Handout
JOB HAZARD ASSESSMENT VS SAFE WORK PROCEDURES
WHAT’S AT STAKE? stages on a timeline. JHA is the Process, and the
Safe Work Procedure is the outcome.
A Safe Work Procedure (SWP) is a document that is
used to capture all of the information related to the WHAT’S THE DANGER?
safe execution of the task. The SWP includes
information such as the name of the task, hazards Safe work procedures are based on a task analysis
associated with the task, personal protective which breaks down the job into specific steps and
equipment required, training required, references the conduct of a risk assessment on each of the
to regulatory requirements, and identifies the steps to identify hazards, assess the level of risk and
person (typically a Chairperson or manager) who determine suitable control strategies. This
has approved the procedure. They are an excellent information is then included in the operating
tool for training and refreshing workers on the instructions provided to the employee and utilised
proper way to carry out the task. SWPs must be both in training and competency assessments.
current within three years, accessible to workers at
all times, and amended when necessary. Where to start?
The Job Safety Analysis is the act of getting a group 1. Identify tasks that require safe work
of qualified individuals (supervisors, senior procedures
employees, safety personnel) together to:
2. Develop safe work procedures for tasks that
1. Observe a task being performed. are likely to harm your workers if any risks are
not addressed. Many tasks are unlikely to
2. Identify the potential hazards for each step in expose your workers to risks, so documented
the task. safe work procedures are unnecessary.
3. Assess the risk potential and severity of each 3. Do a thorough inspection of the workplace and
hazard. a complete review of all work tasks? Perhaps
you have overlooked risks associated with:
4. Brainstorm appropriate controls according to
the risk levels identified. handling chemicals
The JHA development team should then take the lifting and moving objects
information gathered from conducting the Job
Hazard Analysis (or Analyses), and write an official working at heights
Safe Work Procedure. This Safe Work Procedure
will in all likelihood be an exact copy of the latest slips, trips and falls
iteration of the JHA. It is the document that should
housekeeping
be approved by senior management and circulated
among the workers. It is the roadmap for
electrical equipment.
performing a task safely. It remains unchanged
until a subsequent JHA (which should be
4. Speak with your workers about the tasks they
conducted regularly) identifies a new hazard or
perform and identify those tasks that could
comes up with a better control.
place them at risk. Consider the aspects of each
task that expose them to risk and determine
Overview:
the likely consequences if the risks are not
managed. This is known as risk assessment.
The Difference between Job Hazard Assessment
& Safe Work Procedures
5. Prioritize the tasks that require safe work
procedures
They are the same thing, but represent different
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Handout
6. Develop safe work procedures for the tasks understand, the more likely your workers will
that present the greatest risk and pose the follow them. List all the control measures you
most serious consequences, and gradually have identified, as a series of steps set out in
work through those that present less risk. the sequence they need to be used.
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF Distribute the safe work procedures for
review – have your experienced workers
Four basic stages in conducting a JSA are: review the safe work procedures and make
amendments as appropriate.
selecting the job to be analyzed
- Proper implementation of safe work
breaking the job down into a sequence of steps procedures involves training and
supervision.
identifying potential hazards
- Your workers must be trained to do their
determining preventive measures to overcome work tasks safely and must demonstrate an
these hazards ability to follow the safe work procedures.
Simply reading the documented procedure
Develop safe work procedures as follows:
is not enough and you must ensure that
the safe work procedures are followed at
Involve your workers – they are more likely to
all times. Discipline your workers when safe
follow a safe work procedure if they have been
work procedures are not followed.
involved in its development, and they will often
know the best and safest way to perform a task.
- Review your safe work procedures when
Involve those workers who are experienced in there is a change to your workplace, or
performing the tasks.
after an injury or near miss associated with
the task. As a general rule, do a periodic
Identify the elements of each task and the
review of all your safe work procedures to
associated risks – grocery shopping involves
ensure they are current and effective.
preparing shopping list, driving to shop and
Involve your workers in this review.
parking, obtaining trolley and pushing to
shelves, lifting items from shelves, placing
Procedures:
shopping on checkout, placing bags back in
trolley, loading boot, driving back to house, 1) Safety Office will coordinate with the
unloading boot and carrying to house and manager/supervisor to complete a job hazard
packing shelves. analysis and risk assessment.
Identify the hazards and risks that each of 2) Manager/supervisor will provide necessary
these activities pose to those performing resources (manager's/employee's time and
the task. Are there any risks of manual space) to complete the analysis/assessment.
handling injuries from lifting and stacking? Is
there the potential for vehicle accident, slips 3) Safety Office will retain record of the safe work
and trips etc? procedures and the safe work procedures are
reviewed with the
Control the risks – once the hazards and their manager/supervisor/employee.
associated risks have been identified and
assessed, decide how to control them. 4) Manager/supervisor will provide training to
Consider the most effective way of minimizing employees in the safe work procedures and
the risk of harm. Can the shopping be done in document the training. The Safety Office will be
smaller loads, is an assistant required, can a available for assistance if required.
trolley be used to carry the shopping from the
car to the house? 5) Manager/supervisor will ensure that the
completed safe work procedures are followed,
Document your safe work procedures – the and are added to the job inventory for training
easier your safe work procedures are to new employees.
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Handout
Record Keeping:
The Safety Office and manager/supervisor will keep
all records for 5 years from date of
implementation/training the following:
1) Completed Job / Task / Hazard Analysis /
Assessment Forms
2) Completed Safe Work Procedures
3) Training documentation
FINAL WORD
Ideally, all jobs should be subjected to a JSA. In
some cases there are practical constraints posed by
the amount of time and effort required to do a JSA.
Another consideration is that each JSA will require
revision whenever equipment, raw materials,
processes, or the environment change.
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Handout
QUIZ
1. The four basic stages in conducting a JHA WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
include selecting the job to be analyzed,
breaking the job down into a sequence of You have participated in the Company´s Safe Work
steps, identifying potential hazards and Procedure (SWP) for the past 10 years at your
determining preventives measures to company. The new manager coming on board does
overcome these hazards. not want to initiate a review of the (SWP) despite
the pact the SWP now has had no update for 3
o True years. You understand that a renewal of the SWP is
o False fundamental to the safety of yourself and co-
workers.
2. Risk assessment must be conducted in close
contact and cooperation with workers What would you do?
performing specific tasks.
____________________________
o True ____________________________
o False ____________________________
3. Training and supervision to implement
____________________________
proper safe work procedures should be ____________________________
optimally conducted in slow or down-times ____________________________
in the business cycle so as to minimize loss ____________________________
of productivity. ____________________________
o True
____________________________
o False ____________________________
____________________________
4. A JHA is a one-time process that does not ____________________________
have to conduct on a regular basis except in
____________________________
times of an emergency.
____________________________
o True ____________________________
o False ____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
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____________________________
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For Leaders
BEFORE THE TALK - TIPS AFTER THE TALK- CHECKLIST
Before the Meeting Preparation Tips PROVIDED FOLLOW-UP TO WORKERS THAT DID
Pass around the attendance sheets.
POORLY ON THE QUIZ
Be prepared to discuss:
NAME: _______________________________________________
Safe work practices and polices passed around
_______________________________________________________
pertaining to Job Hazard Assessment and Safe
DATE: ________________________________________________
Work Procedures protocols and programs
industry - wide and at your location.
OBSERVED WORKERS
Proper reporting procedures relating to
TASK(S): ______________________________________________
accidents, injuries, illnesses, fatalities, near
_______________________________________________________
misses/close calls, hazards and concerns at your
DATE: _________________________________________________
location.
Other: REFRESHER TRAINING
TOPIC(S): _____________________________________________
Lead a discussion with participants about the _______________________________________________________
differences and similarities of the JHA and SWP DATE: _________________________________________________
and why it is important to conduct accurate risk
assessments in the jobsite. OTHER (DESCRIBE): _________________________________
Bring to the meeting, an employee or co-worker MEETING DATE: ______________________________________
who has been involved in the company´s LOCATION: ___________________________________________
previous JHA and SWP and lead a discussion
with this employee of the importance of
employee “buy-in” of a robust JHA and SWP.
Conduct a “walk-around” the jobsite before the
safety talk meeting to get a first-hand look at
the company´s safety regimen.
NOTES
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ANSWERS:
1. True 3. False
2. True 4. False
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For Leaders
ATTENDANCE
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INSTRUCTOR: ____________________________________ DATE: _____________________________
______________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________
SAFETY TALK: _________________________________________________________________________
______________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________
______________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________
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