Analysis
Safety analysis is the process that involves breaking down a job into its component parts and identifying potential hazards associated with each task. An effective activity method for conducting this analysis is the Job Hazard Analysis (JHA).
ABCs of Job Hazard Analysis
During the Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) process, both you and your employee collaboratively examine each step of a specific task to come up with ways to make it safer. The JHA goes far beyond the walkaround inspection in its ability to eliminate or reduce most causes for accidents in the workplace.
Why the JHA?
The problem: Typically, walk-around inspections only assess whether hazards are present, conducted by one or two individuals who scan (the rolling eyeball syndrome) for hazardous conditions. This approach can be effective if inspectors are well-trained on how to spot hazards and ask questions.
The solution: Equal time must be devoted to:
- Talking with employees to uncover hazards easily missed during an inspection.
- Observing employees to identify unsafe procedures and behaviors.
- Examining equipment, workstations, tools, and the immediate environment.
The Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) is an optimal procedure for this purpose, as it goes beyond mere assessment by truly analyzing the conditions and practices related to a specific task. The steps involved in a typical JHA are outlined below.
- Break the job task down into specific steps.
- Analyze each step to uncover hazardous conditions and unsafe work practices.
- Develop strategies to correct hazardous conditions and unsafe work practices.
- Develop safe work practices for each step when hazards and practices can't be eliminated.
- Develop safe and efficient work procedures for the entire job.
The primary advantage of a JHA is the adequate time allocated for analyzing both hazardous conditions and unsafe work practices. It may be possible to eliminate or reduce all of the causes of a potential accident. This advantage makes the JHA far more useful and beneficial in preventing workplace accidents. Although the occupational safety and health rules do not specifically require JHA's be accomplished on all hazardous tasks, we strongly recommend a formal JHA program conducted jointly by supervisors and employees. It makes good business sense.
For more information on conducting a JHA, see OSHAcademy Course 706, Conducting a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA).
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-6. Which process is used to analyze each step of a task to determine ways to make the task more safe?
You forgot to answer the question!