Hazard Assessment and Job Hazard Analysis (THA, JHA, JSA)
SDS has developed effective Hazard Management Programs for some of the largest employers in Alberta.
These programs have allowed employers to proactively identify people, equipment, material, environmental and process factors that could potentially cause harm to individuals, business, and the community.
In short, a hazard is any situation, condition, or item that may be dangerous to the safety or health of workers. In other words, it’s “an accident waiting to happen”. Hazard Assessments are an essential component in a Health and Safety Management System in order to identify, evaluate, prioritize, and minimize hazards. Hazard Assessments are also required by law under the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code.
Under the OHS code, an employer must be able to demonstrate that all existing and potential hazards have been identified. For every hazardous condition identified, recommendations should be made to eliminate or control it. The recommendations should include the specific actions required to correct the problem. Appropriate documentation of Hazard Assessments is important to prove they have been conducted.
In addition to developing Risk Hazard Management Programs, SDS has experienced HSE advisors who conduct field level Hazard Assessments at work locations. These are particularly important for sites where the activities and conditions change frequently, such as construction sites. In fact, the construction industry has the highest rate of injury of all the industries in Alberta. Many construction companies use HSE professionals on an ongoing basis to show due diligence and prevent injuries.
A Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) also known as Job Safety Analysis (JSA) is a different tool than Hazard assessments but with the same intent to work safely. A JHA is a procedure which integrates safety and health principles and practices into a particular task or job operation. In a JHA, each step of the job is examined to identify potential hazards and to recommend the safest way to do the job. Since 1991, SDS has assisted its clients in developing these procedures and has built a large library of procedures which is used in customizing JHA to any particular business.