Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)

List of Documents and Appendices

Purpose

The purpose of a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) is to describe how to perform tasks, identify associated hazards, and determine controls to mitigate those hazards. Utilizing this JHA will allow you to analyze work activities while also identifying tools, materials and equipment needed to safely complete a task. During this process, you will identify existing and potential hazards, assess risk, and describe methods to eliminate or protect against the hazard.

Definitions

  • Controls: This is how to eliminate or minimize the hazards. There are three types of controls:
    • Engineering controls eliminate or reduce exposure to a chemical or physical hazard through the use or substitution of engineered machinery or equipment.  This is the preferred control.
    • Administrative controls are changes in work procedures such as written safety policies, rules, supervision, schedules and training with the goal of reducing the duration, frequency and severity of exposure to hazardous chemicals or situations.
    • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses.
  • Exposure: When an employee enters a “danger zone” by virtue of their proximity to the hazard.
  • Hazard: An unsafe condition or practice that could cause injury, illness, or property damage and is preventable. Examples of hazards include: working at heights, slippery surfaces, exposed moving machinery parts, fire, explosion, noise, electricity, toxic emission, corrosive chemicals, low oxygen, repetitive tasks, heavy lifting, infectious Bloodborne pathogens, etc.
  • Job Hazard Analysis: A process that identifies hazards before they result in injury. It focuses on the relationship between the worker, the task, the tools and equipment and the environment.
  • Task: Any activity (mental or physical or both) that has been assigned to an employee as a responsibility and carries with it both positive and/or negative consequences based on the performance of that job.

 

Steps To An Effective JHA (See Appendix A)

Step 1: Define the scope of the work to be analyzed and supervise the work being completed. Involve the employee performing the work.

Step 2: Break down the job into smaller tasks or steps.

  • Each task or step should be written on the worksheet one-by-one. Avoid creating steps that are too small, as the analysis may become too long and cumbersome.
  • Ask other employees, who have performed the task, what steps are essential to the process.
  • Watch the employee performing the work.

Step 3: In the Hazard column, identify the hazards associated with each task. See Appendix B Common Hazards and Descriptions for types of hazards. Consider every possible thing that could go wrong. Questions you can ask are:

  • What could go wrong?
  • What could cause things to go wrong?
  • What other factors could contribute to an incident or injury to the worker?
  • How could equipment be damanged?

Step 4: Next, the Control Measure should be developed (See Appendix C Hazard Control Measures). Write down all the possible controls for each of the hazards identified in each of the task.  There may be several controls that can be used for each hazard. This may include procedures, practices and personal protective equipment (PPE).

  • Controls should be implemented in the following sequence:
    • Engineering – Elimination of the hazard or reduced exposure to the hazard.
    • Administrative – Reducing the exposure by changing conditions or the way that the work is performed.
    • Personal Protective Equipment – When exposure to hazards cannot be engineered completely out and administrative control cannot provide sufficient additional protection. PPE is the last line of defense.

Step 5: After finishing listing the tasks, hazards and controls, write down any training that is required to address the hazards, operate equipment or needed to perform the task.

Step 6: Write down the types of Personal Protective (PPE) that may have to be used to control the hazards.

Step 7: Review JHA with employees performing the work.

Step 8: The JHA can always be reviewed and upgraded when new information needs to be added.

 

Training