Job Safety Analysis (JSA) vs Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)

Job Safety Analysis (JSA) vs Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)

Introduction

• A Job Safety Analysis (JSA) is a safety management technique or process in which a safety professional focuses on the hazards and corresponding risks associated with a job activity in the workplace.
• A Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) is a term used by the safety professional to focus on the activity tasks to identify the associated hazards to ensure they are countered before they occur.

Job Safety Analysis is a safety management tool, in which the risks or hazards of a specific job in the workplace are identified, and then comprehensive preventive and countermeasures are taken to eliminate them.

Not limited to implementing the controls, Job Safety Analysis also dictates how to perform a task step-by-step, any hazards associated with a task, and controls to mitigate these hazards. JSAs can be used to educate employees on safe practices prior to utilizing the equipment.

Hazard & Effects Management Process (HEMP) is implemented at the task level to identify the hazards, assess the associated risk of each element of the task, and define the appropriate control measures to ensure the risk level is mitigated to the minimum reasonable level.

Risk Management

Risk Management is a process in which the hazards are identified, and their corresponding risk level is evaluated in the presence of the working environment. Once it is done, the action plan is sorted out to mitigate the risk level to minimum and prevent huge loses. The action plan is implemented and reviewed for effectiveness and corrections are made accordingly.

It is cyclic process that keeps going on over a period of time. The action plan contains the control measures to control the risk. The control measures can be different forms ranging from engineering controls, to administrative controls. 

What is Job Safety Analysis (JSA) - 4 Steps?

Job Safety Analysis is performed by a competent person with relevant skills and previous experience of conducting JSAs of relevant activities. The job safety analysis can be divided into 4 basic parts and needed to be documented for record. These 4 steps are listed below;

1. Job Selection for Analysis
2. Break down the job into sub-parts/ basic elements
3. Identify the potential hazards of each step and evaluate the risk level
4. Determine the preventive measures to mitigate the risk level and overcome these hazards

It is necessary this whole set of information should be documented for record. For this purpose a Job Safety Analysis worksheet is used to record each and every part of this JSA information. A sample worksheet is attached below. It can be modified as per need.

What is Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)?

Job Hazard Analysis is also implementation of the Hazard and Effects Management Process to identify the hazards, and evaluate the corresponding risk level so that appropriate controls can be identified and implemented.

JHA is done with the help of a team consisting of usually 3 to 5 people. The team is headed by a competent team leader with the relevant technical skills, and experience of relevant jobs. It must be remembered, if the task is simple, team can be headed by a supervisor with relevant experience, similarly, if the task is more complex or involves multiple process, the team can involve Safety Advisors, Project Managers, Environmentalists, Engineers, Finance experts as a lot of other factors are also involved. Team members depend on the process complexity.

What Circumstances Which Require Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) Implementation?

Following circumstances where Job Hazard Analysis is required to be performed and implemented by a competent team;

1. Routine task with potential of causing huge loss in terms of casualties and financial loss.
2. Routine tasks with history of accidents and near misses.
3. Recent accident at the workplace.
4. Introduction of New Task, New Employee, New Tool and Equipment etc.
5. New work methodology introduction, or change in the existing work method.
6. Routine tasks that are to be performed in unusual conditions.
7. Non-routine tasks execution.
8. Check the effectiveness of the existing work methods, control measures through the JHA.

How to Conduct Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)?

Work method needs to be conducted on the existing existing task (Under process task) or the one that is to be executed in the near future, so during planning JHA will be conducted. The Job Hazard Analysis can be performed through 3 different ways listed below;

1. Direct Observation - by looking at the process, machinery, etc.
2. Recall and Check - Remember what is the process and verify each and every element.
3. Team Consultation - JHA team members will hold discussion to discuss the activity, tools and equipment, process steps, working conditions etc.

• Job Hazard Analysis Method 1: Direct Observation

1. JHA expert will look at the work activity that is to be performed. The expert will see the hazards, their consequences if they occur, and how to control them.
2. Utilize the experience of the workers working throughout the process as they are the rich source of information and can provide the valuable evidences.
3. The influence of the environment on the work activity, workers during the work execution.

• Job Hazard Analysis Method 2: Recall & Check

JHA Expert remembers the steps of the process, uses his/her own experience and prepares a preliminary JHA of the work activity. The prepared preliminary JHA is then discussed with the team members, workers, for further correction.

• Job Hazard Analysis Method 3: Team Consultation

A team consisting of various experts involved in the work activity identify the steps of the work activity, corresponding risk level, steps to control the hazard as well consult with each other how to control these hazards. It is the responsibility of the JHA team leader to guide the discussion down to most productive path, extract maximum information from every team member so that JHA can be more comprehensive, thorough, and effective.

Recording the Job Hazard Analysis

The Job Hazard Analysis should be recorded by competent person using the Job Hazard Analysis worksheet. A sample of the JHA worksheet is provided below.

Job Hazard Analysis Process Flow Chart

Job Hazard Analysis Process flow chart is provided below to dictate how a JHA can be launched.