Working in construction comes with its fair share of risks. For the most part, that’s a well-known fact. Recognizing, understanding, and proactively thinking ahead of those risks is what keeps job-sites safe, from simple drywall tasks to entire roof replacements and everything in between. Completing a job hazard analysis is the industry standard for identifying––and staying one step ahead of––risks both big and small. Bernard Urtecho, a Builders Mutual Risk Management Training Specialist, walks us through how to perform one, step by step. 

Understanding the Benefits of Job Hazard Analysis 

Before you can perform a job hazard analysis efficiently and effectively, you’ll need to get a good grasp of what you’re supposed to be accomplishing––and why. 

If you get down to the nuts and bolts of it, a job hazard analysis is just the act of breaking down a job into simple steps, enabling employers to assess risks and create safety-conscious training methods. For employers, it’s important to never assume that any worker knows how to use equipment or tools in a way that’s aligned with company policies. 

Think about it: If you asked a construction worker who taught them how to use a drill, you might get a blank stare. Or a confused “what do you mean?” At one point, they likely just picked it up and figured it out themselves. While employees might have the skills needed to perform a job, it’s imperative that employers don’t assume they know how to do it safely––or in a way that upholds an employer’s quality standards.

The full breakdown of a job hazard analysis allows employers to create a thorough, vetted training method that promotes consistency around compliance, safety, and quality standards. 

Every construction job can benefit from a job hazard analysis. Some instances where it’s especially necessary include:

  • On jobs that have a high injury, illness, or death rate
  • On jobs where the severity of injury could be catastrophic
  • When there is a high likelihood of human error
  • When somebody is new to the operation
  • On highly complex jobs that need to be broken down into small steps to feel more approachable for teams

Performing a Successful Job Hazard Analysis

Ultimately, company owners are responsible for the health and safety of employees. Yet, every construction worker shares in that responsibility the minute they clock-in for the job. Direct supervisors are often the first line of defense for training and safety, leading the charge in carrying out job hazard analysis as needed. What’s that look like? For the most part, it goes something like this:

  • Step 1) Analyze accident history: Managers will take a closer look at job-site incidents to get a better understanding of where––and how––workers are getting injured. This gives managers the opportunity to narrow their focus in order to provide proactive health and safety relief wherever it’s needed most.
  • Step 2) Rank relevant hazards: After gathering a list of high-risk jobs, managers should then rate those jobs in terms of potential injury severity. Leverage accident history logs to compare the perceived potential for injury with how past injuries have played out.
  • Step 3) Further review: After the jobs are ranked, managers will perform a preliminary job review that involves observing several people on the job. They’ll document how they see workers completing the job, noting any discrepancies across the company.
  • Step 4) Employee involvement: Once the management team has a full picture of each job and its hazards, the next best step is to turn to employees for first-hand insights. Managers can leverage their direct experience by asking them “What are the most severe hazards you face on the job?” and “What are you most afraid of happening?”
  • Step 5) Creating an outline: Once managers have gathered all of the necessary information, they should be able to outline in detail the steps of the job, while also calling out the risks for each step. For example, if they were outlining how to change a lightbulb, one step might be to get a ladder. Next to that step, the job hazard analysis would list things an employee should consider to mitigate risk, such as inspecting that ladder and ensuring rungs are in proper condition before engaging with it.

Maximizing the Effectiveness of Your Job Hazard Analysis

On construction sites, there’s a myriad of safety concerns that deserve your attention. To ensure that critical concerns don’t get overlooked, consider using an Energy Wheel. This copyrighted hazard analysis tool helps employees identify potential hazards by prompting them to consider different types of energy that could cause harm such as electrical, gravity, motion, chemical, sound, and more. Considering each energy type on its own will help you catch more risks before they result in accidents. 

As you strive to prioritize safety across tasks and jobs, Builders Mutual is here to help. Contact your Risk Management Consultant today for a free consultation and ongoing support assessing your job hazard analysis needs.