The Basics Of Safe Job Analysis

By Author: Vikram Kumar
Total Articles: 9752
Comment this article

Safe job analysis involves evaluating the environment that you work in and determining the different kinds of hazards that exist. This is a thorough analysis and will be based on the materials that are being handled in a certain work environment and the duties that the different employees in the organization or company perform. As per the guidelines that have been set up by the U.S OSHA, employers are responsible for the safety, wellness and protection of the employees who work there. Creating a job safety analysis or a safe job analysis checklist is the best way for companies to ensure that they have evaluated the safety aspects in a workplace thoroughly.

In office environments, employers are required to evaluate the workstations that employees are using and check them for any kind of ergonomic hazards. Ergonomics is essentially the study of the manner in which various functions are carried out in a workplace. Job functions such as lifting, sitting at a desk and carrying-out computer work, all have an impact on the health of employees. This is from a safety as well as from a health aspect. Potentially, poor ergonomic ...
... conditions can cause musculoskeletal disorders in people who perform repetitive tasks in the workplace.

Employees who are seated in very awkward positions may also get affected if they sit and work there for extended periods of time. Typically, a safety observation sheet or a checklist has to made. This checklist will contain items that will evaluate the employee’s desk, chair, the lighting in the workspace as well the height of the computer. At first glance, it may seem like an office space will not be as hazardous as say, a construction site. Though that may be true to certain extent, the fact remains that office spaces have their own set of ergonomic problems and issues.

The safety observation sheet acts as a record of sorts for the organization and the employer is obligated to ensure that all ergonomic problems are set right. Most employees in a company, who work at desk jobs, will use one or the other form of equipment. In office spaces, computers, fax machines, photocopy machines and printers are used. In the construction industry, workers use heavy-machinery and in some cases, they also use hazardous chemicals. Irrespective of what the industry is, employers are required to evaluate the equipment that is being used by the employees and must ensure that it is safe to use.

For instance, electrical wiring has to be checked for defective cords and frayed wires. Heavy machinery has to be checked for locked control panels and safeguards. If vehicles are being utilized, they too will have to be inspected and it must be ensured that the tires are not worn out or damaged and that the brakes and seat belts are fully-functional. Working and walking surfaces must also be checked on construction sites as falls, trips and slips are common accidents. A safe job analysis is a basic requirement for any industry, office or space where there are employees. It is the employer’s job to ensure that once the analysis is complete; all the problems are set right.

Resource box:

Mellora can help with all your safe job analysis needs. They will also help you with chalking out a safety observation sheet for the analysis.