A job safety analysis can be performed for all jobs in the workplace, whether the job task is particular (non-routine) or routine. Even one-step jobs such as those in which only a button is pressed can and perhaps should be analyzed by evaluating surrounding work conditions.
To determine which jobs should be analyzed first, review your job injury and illness reports. Obviously, a job safety analysis should be conducted first for jobs with the highest rates of disabling injuries and illnesses.
Also, jobs, where close calls or near misses have occurred, should be given priority. Analyses of new jobs and jobs where changes have been made in processes and procedures should follow. Eventually, a job safety analysis should be conducted and made available to employees for all jobs in the workplace.
Once you have selected a job for analysis, discuss the procedure with the employee performing the job and explain its purpose. Point out that you are studying the job itself, not checking on the employee’s job performance. Involve the employee in all phases of the analysis from reviewing the job steps and procedures to discussing potential hazards and recommended solutions. You also should talk to other workers who have performed the same job.
Before actually beginning the job safety analysis, take a look at the general conditions under which the job is performed and develop a checklist. Below are some sample questions you might ask.
Naturally, this list is by no means complete because each worksite has its own requirements and environmental conditions. You should add your own questions to the list. You also might take photographs of the workplace, if appropriate, for use in making a more detailed analysis of the work environment.
Nearly every job can be broken down into job tasks or steps. In the first part of the job safety analysis, list each step of the job in order of occurrence as you watch the employee performing the job.
Be sure to record enough information to describe each job action, but do not make the breakdown too detailed. Later, go over the job steps with the employee.
Figure 1 shows a worker performing the basic job steps for grinding iron castings.