Job Hazard Analysis

Everyone wants a safer workplace, but it’s hard to make real change in a facility without a clear process. The Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) is a logical system for identifying safety issues and applying controls. This infographic describes the steps of the JHA, and how you can use this system to make your workplace safer.

Once you know what the basic plan is, join us for a JHA webinar that describes the process in detail, or request a workbook to help evaluate your facility’s needs.

The following is a transcript of the Job Hazard Analysis Infographic:

Job Hazard Analysis

Employers are responsible for providing a safe workplace for their employees. Part of this responsibility includes assessing the hazards that may be present, and acting to mitigate those hazards. To spot and resolve safety problems, perform a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) for each task to be performed.

How can you make a JHA work for you? FOLLOW THESE STEPS:

Step 1—Choose A Task

Focus on one job at a time. Prioritize tasks that:

• Have caused injuries in the past
• Have changed recently
• Are complex or difficult to perform
• Could result in severe, fatal, or catastrophic accidents.
• All tasks that could result in an injury should be analyzed, eventually, but these four types are the most urgent.

Step 2—Describe A Task

Observe workers in their normal process, and ask them for details.

• What kind of work is being done?
• Who does this work, where & when?
• What tools or equipment are involved?
• What is the step-by-step process for completing this task?

These details will help you identify possible problems and solutions, along with connections between tasks that may be important.

Step 3—Identify the Hazard

Spot the hazards, identify the triggers, and assess the consequences.

HAZARDS: What are the possible sources of injury?

High Voltage, Toxic Chemicals, Moving Parts

TRIGGERS: What would have to go wrong for an injury to occur?

Worker Tripping, Motor Overheating, Valve Falling

CONSEQUENCES: What type and severity of injury could result?

Serious Burns, Asphyxiation, Minor Bruises

This step in the JHA process shares some of its ideas with a Risk Assessment, which is required by several standards. Risk Assessments allow employers to compare the relative dangers of different tasks. Consider how severe an injury could be (the Hazards and Consequences) and how likely it is for that injury to occur (the probability of the Trigger); the combination of the two is the overall risk.

Step 4—Assign Protective Controls

Example Situation: Your facility has a work station where products are machined to shape, but then have to be cleaned with a TOXIC SOLVENT to remove the machining oils.

Follow the Hierarchy of Controls:

1. Elimination: Get rid of the source of hazard

Change the machining process to avoid fouling the product, no need to use the toxic solvents for cleaning.

2. Substitution: Replace a serious hazard with a less-serious one

Replace the toxic solvent if possible with a less dangerous one.

3. Engineering Controls: Change the work area to separate workers from the hazard

Build an enclosure for hazardous chemicals, keeping away from workers.

4. Administrative Controls: Change work procedures to protect workers

Limit workers' exposure to certain times, minimizing the chance that the hazard will result in injury.

5. Personal Protective Equipment: Last line of defense

Require PPE to be worn to protect the worker from the hazard.

Steps 1 and 2 address the HAZARD directly, stopping the problem at the source.

Steps 3 and 4 address the TRIGGER, making an injury event less likely.

Step 5 mitigates the CONSEQUENCE, reducing or eliminating the severity of an injury. 

It's important to follow the sequence of controls in the hierarchy, because the most effective protection happens in the first steps.

Now What?

Now that you've described a task, identified its hazards, and assigned protective controls, it's time to document your plan. Write down:

• All of your JHA's findings: existing processes and hazards, and recommended changes.
• Safe work procedures that will be followed
• Any special equipment that needs to be used
• The date of the analysis and the person responsible

Don't forget to review your JHA with the affected workers. Employees need to understand how to work safely in their workplace!

Post new work procedures or PPE reminders with custom signs and labels!

Keep Your Company Compliant and Your Workers Safe with this Free Guide for EHS Managers! GraphicProducts.com/ehsguide

Need Assistance with you Job Hazard Analysis? Contact us today!

GraphicProducts.com

888-326-9244.