervisor should recognize the need to revise the job safety analysis if necessary. 

All companies must establish and enforce rales of conduct and rules of safety for everyone involved in their operation. Since supervisors are responsible for following safety rules, a safety observation is a valuable method for accomplishing this. Safety observations continuously add to the job safety analysis, safety inspection, and safety orientation and training programs. 

Our discussion of cognitive dissonance might give us a potential remedy for this. If we could induce workers and managers to discuss what can go wrong, and in fact advocate the position that an unfavorable outcome would occur, they would be more likely to entertain the idea that an unfavorable outcome (accident) would occur and might modify their behavior to prevent it. In fact this may be the reason for the success of the job safety analysis (JS A), in which workers discuss potential hazards of a task before it is undertaken. 

This chapter illustrated that training is a key to safety. The level of effort expended to develop training will play a key role in safety culture development. An important tool for safety training is the job safety analysis (JSA). JSAs have many different names and different acronyms, but no matter what you call them, they are used to identify on-the-job hazards and the safety systems that can nullify these hazards. Using JSAs as a training tool allows the team member to think in a way that analyzes each work task for potential hazards. Hazard recognition is an important initial step in hazard avoidance. 

Does the PPE that is assigned to team members match the specification in the job safety analysis (JSA) ... 

The method that is selected for the detailed risk assessments may vary, depending on the types of safety problem involved. If, for example, the reliability of safety systems is a concern, fanlt tree analysis or failure mode and effect analysis may be the appropriate method. Here, a detailed risk assessment similar to the job-safety analysis of Chapter 23 is presented. It follows the general ontline of the coarse analysis of Figure 24.2 but is performed at a more detailed level. The aim is to study manual activities in the danger zones of the machinery in detail in order to take the necessary precautions. A team will be responsible for this analysis as well. Resnlts are documented in a record sheet according to Table 24.2. 

Analyze the jobs or work tasks to identify potential ergonomic problems before employee injuries occur. Determine if jobs present ergonomic risks that may contribute to MSDs. Much of this work can be done in conjunction with the Job Safety Analysis discussed in chapter 2. 

List the recommended safe operating procedures. Begin with an action word. Say exactly what needs to be done to correct the hazard, such as, "Lift using your leg muscles." Avoid general statements such as "be careful." List the required or recommended PPE necessary to perform each step of the job. Provide a recommended action or procedure for each hazard. Serious hazards should be corrected immediately. The JSA should then be changed to reflect the new conditions. Finally, review all the input for accuracy and completeness. Determine if the recommended actions or procedures have been put in place. Reevaluate the job safety analysis as necessary. 

Figure 2.1 Overview of the Concept of the Job Hazard Analysis Versus the Job Safety Analysis. Based on and Adapted from Research and discussions with other safety professional.

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