COSS - Certified Occupational Safety Specialist Job Safety Analysis (JSA) Questions and Answers

Question 1

When prioritizing which jobs to analyze first using a Job Safety Analysis (JSA), which of the following should be given the HIGHEST priority?

Accepted Answer

Jobs with a history of high injury or illness rates, or the potential for severe incidents.

Answer

Jobs that are performed most frequently by the largest number of employees.

Answer

Jobs that have recently been analyzed and have existing control measures in place.

Answer

Non-routine jobs that are performed only by highly experienced senior personnel.

Question 2

A COSS is leading a team to conduct a JSA for a new, complex task involving multiple workers. Which of the following is NOT considered a primary component of the standard JSA process?

Accepted Answer

Calculating the return on investment (ROI) for the safety improvements.

Answer

Breaking the job down into a sequence of steps.

Answer

Identifying potential hazards within each step.

Answer

Determining preventive measures and controls for each hazard.

Question 3

During the 'Determine Preventive Measures' step of a JSA for a task that generates harmful dust, the team suggests several options. According to the hierarchy of controls, which of the following recommendations represents the MOST effective control measure?

Accepted Answer

Implementing a new process that uses a wet-cutting method to eliminate dust generation.

Answer

Mandating the use of N95 respirators for all workers performing the task.

Answer

Placing warning signs in the area to alert workers to the dust hazard.

Answer

Rotating workers out of the dusty area every two hours to limit exposure time.

Question 4

A manufacturing company has just installed a new piece of automated machinery. The task of clearing jams from the machine is identified as a new job requiring a JSA. What is the BEST method for the initial analysis of this task?

Accepted Answer

Observing a trained worker simulate the task and discussing the steps and hazards with a group of experienced workers and supervisors.

Answer

Reviewing the manufacturer's manual alone to identify potential hazards.

Answer

Waiting for a jam to occur and then performing the analysis during the event.

Answer

Having an experienced supervisor write the JSA based on their previous experience with other machines.

Question 5

Once a Job Safety Analysis (JSA) has been completed and documented, what is the most critical subsequent action to ensure its effectiveness?

Accepted Answer

Communicating the findings and providing training to all employees who perform the job.

Answer

Filing the JSA in the safety department's records for compliance audits.

Answer

Submitting the JSA to the company's insurance carrier to potentially lower premiums.

Answer

Reviewing the JSA annually, regardless of whether the job has changed.

Question 6

When breaking a job down into a sequence of steps for a JSA, what is a key principle to follow to ensure the breakdown is effective?

Accepted Answer

Keep the steps in the correct sequence of occurrence and avoid making them overly broad or too detailed.

Answer

Combine as many actions as possible into a single step to keep the JSA short.

Answer

Focus only on the steps where injuries have occurred in the past.

Answer

List the steps in order from most hazardous to least hazardous.