Todd Jerome Jenkins, MS, CSP, SMS, CHST, STSC

Safety Aficionado & Ph.D. Student

Weekly Safety Topic – JSA BASICS

The purpose of job safety analyses (JSA) is to identify and control the hazards associated with your work. It is vital that people involved in performing the work be consulted during the planning process. Your supervisor or coworkers may ask you to perform a task while observing you. They will note the steps needed to complete the job and potential hazards. People with more experience may be able to advise on less apparent hazards.

Download the free JSA worksheet.

Read more about JSA.

After the list of steps is created, it can determine if there are any hazards associated with each step. Next, figure out what actions will reduce or eliminate the identified hazards. A supervisor can assist with assigning resources to implement engineering or administrative controls identified during the control phase of the process.

Complete the steps outlined above to create a JSA. A JSA generally consists of three parts. The first section lists the steps in work followed by the hazards of the task, and the third section outlines the controls.
When developing a JSA, it is essential to consider as many potential hazards as possible, such as lack of familiarity with the work and exposure to falls and underground or overhead powerlines.
There are other things to think about when completing a JSA. For instance, does the job require any special skills, unique training, permits, licenses, inspections, or unusual tools or equipment to do the work safely? Remember that hazards are identified so they can be controlled.

Make sure to participate in the JSA process. Everyone’s input is valuable since, especially the people that perform the work, and they are the people the JSA is intended to protect. It is a good practice to sign off on a JSA so everyone has the opportunity to review the JSA. Be sure that everyone understands how to use the safety controls listed in the JSA before it is signed. Supervisors should talk with their team to make sure everyone understands and explain anything unclear.
If the job being performed changes during the workday, it’s best to take the time needed to fill out a new JSA. This step gives everyone another chance to identify hazards and implement strategies to keep everyone safe. No one needs to get hurt at work. Use the JSA to identify and control hazards!

https://www.toddjeromejenkins.com/en-US/quiz/job-safety-analysis-basic-overview-quiz/

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *