Student Handout

JOB HAZARD ANALYSIS

Larry C. Alzaga OSHP

DEFINITION OF JOB HAZARD ANALYSIS (JHA)

A process whereby a job/task is broken into its component parts and each part is analysed to determine if there is a better, safer way to
accomplish it.

RESPONSIBILITIES
It is the responsibility of the Managers and Supervisors to assess the risks associated within their respective work activities. They shall ensure
hazard control measures are carried out to minimize the risk of incidents and accidents, which may result in injury to personnel or damage to
equipment, facilities or the environment.

TYPES OF HAZARDS
There are six types of hazards as follows:

1 Physical:
- Noise, vibration, lighting, electrical, heat and cold, nuisance dust, fire explosion, machine guarding and working space.
2 Chemical:
- Gases, dusts, fume vapours and liquids.
3 Ergonomic:
- Tool design, equipment design, job task design, work station design and manual handling.
4 Radiation:
- Microwaves, infrared, ultraviolet, laser (non ionizing), X rays and gamma rays
5 Psychological:
- Shift work, workload, dealing with the public harassment, discrimination, threat of danger and low-level constant noise.
6 Biological:
- Infections, bacteria and viruses such as hepatitis

PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF HAZARDS

Most workplace incidents and accidents are preventable, if the following hazard control methods are adopted in the order listed.

7 Eliminate the hazard

- For example the risk of electric shock can be eliminated or reduced by adopting other equipment such as cordless battery tools, which
have a power level too low to cause injury.

8 Substitute the hazard

- Work processes need to be examined to find out whether it is possible to achieve the desired result by a less hazardous means. For
example, where a person is required to lift components from floor level onto a bench, it may be possible to raise the box of
components to bench height, where heavy bags are handled it may be possible to obtain materials in smaller quantities.

9 Control the hazard

- If the hazard cannot eliminated or substituted, the next best measure is to control the hazard at its source. Engineering methods can be
introduced to effect a change to the way in which the product is processed, thus eliminating or minimizing the exposure of the person
to the hazardous process. This may include the modification of tools and equipment, the introduction of enclosures such as machinery
guarding or causing the machine to be deactivated when a guard is opened or removed. Fail-safe devices can be incorporated within a
system, which ensures that any failure will leave the system safe.

2. Reduce employee exposure to the hazard

- Schedule the work to be done through shifts that limit the exposure of employees to the hazard. For example if the noise level in the
area exceeds the allowable limit, divide the work into two shifts of fours instead of one group working for 8 hours.

3. Require employees to wear Personal Protective Equipment

- Despite the aforementioned control measures, there are still situations where hazards cannot be reduced to safe levels. The use of
appropriate personal protective equipment is then required.
JOB HAZARD ANALYSIS (JHA)

What is a JHA?

A JHA in simple terms means “planning of safe work”, it is primarily the supervisor’s responsibility to identify, evaluate, decide, act and
review every task from start to finish. A job hazard analysis is a process whereby a job is broken down into its component steps and each step
is analyzed to determine if there is a better, safer way to accomplish it.

JHA Review and Update

This is a very important step in Job Hazard Analysis because even the best prepared job hazard analysis can fail to identify significant factors
which may alter the way the job was done or create hazards which were not identified on the original JHA.

To ensure that the knowledge, experience, and information gained by doing the job are not lost, but remain available to others who may be
required to perform the same or similar jobs later, the JHA team leader should at the completion of each analysis organize the JHA team to
compile the JHA into a safe operations manual.

When reviewing the JSA on completion of the job, the following should be considered:

 Did any of the job steps change (been added or deleted)?

- Often during job changes in the environment, specifications or tools and equipment can cause job steps to be added, deleted or
changed. Changes in job steps can introduce new hazards requiring new solutions.

 Were there any additional hazards?

- When doing a JHA a great deal of effort is put into trying to identify all of the potential hazards, however it is not always
possible to foresee all of the hazards until the job is completed.

 What solutions were developed for the additional hazards?

- Once a job has commenced additional unforeseen hazards may present themselves so that solutions have to be developed on the
job. These job-developed solutions need to be included on the revised JSA.
 External influences that impacted on the job
- When doing a JHA it is often difficult to identify all of the possible external factors that impact on the job and the impact of the
jobs and people in the immediate vicinity. Feedback of this type can be invaluable to people planning similar jobs in the future.

 Safety Instructions
- Safety Instructions are to be provided as a basis for managing workplace hazards through instruction and training in instance
where risk control methods pertain to a particular task are not adequately defined by existing procedures, installation manuals or
equipment user manuals.
 Attachment
Job Hazard Analysis Work Sheet

JSA Responsible Supervisor / Foreman JSA Participants

JSA: 000 1. 4. 1. 4. 7.
Rev: 0 2. 5. 2. 5. 8.
Date: 0 3. 6. 3. 6. 9.

Prepared By: Approved By:

Supervisor /
Signature Date Safety Adviser Signature Date
Foreman

Project Name: Project No.:

Job Location And Details:

Erection of structural columns.

Act No Job Steps Hazards Identified System and Checks Needed Action By
 Prepare area for  Tripping / Falling.  Remove debris. Foreman &
work.  Heat.  Provide shade and water. Leading Hand
 Cranes.  Bunt off work area.
 EWP.
 Uneven ground.

 Prepare the  Unfamiliar operators.  Have current License to operate equipment. Foreman &
workforce for the  Injuries to workers.  Discuss their Duty of Care to each other. Workforce
responsibility and
 Inexperienced workers.  Competent people to do specific work.
work area.
 Unfamiliar with new area.  Walk area with Foreman for discussion.
 Harness to be worn when necessary.
Review Comments Revision Details
Rev Date By Initial

Act No Job Steps Hazards Identified System and Checks Needed Action By
1. List  Personnel required 
 PPE required
 Tools required
 Permits / Rigging studies
 Drawings

2. Reference  Other JSA’s 

 MSDS’s
 Manuals
 Training required

3.  
4.  
5.  
6.  
7.  
8.  
9. Revise JSA  Was JSA complied with?
 Were changes made to JSA?
 Unforeseen hazards encountered?
 Was PPE correct for work carried out?