Job Hazard Assessment (JHA)
A JHA is a careful analysis of potential hazards associated with a particular task (such as operating a backhoe or a lathe), or an entire jobsite. The JHA breaks the tasks into separate steps, examining each one for ways in which an employee could be hurt and/or property could be damaged.
Ideally, there should be a JHA for every job that is part of a construction project. However, that could require an unreasonable investment of time and energy.
In choosing which jobs call for JHA's, use the following priorities.
1. Any job that is associated with frequent accidents/incidents.
2. Any job that has produced injuries leaving anyone disabled.
3. Any job that has the potential for serious injury.
4. New (or recently changed) jobs.
5. Jobs that are seldom performed (shutdown).
In choosing which jobs call for JHA's, use the following priorities.
1. Any job that is associated with frequent accidents/incidents.
2. Any job that has produced injuries leaving anyone disabled.
3. Any job that has the potential for serious injury.
4. New (or recently changed) jobs.
5. Jobs that are seldom performed (shutdown).
Over time these analyses will be done for every job, since there is usually a lot of carry-over from one jobsite to the next.
To perform a job hazard analysis:
1. Begin by looking carefully at how the equipment is designed. For example, will there be special problems in very hot or very cold weather, or tall/short operators?
2. Carefully observe someone doing the job as they normally would. List each of the basic steps (6 or more) involved in the task.
3. Identify the potential risks or hazard associated with each basic step. Think about as many aspects of the job as possible: mechanics, electricity, temperatures, pressures, leaks, explosives, noise, direction of movement, impacts, pinch points, stability of equipment, etc.
4. For each potential problem, write down what should be done to prevent or minimize a problem from occurring. Indicate what the employee should do, things to look for, positions to take, movements to make as well as equipment maintenance repair, or housekeeping. Give very specific instructions, listing what to do and how to do it, rather than general statements like "use caution."
5. Check the list with employees who have done the task many times, to be sure that all steps are included and all potential hazards identified.
6. Follow-up on the analysis with those involved in the task to see that corrective actions are taken and to evaluate the effectiveness of the actions.
1. Begin by looking carefully at how the equipment is designed. For example, will there be special problems in very hot or very cold weather, or tall/short operators?
2. Carefully observe someone doing the job as they normally would. List each of the basic steps (6 or more) involved in the task.
3. Identify the potential risks or hazard associated with each basic step. Think about as many aspects of the job as possible: mechanics, electricity, temperatures, pressures, leaks, explosives, noise, direction of movement, impacts, pinch points, stability of equipment, etc.
4. For each potential problem, write down what should be done to prevent or minimize a problem from occurring. Indicate what the employee should do, things to look for, positions to take, movements to make as well as equipment maintenance repair, or housekeeping. Give very specific instructions, listing what to do and how to do it, rather than general statements like "use caution."
5. Check the list with employees who have done the task many times, to be sure that all steps are included and all potential hazards identified.
6. Follow-up on the analysis with those involved in the task to see that corrective actions are taken and to evaluate the effectiveness of the actions.