ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. -- One of the root causes of workplace injuries, illnesses and incidents is the failure to identify or recognize hazards which are present or could have been anticipated in the workplace.
The use of a Job Hazard Analysis not only identifies these hazards, but lists controls to mitigate them.
January is the month when supervisors should review their JHAs.
JHAs play an essential part in informing employees of the possible hazards that they will face while completing tasks supporting the processes in their respective shops.
Hazard identification and risk management play an important role in the development of these JHAs.
According to OSHA, a Job Hazard Analysis is a technique focusing on job tasks as a way to identify hazards before they occur.
It focuses on the relationship between the worker, the task, the tools and the environment.
Upon identification of uncontrolled hazards, steps are taken to eliminate or reduce these hazards to an acceptable risk level.
Hazard identification is the process of evaluating if any particular situation, process, chemical, tool, etc. may have the potential to cause harm.
Risk management is the Army's primary process for making informed risk decisions in order to reduce or offset risk, thereby increasing effectiveness and the probability of mission success. This process involves five steps. They are:
1. Hazard identification: JHAs are usually organized by listing the basic steps necessary to complete the task, then identifying any known or suspected hazards associated with that step.
2. Hazard Assessment: Upon identification of the hazard, questions of how best to remediate the hazard and protect the employee are answered.
3. Develop controls and make risk decisions: During this phase, hazard controls are identified, such as cut-resistant gloves to be used where a laceration or puncture hazard exists.
4. Implement controls
5. Supervise and evaluate: The supervisor periodically reviews and revises the JHAs, if necessary, to obtain the safest results.
JHAs are typically written by supervisors and reviewed and approved by the Safety Office.
Leaders, Safety Monitors or other employees are consulted during the process, as they are often subject matter experts.
Who better to offer insight than the individuals who deal with these hazards on a daily basis?
Employees aid in the development of JHAs by identifying hazards and recommending solutions to remediate these hazards.
Before employees begin work, they must review all applicable JHAs and sign the acknowledgement sheet for that particular process. New employees and loaned employees must likewise review the JHAs before work commences.
Supervisors, in addition to developing the JHAs, must maintain a copy for employee and inspector review.
They must also revise or edit the JHAs and review the JHAs annually to ensure that all information is accurate and relevant.
Changes, revisions or additions to existing JHAs usually result from a change of process or an injury which occurred because a hazard was not identified.
All JHAs for a particular cost center are maintained in the Supervisor's office in the Go To Resource book.
When JHAs are properly developed, used and maintained, the effect will be positive and increase workplace safety.
Social Sharing