A Job Hazard Analysis, or JHA, is a way to carefully study a job before it starts. The purpose of a job hazard analysis is to find hazards before they cause injuries.
Every job has steps, tools, and a specific work environment. A JHA looks at how these things fit together and identifies where the risks are in the job.
The goal of a JHA is simple: identify hazards and then eliminate them or reduce them to a safe level. By identifying hazards ahead of time, the job can be done safely instead of reacting after something goes wrong.
A job hazard analysis is especially important for jobs that have the potential to cause severe injuries or illness or could result in a severe accident from a single human error. Projects that are new or have undergone changes in the procedures or are complex enough to require written instructions should also have a job hazard analysis.
Hazards are rarely caused by one single thing. Usually, several smaller issues line up to create the risk. The job hazard analysis helps to spot those factors and prevent them from combining into an accident.
A job hazard analysis is an exercise in detective work. When you are creating a job hazard analysis you are looking to answer questions like What can go wrong? Where and how could it go wrong? and Who or what is at risk if it does go wrong? Writing down the answers to these questions on a job hazard analysis ensures that everyone on the crew is aware of the same hazards and knows the safe plan for each construction task.
After hazards are identified, the next step is choosing how to control them if they can’t be eliminated. Not all hazard controls are equal. Some are more effective than others at reducing the risk. Most jobs require a combination of hazard controls to reduce or eliminate the risks.
Engineering controls are the strongest and most effective changes you can make because they physically change the jobsite or the equipment. Examples of engineering controls include machine guards, guardrails, toeboards, dust collection systems, tool lanyards, trench boxes, and protective enclosures.
Administrative controls change how the job is performed. Examples of administrative controls include written safe work procedures, limiting exposure time, signs or alarms, using the buddy system, and training on safe work practices.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is worn by the worker as a final layer of protection. Examples of personal protective equipment, or PPE, include safety glasses, hearing protection, gloves, hardhats, and steel-toe boots. PPE is important, but it should never be the only protection.
A job hazard analysis is not just for supervisors or safety managers. Workers play a key role because they know the job best.
On the job, workers have several important responsibilities that support the job hazard analysis. They help identify hazards that will be documented, report unsafe conditions or near misses, and follow the safe work steps listed in the analysis. Workers are also expected to use tools and equipment correctly and wear the assigned personal protective equipment to ensure both their own safety and the safety of their crew.
Workers should speak up if something seems unsafe. A job hazard analysis is only useful if it reflects the real conditions on the job. If the task changes, or if hazards are missed, it’s important to let someone know.
By actively participating, workers protect themselves and their coworkers. Safety is a team effort, and the job hazard analysis only works when everyone is involved.
A JHA is not a “one and done” document. Jobs, tools, and work environments change over time. Even if a job stays the same, new hazards may be discovered during reviews.
The goal is continuous improvement. By regularly reviewing the job hazard analysis and listening to worker feedback, construction crews can stay ahead of the hazards.
Updating the job hazard analysis ensures that it stays current and useful. It should be reviewed on a regular schedule, whenever a job changes, after an accident, injury, or near miss, and when new equipment or materials are introduced. Reviews are also important when workers raise new safety concerns, or before starting seasonal or infrequent tasks.
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