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Article
JOB SAFETY ANALYSIS AND THE NEXT STEP
- SAFE JOB PERFORMANCE -
Copyright ©
by Randy Oglesby
The health and safety manager can use job safety
analysis to identify unsafe conditions and practices and use ergonomic principles to reduce risk of
injury. However, the issue many health and safety managers are faced with is how to get supervisors and employees to practice safe work habits once they are made aware of the value of safe work practices.
A job safety analysis procedure requires detailed investigation and listing of the working conditions to which the employee will be exposed. It should consider all the activities demanded of the individual because of the job's location and its work requirements, beginning from the time the work is started to completion of the task under analysis.
Job Safety Analysis Procedures - The Basics
1.
Identify jobs for which safe job procedures should be established by:
- Identifying jobs subject to physical exposure;
- Reviewing accident investigation reports; and
- Reviewing frequency and severity rates.
2. Prioritize jobs identified for safe job procedure analysis.
3. Schedule each job for review and establish a completion date for each review.
4. Observe every aspect of the job from beginning to end.
5. Identify all possible exposure risk.
6. If possible, eliminate or reduce exposure by equipment modification.
7. Determine the need for protective clothing or equipment where necessary.
8. Formulate safe job procedures that either eliminate or prevent risk exposure. The safety manager, immediate supervisor, and personnel manager should sign each safe job procedure.
9. Conduct training as to the source of exposure, protective equipment and clothing associated with the job.
10. Supervisors should verify that safe job procedures are being followed by observing employees in the workplace.
11. Following any major change or modification to a particular job the safe job procedure associated with that job should be reviewed and revised if necessary.
Achieving Safe Job Performance Through Observation
Health and safety managers and supervisors should learn to observe employees at work - to take time to watch how each person is performing their particular job. Unsafe acts should be corrected by explaining to the employee what unsafe behavior has been observed and the correct job procedure.
Observation Procedures
Selecting the employee
The goal is to observe every employee in the workplace so that each individual is involved and participates in the program. However, certain employees should be given priority and considered first:
1. The new employee
- Observe early to determine effectiveness of training;
- Correct mistakes before they can become habits.
2. The poor performer
- Proper observation can identify causes of poor performance (i.e., nervousness, lack of knowledge, impatience, and/or bad habits).
3. The employee who takes risks
- Correct observation will identify employees who cut corners and take chances but never seem to get injured;
- This type behavior will eventually endanger them, the product, the equipment, and fellow employees;
- They are dangerous examples to other employees if such behavior is not noticed and corrected.
4. Handicapped employees
- Observe to determine if they can perform the job properly;
- If not, they should be reassigned to another job, obtain proper medical care, or get retraining.
5. Other employees
- Capable and experienced employees should not be neglected;
- They can pick up bad habits and become careless as easily as anyone else.
Selecting the job
1. List all jobs under each supervisor
2. Prioritize as to:
- Greatest potential for injury;
- Frequency of accidents.
Scheduling
1. Schedule the job observation to make them a part of your objective - identify a target date for completion.
2. Allow 15-30 minutes observation time per job.
Two methods of conducting the observation
1. Informing the employee - he/she will probably be trying to do their best; therefore, any errors can be attributed to lack of knowledge or training.
2. Without notification - Allows for observation of normal performance. Errors observed could be a knowledge or an attitude problem.
Conduct the observation
1. Keep out of the way;
2. Don't distract the employee;
3. Give full attention to the job; and
4. Consider the following:
- Is this the correct way to perform the job?
- How does the employee's performance affect safety, productivity, and quality?
- What are the unsafe acts and behaviors and how many times do they occur during the observation period?
Review and evaluate
Review the results with supervisors and employees. Reinforce good performance. Instruct those with unsafe behaviors in the proper and safe job performance. Conduct another observation the next week. If the Job Safety Analysis has been a success, the employees will be performing their jobs correctly. If the job is still not being performed safely then proper supervision and discipline must be applied.
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