Excerpt: In the safety community there are a variety of technical terms such as JSA, JIT, OJT, and others. But today we want to discuss JSA, and what it can do for your safety program. Job Safety Analysis or JSA is simply a procedure used to review job methods and uncover hazards that may have been overlooked in the layout of the plant or building, and in the design of the machinery, equipment, tools, work stations and processes, or that may have developed after production started, or that result in changes in work procedure, or personnel. It’s one of the first steps in hazard and accident analysis and in safety training. It’s really simple. Once the hazards are known the proper solutions can be developed. Some solutions may be physical changes that eliminate or control the hazard such as placing a safe guard over exposed moving machine parts. Others may be job procedures that eliminate or minimize the hazard.

Basically a job safety analysis is not difficult to perform. You can make up your own form for your specific equipment, processes, or machinery. The basic format looks something like this:

• What To Do
  
• How To Do It
  
• Key Points

The “What To Do” section is nothing more than the steps, in sequence, of a particular job, such as using a pressurized dry chemical fire extinguisher.

• Step 1 under what to do would be to remove the extinguisher from the wall bracket.
  
  
• Step 2 carry the extinguisher to the fire.
  
  
• Step 3 remove the pin.
  
  
• Step 4 aim the extinguisher at the base of the fire.
  
  
• Step 5 squeeze the discharge lever.
  
  
• Step 6 apply the stream of extinguisher to the fire.
  
  
• Step 7 report the use of the extinguisher after the fire is, and return the extinguisher for servicing.
  
  
• Step 8 place a charged fire extinguisher on the rack to replace the discharged extinguisher.

Now for the How To part of the JSA. These are instructions for completing the “What to do” items.

• Step 1 put the left hand on the bottom lip of the extinguisher, fingers curled around the lip, palm up, right hand on the carrying handle, palm down, and fingers around carrying handle only.

The next major category on the JSA is to identify the Key Points of the operation. Remember safety is always a key point.

• Step 1 check the pressure to be sure the extinguisher is charged. Stand close to the extinguisher pulling straight out, have a firm grip to prevent dropping the extinguisher, then lowering the extinguisher as you remove the left hand from the bottom lip of the extinguisher.
  
  
• Step 2 the extinguisher should hang alongside the leg making it easier to carry and reduces the possibility of arm or back sprain.
  
  
• Step 3 hold the extinguisher steady with the left hand. Be careful not to exert pressure on the discharge lever as you remove the pin.
  
  
• Step 4 have a firm grip on the handle to steady the extinguisher.
  
  
• Step 5 work from side to side, or around the fire. After extinguishing the flames be sure all smoldering or blowing surfaces are fully extinguished.
  
  
• Step 6 when replacing the discharged extinguisher be sure not to strain your back or arm in the lifting process. Hold the extinguisher close to your body. What you have just seen is a job safety analysis worksheet.