University of Minnesota Duluth

Introduction toJob Hazard Analysis

Assessing Risk &

Eliminating Hazards

Prepared by: Mahjoub Labyad, MISEnvironmental Health and Safety Office

218-726-7273

IntroductionIntroduction

All workers are entitled to a safe and healthy work environments. (OSH Act of 1970)

The general public is also entitled to a safe, clean, and healthy living environment. Environmental Regulations (RCRA, Clean Air, Clean Water Acts)

Requirement

OSHA Standards 29 CFR 1910.132 & 1910.138 require employers to complete job hazard assessments (JHAs) for the tasks their employees perform. Under this standard, employers are required to certify in writing that they have assessed the work place to determine if hazards, are present or likely to be present, that would require installation of engineering controls, personal protective equipment (PPE), or that would necessitate medical monitoring, or other requirements such as fit testing for respirator use, and vaccines etc.

How to achieve a safe workplace

Conducting a Risk Assessment in the workplace(laboratory, shop, studio, etc) is the first step toward ensuring that workers and visitors (including students) are provided a healthy and safe working environment free from recognized hazards.

A thorough Risk Assessment will also ensure a safe external (outside the workplace) environment. (Grain silos, Hazmat, Infectious..)

What is Risk

The probability, or likelihood that an adverse event will occur during which:

A worker will be harmed or experience an adverse health effect when exposed to a hazard, or

an organization (employer) will sustain property damage, equipment loss, and therefore an economical setback.

[Risk is the Chance of Loss!]

What is Risk Assessment

Risk assessment is any planned action taken to identify hazards or hazardous conditions andto measure the chance that something will happen because of the identified hazard

Risk assessment is the process where you: 1. identify hazards, 2. analyze or evaluate the risk associated with

that hazard, and 3. determine appropriate ways to eliminate or

control the hazard.

What is a Job Hazard Analysis?

A technique to identify hazards, and prevents accidents before they occur.

It focuses on the relationship between the worker, the task, the tools, the work environment and resulting consequences.

When all uncontrolled hazards and resulting effects/harm are identified, safe SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) summarizing steps to be taken to eliminate/reduce hazards to an acceptable risk level will be implemented.

In General

A Job Hazard Analysis is an important

incident prevention tool that works by

finding hazards and eliminating or

minimizing them before the job is

performed.

What is a Hazard?

• Any source with the potential to cause damage, harm, or adverse (health) effects on something or someone under certain conditions at work.

• The adverse effect or harm is caused to individuals as (health effects), or to organizations as (property damage, or equipment loss).

A hazard is the potential for harm!

Hazard Types • Biological - bacteria, viruses, insects, plants,

birds, animals, and humans, etc.,

• Chemical - depends on the physical, chemical and toxic properties of the chemical.

• Ergonomic - repetitive movements, improper set up of workstation, etc.,

• Physical - radiation, magnetic fields, pressure extremes (high pressure or vacuum), noise, etc,

• Psychosocial - stress, violence, etc.,

• Safety - slipping/tripping hazards, lack of machine guarding, equipment malfunctions or breakdowns

Examples of Hazards and Their EffectsWorkplace

Hazard SourceHazard

Examples of theHarm Caused

Equipment Needle/Knife/Blade Needle stick/Cuts

Substance Benzene Cancer: Leukemia

Material Asbestos Cancer: Mesothelioma

Energy Electricity Shock, electrocution

Condition Wet floor Slips, falls

Process/Practice

WeldingHarmful fumes, loud noises

fire, glaring light..

Metal fume fever Fire

Practice/ProcessRock mining/sand

blasting/SiliconCancer/ Silicosis

Human Bacteria Tuberculosis (TB)

Cigarette SmokeLung cancer/

Emphysema

Other Examples of Hazards

• Noise levels (>85 dBA 8 hr TWA) that result in hearing damage or inability to communicate safety-critical information.

• Struck By Accelerated object that strikes the body causing injury or death. (Examples are falling objects and Accelerated projectiles.)

• Fire Harm to individuals, or Damage to property

How to identify hazards?

• What can go wrong?

• What are the consequences?

• How likely is it that harm will occur?

• Where it is happening (environment)?

• Who or what it is happening to (exposure)?

• What precipitates the hazard (triggers)?

• Are there other contributing factors?

How are Appropriate Preventive Measures Determined?

Eliminating the hazard : Through engineering controls, such as increasing ventilation Product substitution, or (using les toxic materials) Changing equipment or tools.

Containing the hazard Separating the employee from the hazard with enclosures, guards,

booths, etc.

Administrative measures Revising work procedures, (changing the sequence of steps or

adding steps, such as lockout/ tagout). Retraining employees Hazard Assessment

Choosing Adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (This is the least effective control measure, and should be used only if

other solutions are not possible)

Job Hazard Analysis

Further Information on Job Hazard Analysis may be obtained from Occupational Safety

and Health Administration (OSHA) Booklet

with the same title “Job Hazard Analysis”

http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3071.pdf