How to prepare Job Safety Analysis (JSA)

The Job Safety Analysis (JSA) provides an enhanced approach to the examination of the

safe performance of work. This is done by:

• Analyse and record each step of a job or task
• Identifying existing or potential hazards and
• Determining the best way to reduce or eliminate those hazards

The JSA is intended to be performed by supervisors, safety representatives, and

workers, who examine jobs in detail and together recommend controls for the hazards

identified.

Benefits of Job Safety Analysis

•  Increased awareness and job hazards and acceptance for the need to implement controls
•  Supervisors learn about the job they supervise
•  Increased employee participation in workplace safety
•  Positive attitudes about safety
•  Improved safety behavior
•  Improved communication between workers and supervisors
•  Source of information for training and group meetings
•  Identification of possible improvements to traditional job procedures

Step by Step Procedure

Identify job steps

For the purposes of the JSA, a job step is defined as a segment of the operation necessary to advance work. Care must be taken not to make the steps too general, thereby missing steps and associated hazards. Conversely, too many steps will make the JSA too detailed. Generally, jobs can be divided into ten steps or less. It is important to record each step in the correct sequence. Steps recorded out of order may miss potential hazards.

To begin, make notes about what is done, rather than how it is done. Each step must start with an action verb. E.g.climb, turn and lift etc.

This part of the JSA usually involves watching the worker do the job. The worker observed should be experienced, capable, and cooperative. Explain the reason for the exercise and the benefits of the JSA to the worker. The JSA should be done under normal conditions. For example, if the job is routinely done at night, it should be observed at night.

When complete, the job should be discussed by all participants, including the worker, to make sure all the basic steps have been recorded and are in the correct order.

Identify Potential Hazards

Once the job steps have been recorded, potential hazards must be identified based on observation, personal experience, and accident and injury causes. List all the things that could possibly go wrong for each step by asking "What if…"?. At this stage, no attempt is made to solve any problems.

To help identify potential hazards, ask questions such as:

1. Can anybody part get caught in or between objects?
2.  Can the worker be struck by an object or equipment?
3. What if the equipment is defective?
4. Can the worker slip, trip, or fall?
5. Can weather conditions affect safety?
6. Is lighting a problem?
7. Can the worker suffer strain from lifting, twisting, reaching, bending, pushing, or pulling?
8. Is noise, vibration, heat, or cold a problem?
9. What if the equipment is not secured?
10. Is speed an issue?
11. Is there exposure to any harmful substances?
12. Is housekeeping a problem?
13. Is repetitive motion a problem?

Recommend Controls

The final stage is RSIK RATING and the recommendation of control or preventive measure for each hazard identified. Controls should be considered in the following order:

1) Eliminate the hazard at the source

➤Modify or provide an alternate process

➤Substitution

➤Improve the environment

➤Modify equipment or tools

2) Contain the hazard along the path

➤Enclosures

➤Guards

3) Revise work procedures

➤Modify steps

➤Change the sequence of steps

➤Add additional steps (e.g: lockout)

4) Control at the worker

➤Reduce the exposure by minimizing the number of times it is encountered

➤Provide personal protective equipment

Use specific statements about what action should be taken and how it is to be performed. Avoid using general statements like, be careful, or use caution.

How to make the information available

Once the recommendations are complete, the results must be communicated.

1) Use the information as the basis for tailgate and safety talks

Go over the recommendations with workers performing the jobs. Take tehir input to proposed recommendeations. Ensure they understand what they are required to do and the reasons for any changes in the job procedures.

2) Use the JSA for training new employees

JSA must be part of staff induction training because it is the most effective tool used at the worksite to identify the hazard and subsequent measures. Als, this will help in synchronizing staff understanding abt. the work. 

3) Develop a narrative work procedure based upon the JSA

For example;

• Chose a firm, level surface free of ice, grease or oil
• Ensure speed is below 2 mph
• Inspect corner step and ladder for defects, grease, ice or snow
• Move from corner step to bottom rung of a ladder
• Keep foot angled to ladder rung and maintain three points of contact at all times

For templates of JSA click links below;
JSA Templates 
Safety Checklists
Accident Reports