5 Steps to Perform a Job Safety Analysis
March 09, 2020
A job safety analysis can be conducted on many jobs in the workplace. First, analyze jobs with a high rate of injury or illness, can cause severe/disabling injury, new to the workplace, changes made to processes or require written instructions.
After recognizing the jobs in need of a job safety analysis, begin with the following five steps:
- Involve employees: Because they have a unique understanding of the job, employees can help minimize oversight, ensure a quality analysis, and get other workers to "buy in" to the solution. They will share ownership in the safety andhealth program.
- Review accident history: Review with employees the worksite history of accidents and occupational illnesses that neededtreatment, losses that required repair or replacement, and any "near misses.”
- Conduct a preliminary job review: Discuss with employees the known hazards in their current job and surroundings. Brainstorm ideas to eliminate or control those hazards.
- List, rank and set priorities for hazardous jobs: List jobs with hazards that present unacceptable risks and make them a priority for analysis.
- Outline steps or tasks: Upon beginning a job hazard analysis, watch employee complete job and list each step as the worker performs. Ensure information recorded describes each job action without becoming overly detailed. Review jobsteps with employee to make details are not omitted. Photograph or videotape employee performing the job. This may be helpful in future employee training at this job task.
For more information, including an example on steps to perform a job safety analysis, please click here. This safety brief can also be found in the Online Safety Library.