What is a JSA Template?
A Job Safety Analysis (JSA) template or a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) form is an essential tool for evaluating high-risk tasks by breaking them down into individual steps. This process involves identifying potential hazards associated with each step and determining preventive measures to mitigate these risks. Supervisors and employees work together in accomplishing JSA templates to ensure that both have a good understanding of the hazards and come up with safety controls.
Importance of JSA Analysis
A JSA is important because it increases job knowledge, establishes teamwork, serves as a health and safety standard and teaching aid, and supports accident investigations at work. Dangerous jobs benefit the most from a JSA because it can reduce or eliminate hazards that cause serious injuries or fatalities.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ recent workplace fatality census, the following are examples of the most dangerous jobs in the US that would benefit significantly from a JSA process:
- Logging workers
- Fishers and hunting workers
- Roofers
- Aircraft pilots and flight engineers
- Structural iron and steelworkers
- Driver/sales workers and truck drivers
- Refuse and recyclable material collectors
- Underground mining machine operators
These jobs require rigorous safety analyses to ensure the employees’ health and safety in the workplace. Regulatory bodies such as OSHA have outlined JHA or JSA guidelines for conducting in this document. As one of the tools used for hazard assessments, regularly performing a job safety analysis can help proactively ensure compliance with OSHA standard 1910.132:
With these in mind, complying with workplace safety standards can be helped by using a JSA checklist or template. This tool can standardize the way safety assessments are conducted, control measures are recommended, and JSA results are documented.
What to Include in a JSA Template
An effective JSA template should be able to outline and detail from basic job tasks, to identifying hazards carefully and implementing control measures., Here are some of the most important items that should be included in your JSA Template :
- Job task being assessed – The supervisor or safety officer will describe the details of the job and identify the workers observed during the analysis. This should break down the job into individual steps or tasks, detailing what is done at each stage.
- Potential Hazards Identification – The observer will determine the potential hazard for each task being performed. These hazards include physical, chemical, environmental, or ergonomic hazards.
- Control Measures – Outline specific measures to eliminate or reduce risks, such as engineering controls, administrative changes, or personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Recommendations – Recommendations on how each task can be accomplished safely will be recorded on the JSA and submitted for review and implementation.
A completed JSA template can be exported and sent to relevant stakeholders. This allows for businesses to document every inspection/audit and ensure that they stay compliant to safety regulations;
How to Conduct a Job Safety Analysis Using a Template
A JSA template is used when performing a JSA procedure and is used to generate a safety and recommendation report. These four key steps can help you get started with performing a more effective analysis:
1. Choose the right job.
Start looking at a job that has a high accident frequency and severity, which results in serious injuries. Consider factors when deciding what jobs you need to conduct a JSA analysis, such as jobs that have high exposure to hazardous and harmful products
2. Break a job into steps.
Don’t be too general yet not too detailed during this part of the analysis. As a rule of thumb, there should be at least 10 steps, depending on the complexity of the job. Describe each step by detailing and simplifying with verbs or action words.
It can also help to make notes about “what is done,” not “how it is done” when observing how jobs are performed during normal times and situations.
3. Identify potential hazards.
When identifying hazards, the key is to ask the right questions:
- Is the worker at risk of falling, slipping, and tripping?
- Is the worker exposed to extreme temperatures?
- Is the worker at risk of getting caught between objects?
- Is the worker exposed to explosive and combustible materials?
- Is the worker at risk of electrocution?
4. Set preventive measures.
Eliminate the hazards by using a different process, modifying an existing one, improving the environment, changing tools, or reorganizing work procedures. Using machine guards, enclosures, workers’ booths, or similar devices can also be done to contain certain hazards if they’re impossible to eliminate. After conducting a JSA, ensure continuous safety training and other initiatives by considering discussing safety topics regularly.
Job Safety Analysis Example
Writing a job safety analysis with the help of a free JSA template can seem challenging at first. With continuous practice, though, workers can master breaking down their job tasks, identifying hazards, and implementing controls. To guide you, below is an example of a completed Job Safety Hazard analysis:
FAQs About JSA Templates
How often should JSA templates be reviewed or updated?
How can JSA templates contribute to a company's safety culture?
What is the difference between a risk assessment and a job safety analysis?
SafetyCulture Content Team