What is Job Safety Analysis (JSA) ?

Job Safety Analysis (JSA) is structural approach for hazard and risk potential identification in a job and gives corrective action steps.

The purpose of Job Safety Analysis is to provide a systematic and documented method of identifying  hazards,  selecting  control  measures  and  establishing  healthy  and  safe and environmentally  responsible  methods.

 JSA Methodology :

1. Hazard Potential, Some tasks have a recognizable hazard potential greater than activities generally conducted at the site/workplace. For example dual cranes lift, spray painting within close vicinity of hot-work, etc.
2. Consequence of Failure, A work method failure during the execution of some tasks may result in unacceptably damaging consequences. For instance high pressure pneumatic testing of pipe lines.
3. Accident History, Any task associated with a poor accident record.
4. Changed Work Methods, Repetitive tasks which are the subject of proposed change to the work method procedures.

JSA Procedure :

1. At the planning stage the project in-charge with the assistance of the safety personnel identifies the critical tasks to be analyzed.
2. A  team  leader  will  then  be  appointed  for  each  task  to  be  analyzed.  He  must  be technically competent and thoroughly familiar about the task.
3. Other members in the JSA team include the safety personnel for the project, supervisor, charge-man and others who involve in the task. At times, client representative will also be invited to join in.
4. At the JSA meeting, the tasks are broke into a series of logical steps and listed in their normal order of occurrence.
5. Each logical step is then thoroughly reviewed and all potential hazards associated with the step identified. In doing so the JSA team should consider: Personnel, Equipment, Movement of personnel or equipment ,  Environment effects- air, water or soil contamination
6. Having  identified  the  potential  hazards,  action  to  be  taken  will  then  map  out  for implementation. Generally, action will be formulated along the following guides:  Substitution ( Where  hazardous  materials  have  been  identified  as  a  hazard  then  the preferred option is to replace the material with a less hazardous one), Engineering (The removal of the potential hazards by re-engineering the job is a preferred option.This, for example may involve such action as re-designing pipe-work/equipment or configuring a crane.), Ventilation (Natural or forced ventilation may be used to control airborne hazards.), Administrative Control (The  application  of  administrative  control  to  hazards  may  include  such  actions  as limiting  the  time  of  exposure,  rotating  of  personnel,  restricting  unauthorized  entry, etc.), Personal Protective Equipment (The  provision  of  appropriate  PPE  does  not  eliminate  the  hazards,  but  only  shield those  exposed  from  it.  Such  action  will  have  to  be  coupled  with  training  in  the correct use of the equipment.)
7. Front  line  supervisor  shall  use  the form  as  a  briefing  note  while  carrying  out  pre-job briefing to all involved in the task.