Understanding Job Hazard Analysis

What is a job hazard analysis (JHA) Can it work for you You may have heard other terms, for example, job safety analysis (JSA) or task analysis. No matter what you call the process, a JHA can be used to help you to develop safe work practices or procedures. 

A JHA is a written procedure that you can use to review job methods and identify hazards that may have been overlooked during initial task design, process changes, and the like. A JHA is a systematic method of identifying jobs and tasks to help pinpoint hazards associated with the task and developing procedures that will help reduce or eliminate identified risks. You can also use JHAs to document changes in a workplace and provide consistent training. 

Some hazards are obvious and can be identified through safety reviews. Others are less obvious and can only be identified by conducting a systematic analysis of each job task to identify potential hazards. 

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In Chapter 4 we will diseuss the regulatory framework and analyti-eal tools to eonduet these assessments, sueh as JHA (job hazard analysis), job safety analysis (JSA), safety analysis reports, proeess hazard analysis (PHA), and job, task, and hazard analysis. The reader needs to understand that OSHAs view on physieal and ehemieal hazards is far reaehing, as stated in the HAZWOPER standard. Note the following examples. 

Incentives for doing a good job Training given by the safety department A working safety committee Job hazard analysis Positive reinforcement Understanding of safety responsibility Positive attitude Proper training... 

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 recognition of hazards is of primary importance. After workers and supervisors have been trained regarding hazard identification, their understanding of Occupational Safety and Health regulations will help identify jobs, equipment and machinery, areas, and industry processes that have exhibited hazards in the past. It will be your responsibility to identify the potential for hazards, or the existence of hazards within your workplace. Some tools used for identification have been presented in the form of hazard hunts, job hazard analysis, and job safety observations, while other techniques provide the means to prevent and control existing hazards. 

By signing this form the employee is verifying that he or she has reviewed the job hazard analysis for the specific task that they are performing or about to perform and agree with the JHA as it relates to the job steps (task), the hazard associated with the task, and the recommended corrective measures. At this point, they can also bring up any questions coneerning the hazards of the job. You may ask, what have I gained from this action Think about it—you have now placed some ownership on the employee to help the employee understand the hazards of the job. 

Routine development and use of job hazard analyses as well as education of employees about each job s hazards and associated risk. The process should include involvement or comprehensive communication with the leadership team so that this understanding is present throughout the organization. For a more detailed review of job hazard analysis, refer to Chapter 12, Developing the Job Hazard Analysis . 

The job hazard analysis (JHA) is the foundation for any successful safety management system. A safety culture can only exist when a full understanding of ongoing jobs, steps, and tasks are defined and the various hazards and associated risk are managed and controlled. As such, the JHA is an essential element in assessing the depth and scope of risk within the organization. 

Job hazard analysis (JHA) permits an examination of job-related tasks and processes for the purpose of discovering and correcting inherent risks and hazards. Supervisors and other experienced personnel can perform the process by working sequentially through the steps of a job process or task (see Table 1.2). Job hazard analysis requires an understanding of potential job hazards, and can... 

Understanding Human Performance in the Job Hazard Analysis Process... 

The concept of risk should be clearly defined and should be included as a major element in the job hazard analysis (JHA) process. Using only loss-related data that is solely based on injuries, incident rates and/or damage does not provide a fioll understanding of the potential for loss-producing events. 

CHAPTER 2, UNDERSTANDING HUMAN PERFORMANCE IN THE JOB HAZARD ANALYSIS PROCESS... 

Organizations have the responsibility to ensure that their employees are trained to achieve its objectives and that each employee understands the hazards of their work environment and how to protect themselves from specific hazards. An in-depth knowledge of the job hazard analysis (JHA) process should be developed and used by the leadership team and employees. Without this basic training, it will be difficult to establish an effective and efficient JHA process, which adds value to the organization with overall operational improvement. 

Do employees complain that new facilities, equipment, materials, or processes are hazardous Do any employees say they have been involved in job safety analysis or process review and are satisfied with the results Does the safety and health staff indicate ignorance of existing or potential hazards at the worksite Does the occupational nurse, doctor, or other healthcare provider understand the potential occupational diseases and health effects in this worksite ... 

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