Job related injuries and fatalities are happening every day in the workplace. Often, these injuries occur because employees have not been trained in the proper and safe way to do the job. One way to prevent injuries in the workplace is to establish the proper job procedures and train all employees in safer work methods.
The first step in developing safe job procedures is to complete a job hazard analysis. This is a technique that focuses on tasks involved in the job to identify any potential hazards before an accident occurs. This analysis focuses on the relationship between:
- the worker
- the task
- the tools
- the work environment.
Once the hazards are identified, the goal is to determine the best way to do the job while reducing or eliminating these hazards. Improving the methods of getting the job done reduces absenteeism, workers’ compensation, and can often lead to increased productivity.
A job hazard analysis can form the foundation of an employee training and safety program. It helps management identify, eliminate hazards, and prevent accidents in the workplace. Any identified hazards must have management’s follow-through or their credibility will be damaged.
Priority for hazard analysis should go to the following types of jobs:
- Jobs with the highest injury or illness rates
- Jobs that have the potential for causing severe or disabling injuries or illness, even if there is no current accident history
- Jobs in which one simple human error could result in severe accident or injury
- Jobs that are new to the business or ones that have undergone changes in procedures
- Jobs that are complex enough to require written instructions
- Jobs that involve hazardous materials
- Jobs that involve hazardous energy sources
- Jobs that involve the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
Completion of an effective Job Hazard Analysis requires the following steps:
- Involve the employees that work in the area and are familiar with the tasks
- Their knowledge helps avoid oversights
- This gives employees an ownership in the solutions
- Review the accident history
- Do accidents happen at certain times?
- What are the circumstances of accidents?
- Conduct preliminary job review
- Discuss job hazards with affected employees
- Make a list of jobs with hazards, rank them and set priorities
- Jobs with the most serious hazards should be first priority
- Outline the steps involved in each task
- Review hazards and recommended solutions
The overall goal of a Job Hazard Analysis is to prevent injuries and illnesses, reduce property damage, supplement existing safety requirements and improve employee training in safe completion of existing, modified, or new tasks.
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