Conducting Job Hazard Analysis ( Tips on Conducting the JHA)

• Be sure to record enough information to describe each job action without getting overly detailed at this point. You will include more detail later in the safe job procedure.
• Avoid making the breakdown of steps so detailed that it becomes unnecessarily long. On the other hand, don't make it so broad that it does not include basic steps.
• Get input from other workers who have performed the same job.
• Review the job steps with the employee to make sure you have not omitted something.
• Point out that you are analyzing the task, not evaluating the employee’s job performance.
• Include the employee in all phases of the analysis—from reviewing the job steps and procedures to discussing hazards and solutions.
• It may be helpful to photograph or videotape the worker performing the job.

Conducting Job Hazard Analysis (Job review process)

Employees are prone to use their "own" procedures when not being supervised

It is very important to involve your employees in the JHA process because they have a unique understanding of the job, and this knowledge is invaluable for finding hazards. Involving employees will help minimize oversights, ensure a quality analysis, and get workers to "buy in" to the solutions because they've helped in some way to develop the procedures. If they are not involved in developing the JHA, they will not be as likely to "own" the safe job procedures. As a result, they may not want to use safe procedures and practices that they believe have been "imposed" on them.
Look for Hazardous Conditions and Unsafe Behaviors 

During the job review process, focus on identifying hazardous conditions and unsafe behaviors. Remember, it takes a hazard and exposure to the hazard before an accident can occur. So, it makes sense to look for them during the review. Sources to help identify hazardous conditions and unsafe behaviors include:

• Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)
• Experienced workers
• Accident and incident reports
• First aid statistical records
• Behavior Based Safety (BBS) reports
• Safety committee meeting minutes
• Safety inspection reports
• Previous JHAs
• Existing work procedures
• Equipment manuals
• Preventive/corrective maintenance records

Conducting Job Hazard Analysis (1)

Hazards

Hazard is any event that can cause injury or accident. If hazards that pose an immediate danger to an employee's life or health exist, take immediate action to protect the worker. Any problems that can be corrected easily should be corrected as soon as possible.
Some jobs may require potentially high-risk behaviors that should be identified in a JHA. High risk behaviors that might increase the probability and severity of an injury or illness include:

• Working at elevation, no matter what the job is
• Lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling and other manual handling operations
• Others working above or below the work area
• Use of bridge cranes, man lifts, or other heavy equipment
• Working on or near energized equipment/components
• Working alone or in isolated workplaces
• Operating vehicles (i.e. trucks, forklifts, etc.)
• Working within a confined space or under temperature extremes