Comprehensive Guide: 5 Steps for Job Safety Analysis

Every effective safety management program starts with identifying and addressing workplace hazards before incidents occur. Ideally, an organization will want to conduct a job safety analysis (JSA)—also known as a job hazard analysis (JHA)—for every task performed by field teams. 

Because safety managers and supervisors have limited time to analyze all specific tasks associated with the job, it is important to prioritize. Implementing a systematic process helps prevent workplace injuries, lowers operational costs, and ensures compliance with occupational health and safety standards. 

Follow these 5 steps of a job safety analysis to ensure a safer work environment. 

Step 1: Choose a Job to Analyze for Job Safety Analysis

The first phase of an effective job hazard analysis is to identify which jobs require immediate review. Safety managers should prioritize non-routine jobs, infrequently performed jobs, or newly established jobs that may introduce hazards.

When evaluating field operations, prioritize assignments according to the following criteria:

• Jobs with the highest injury or illness rates
• Jobs with the potential to cause severe or disabling injuries or illness, even if there is no history of previous accidents
• Jobs in which one simple human error could lead to a severe accident or injury
• Jobs that are new to your operation or have undergone changes in processes and procedures
• Jobs complex enough to require written instructions

Step 2: Break the Job Down Into Specific Tasks

Once leadership has selected a job, the next phase is to break the job into consecutive steps. An excellent way to gather this information is by watching a worker perform the job in its natural environment. Observing an experienced worker do the job helps keep the steps in their correct sequence.

For example, a standard technical service visit might involve:

• Preparing for the job
• Turning on the device
• Performing the task
• Shutting down the machine
• Completing any necessary cleanup

Doing this sort of breakdown and analysis may seem time-consuming, but because each step requires different safety measures and personal protective equipment (PPE), it is vital to paint a detailed picture of what hazards could be present during a job.

Step 3: Identify Workplace Hazards and Risks

Now we come to the core focus of conducting a JHA—determining the potential hazards associated with the job. Once you have broken down the work into individual steps, you can more easily see the risk present in each task. 

As you proceed through the sequence of tasks, the safety manager and the field team should address the following questions: 

• What type of hazard poses a threat to the employee (e.g., ergonomic strains from lifting heavy equipment, exposure, or slips)? 
• What is the severity of an incident if it occurs? 
• How probable is this hazard during daily operations? 

The answers to these questions can vary depending on the potential hazards and work environments associated with a job. Consulting with employees who regularly complete a job is a solid way to properly identify hazards, as well as using established checklists and resources from digital safety solutions.

Step 4: Develop Control Measures and Preventative Controls

Reducing risk and preventing incidents on a job comes down to taking proper preventative measures. While types of prevention depend on the potential hazards, they can generally be broken down into five categories:

• Elimination: Physically remove the hazard from the environment.
• Substitution: Replace the hazard with a safer option.
• Engineering controls: Isolate your team from the hazard.
• Administration controls: Change the way people work to avoid the hazard.
• PPE: Protect your team with personal protective equipment.

Step 5: Document and Share Job Hazard Analysis Reports

Once the analysis is completed, the related JHA reports must be documented and made available to all relevant employees. Every worker performing that job needs to be aware of the associated hazards and the specific control measures that will help keep them safe.

Digital safety solutions make it easy to distribute these reports to on-site teams instantly. When an employee is training for a particular role, the related JSAs should be provided directly to their mobile devices. This ensures proper hazard visibility, enhances team communication, and provides clear tracking for future incident investigations. 

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Streamline Safety Documentation With GoCanvas 

Looking for a safety solution that covers every step of an effective job safety analysis? GoCanvas Compliance & Safety includes pre-built digital forms so you can collect accurate and complete information for every job. Established PPE checklists, environment photo capture, and hazard analysis tables mean you get the vital details every time, so you can focus on taking the appropriate actions to keep your team safe.

Ready to revolutionize your job safety analysis process? Schedule a free demo with GoCanvas today and see how our tools can streamline your workflow.