Job Hazard Analysis is a vital part of task planning and identifying any hazards that may exist in the job or task you are getting ready to perform. JHA’s are an important part of a good health & safety program. When taking the time to assess the task you are about to perform and identifying areas of that procedure that have the potential to cause serious injury or death, it allows controls or procedures to be implemented to prevent any incidents from occurring.
The company has made it mandatory for employees to conduct a JHA and document the findings prior to performing a task that falls under the following conditions.
A JHA must be conducted by all employees that are involved in that task. The following is a step by step procedure for conducting a JHA.
Steps of a JHA:
Step 1: Break job down into steps.
Step 2: Identify the Hazards in each Step
Consider the following physical hazards.
Pressure, Vibration., Access, Moving Objects, Electricity, Chemicals, vehicles, Height, Confined Spaces, Depth, Weather, Noise, Rotating Equipment, Weight, Equipment, Heat, Cold, Water, Dust, etc.
Consider the possible causes of injuries.
Struck by, Caught in/on, Overexertion, Dropped Objects, Slips/Trips/ Falls, Inhalation, Strike Against, Fire/Explosion, Exposure to Gas/Heat/Fumes/Dust/Chemicals, Cold, Pinch Points.
Also Consider:
Pollution to the Environment, Damage to Equipment, Human Factors, Competency, Training, Fitness, Fatigue, etc.
Step 3: Risk Elimination or Reduction Measures
Step 4: Review and Update the JHA Periodically
The JHA should be reviewed when:
By taking a few extra minutes prior to performing a task and completing a JHA on that task we can all create a safer workplace, reduce accidents and have a “Zero Injury” work environment.