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  Health & Safety  >  Job Safety Analysis

Job Safety Analysis

job safety analysis

Identify potential hazards in every step of the Job Safety Analysis (JSA) process and recommend the safest way to execute a job.

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Job Safety Analysis Video

What is Job Safety Analysis?

Job Safety Analysis (JSA) is a written procedure developed to understand, review, minimize, or eliminate hazards associated with work processes. A Job Safety Analysis (JSA) must be conducted at the job site before the commencement of a job, or when there has been any modification done to the existing job process. JSA can also include risk assessment to evaluate the hazard occurrence probability while also detailing the severity of its consequences, and the effectiveness of the control and preventive measures implemented.

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job safety analysis benefits

Key Benefits of Implementing Job Safety Analysis (JSA)

JSA is a written work procedure. While the written Job Safety Analysis serves as a document that can be showcased to OSHA, the Electronic Documented Records of JSA will also help the organization in many ways as it helps create a safe work environment. Simply put, job safety analysis is beneficial to the organization as it:

  • It helps identify undetected hazards.
  • Increases job knowledge of the participants.
  • Improves safety and health awareness.
  • Enhances communication between supervisors and workers.
  • Promotes better acceptance of revised safe work procedures.
  • Helps complete comprehensive incident investigations.
  • It can be used as a standard for all safety and health inspections or observations.
  • Serves as teaching material during job training or is considered a briefing guide for sporadic jobs or processes.
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There are two main methods to conduct a Job Safety Analysis (JSA). Each method has its benefits:

Observational Job Safety Analysis

Observational JSA

Observational JSA helps in recognizing and reviewing hazards as the method does not rely on individual memory.

Discussion based Job Safety Analysis

Discussion-based JSA

Discussion-based JSA between experienced workers and supervisors improves the chances of accepting the new work procedure.

Job Safety Analysis Steps

Steps to Conduct a Job Safety Analysis

Job Safety Analysis can be broken down into four stages that help perform the analysis effectively. JSA is performed in stages as it helps complete every portion of the analysis easily and document the findings meticulously. The four basic stages in conducting a job safety analysis (JSA) are:

  • While all jobs should undergo JSA, it is cumbersome and time-consuming. JSA is also necessary to be performed when there is a change or revision in equipment, process, environment, or raw materials. Hence, it is advisable to select the job for analysis in the order of priority based on the following factors:
  • Frequency and severity of accidents can help determine the starting point of the analysis
  • Potential for illness or injury that involves hazardous conditions or materials
  • New jobs that present a higher risk to workers
  • Modifications in job procedures
  • Non-routine jobs
  • Break the job down into a series of steps to better analyze the overall risk or hazard associated with each job or process. While breaking down the job, it is imperative to keep the steps in the right sequence as any faults in this stage have the potential to create a new hazard or miss a potentially serious one. In this stage, the person conducting the analysis observes a worker performing the job.
  • Examine and identify potential hazards through a series of questions. It is important to note that at this stage it is all about identifying potential hazards and not solving them. To do so, the observer can ask questions to the workers to make fair and relevant observations. During this stage, the observer must make a note of all the observations of the job, including knowledge of injury or incident and its causes, and a list of potential risks and hazards based on personal experience.
  • Determine preventive measures to remedy identified hazards.
  • Use different techniques to eliminate the hazard. The techniques can be anything from switching to a different process, substituting material with less hazardous options, modifying an existing process, implementing modifications to the work environment, replace or modify existing tools.
  • Containment is one of the preventive measures recommended if the hazard cannot be eliminated. Organizations can implement enclosures, install worker booths, or build machine guards to contain the severity of both existing and potential hazards.
  • Work procedure revision by adding additional steps or implementing modifications to steps that are hazardous can improve the safety of the work environment and protect the workers.
  • Minimize employee exposure to hazardous environments and materials to improve the severity of an accident, reduce fatalities, and promote safety. This can be achieved by implementing and training employees with preventive measures.
Employee Health and Safety

The Conclusive Guide to Employee Health and Safety for your Manufacturing Company

How to Identify Potential Hazards During Job Safety Analysis?

There are different types of hazards: biological, chemical, ergonomic, physical, psychosocial, and safety. The primary objective of hazard identification is to find and record potential hazards that affect the workplace’s safety standards. To identify the hazards at the workplace during Job Safety Analysis (JSA), follow any of these methods:

  • Walk around the workplace to identify and understand processes and activities

  • Deliberately observe certain work activities to grasp the tasks

  • Engage actively with the employees to understand their line of thought

  • Peruse previous accident records to get insight into the existing problems

  • Gather records related to absenteeism in the workplace due to the work environment

Methods for Hazard Identification in Job Safety Analyses

  • Focus on workers and processes during after-hours

  • Research manufacturer’s guidance to ensure adherence

  • Review existing operational procedures and work instructions

  • Ensure compliance with regulatory standards and guidance

  • Conduct service and maintenance for existing procedures and equipment

  • Walk around the workplace to identify and understand processes and activities

  • Deliberately observe certain work activities to grasp the tasks

  • Engage actively with the employees to understand their line of thought

  • Peruse previous accident records to get insight into the existing problems

  • Gather records related to absenteeism in the workplace due to the work environment

  • Focus on workers and processes during after hours

  • Research manufacturer’s guidance to ensure adherence

  • Review existing operational procedures and work instructions

  • Ensure compliance with regulatory standards and guidance

  • Conduct service and maintenance for existing procedures and equipment



workplace safety webinar

Are you looking for a “metrics-driven” approach to increasing employee engagement to enhance workplace safety efforts?

In this Webinar by ComplianceQuest, we highlight some of the best practices to make that happen:

workplace safety webinar
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Breakdown of the Job Safety Analysis

Before conducting a Job Safety Analysis (JSA), appropriate training is necessary to understand the task’s competency and the risk associated with the assessment. Once the supervisor has the necessary knowledge and training, Job Safety Analysis can be carried out in five steps:

  • Document the process activity, step-by-step
  • Identify hazards and potential injuries related to each task
  • Document control measures to minimize or eliminate the risk of injury
  • Delegate the responsibility to implement control measures
  • Constantly monitor and review hazards and risks
Breakdown of Job Safety Analysis
Osha Information on Job Safety Analysis

OSHA Information on Job Safety Analysis

The basic principle of JSA is to break down the work into individual tasks and analyze each task for potential safety risks or hazards. Hearing protection, fall protection, and other special types of personal protective equipment are covered under other sections of OSHA standards. OSHA requires a written certification that the hazard assessment has been performed. Job Safety Analysis also includes property damage and product quality.

Outstanding execution and solution coverage

We implemented this software where I work and have been overall happy with the outcome. After taking a day or two workings to learn the software, you’ll never want to go back to your old ways! There’s also a huge library of training videos provided with the subscription, and an easy to use ticket portal. Moving to CQ HSE was worth the effort and will pay for itself within the year, but what really matters is that we have a fully functional HSE software that can grow and evolve with the business. The mobile features and real-time data capture provides great accessibility to the HSE program for all levels of staff.

Andre Perrault,
Manager, Health Safety & Environment Altex Energy

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altex energy logo

CQ EHS to Automate the Job Safety Analysis (JSA) Process

With CQ EHS Solution, it is possible to automate and streamline the entire JSA process and make it data-driven and collaborative. The integration ensures enhanced JSA safety by identifying hazards effectively and implementing proactive measures.

With ComplianceQuest’s Safety Solution, safety teams can automate the following:

  • Identify specific tasks or processes that need a JSA process.

  • Creating SOPs and documents to complete the process or tasks by taking necessary precautions and risk control measures.

  • Issues a Permit to Work (PTW) for tasks such as hot work, cold work, electrical work, and specialized tasks that require personnel to have a specific certification or training.

  • Identify potential hazards, and document them in CQ EHS Solution’s integrated risk management module.

  • Plan risk control measures, collaborate, and allocate resources to implement these measures.

  • Conduct Management Reviews to ensure all processes or tasks that need a Job Safety Analysis (JSA) are being followed.

Overall, it is critical to follow certain best practices when it comes to JSAs. In this blog titled ‘7 Benefits of a Robust Job Safety Analysis (JSA) Process to Improve Safety Performance’, we go deeper into specific proactive measures that need to be taken.

A robust Job Safety Analysis (JSA) process is a “must have” if you’re looking to build an organization-wide safety culture and improve safety performance

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • While job safety analysis is traditionally performed by safety technicians, production leads, and production workers, front-line production workers primarily conduct JSA as they have the training and experience that is needed to conduct a successful job safety analysis.

  • Job Safety Analysis (JSA) training is an important component of workplace safety. Here are the things to remember while conducting a JSA training.

    • Explain the purpose and benefits of the training. 

    • Provide clear guidelines on conducting a JSA.

    • Conduct training sessions where employees participate. 

    • Emphasize the importance of communication and collaboration among team members. 

    • Regularly review and update training materials to stay current with industry regulations.

  • Job safety analysis is a tried and true method that helps identify and reduce the risks associated with workplace hazards. Job Safety Analysis must be conducted across all work processes. However, practical constraints such as time and effort restrict the jobs that get prioritized for JSA. JSA should be carried out when:

    • The potential for injury or illness is high.

    • A human error could result in severe injury or accident.

    • There is a need to interact with multiple people or systems.

    • The job is complex and difficult to perform without written instruction.

    • Any tasks have safety concerns.

    • New jobs or existing jobs have undergone any procedural or process changes.

    • New jobs or existing jobs have undergone any procedural or process changes.

    • New tools or machinery are introduced.

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