Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)

A JHA can prevent work-related injuries or illnesses by eliminating or controlling identified hazards. It is a means to ensure that workers have the training, equipment, and supplies to do their jobs safely.

It is best to involve workers who do or will do the jobs being analyzed. Observe a worker perform the job or activity at the location where it is normally done.

A JHA involves doing the following:

• Select the job/activity to be analyzed.
• Break the job/activity down into a series of tasks.
• Identify potential hazards and consequences in each task.
• Determine preventive measures to overcome these hazards.

Ideally, all jobs/activities should have a JHA. However, jobs/activities with the following conditions should be considered a high priority for analysis.

• Jobs/activities with a history of injuries or near misses
• High risk jobs/activities with potential for fire, explosion, chemical release, catastrophic equipment failure
• Simple human error that could lead to serious injury
• New worker doing the job/activity
• Jobs/activities that have changed
• Infrequently performed jobs/activities
• Any job/activity under a safety "work permit” – confined space permit, hot work permit, etc.

Break the job/activity into key tasks. Do not be too general and not be too detailed. Use the Job Hazard Analysis template form and the Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) Instructions.

Identify potential hazards in each job task. For each hazard, ask the questions:

• What can go wrong?
• What are the consequences?
• How could it happen?
• What are other contributing factors?
• How likely is it that the hazard will occur?

Identify ways to eliminate or minimize the hazards in each task. The best method is to eliminate the hazard at the source. If not possible, control the hazard with engineering controls, safe work practices and personal protective equipment (PPE), or limit worker exposure using administrative controls.

• Safety glasses/goggles/face shield
• Gloves (specify type)
• Skin protection (lab coat/Tyvek suit)
• Respiratory protection
• Fall protection
• Hearing protection
• Hard hat
• Impact shielding
• Radiation shielding

• Ensure equipment and supplies are acquired to perform the job/activity according to the JHA.
• Train workers in the procedures, controls, and PPE according to the JHA.
• Review the JHA periodically and update it when the job/activity or equipment changes. Revise JHA as needed and retrain employees on the revised JHA.
• Consult the Laboratory Safety Division to review JHAs as needed.
• Please send the Laboratory Safety Division your completed JHA so we can add it to the JHA Template section (coming soon) to help others do similar jobs safely.