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

OSHA and safety management best practices recommend prioritizing JSAs for jobs with the worst history of incidents (high frequency or severity) and those with the potential to cause severe harm, even if an incident has not yet occurred. This focuses resources on the greatest risks first.

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

The core steps of a JSA are: 1) Select the job, 2) Break the job into steps, 3) Identify potential hazards, and 4) Determine preventive measures. While cost-benefit analysis is a valid business practice, calculating the specific ROI is not a required, primary component of the JSA process itself, which focuses on hazard identification and control.

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

The hierarchy of controls prioritizes elimination and substitution as the most effective methods. Using a wet-cutting method is an example of substitution or process modification that eliminates the hazard (airborne dust) at its source. Respirators (PPE), signs (administrative), and worker rotation (administrative) are all lower on the hierarchy and considered less effective.

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

The most effective JSAs involve observing the task being performed and engaging the workers and supervisors who are most familiar with the job. For a new task, simulating the process and having a discussion with a knowledgeable group allows for proactive hazard identification and leverages collective experience.

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

A JSA is ineffective if its findings are not shared. The results must be communicated to all workers who perform the task. This communication, often in the form of training, ensures that employees understand the hazards and the safe work procedures developed to control them.

COSS - Certified Occupational Safety Specialist Practice Test

COSS - Certified Occupational Safety Specialist Practice Test

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