COSS Job Safety Analysis (JSA) 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the significance of the 'correct' column in a standard JSA form?
- It documents the recommended preventive measures for each identified hazard (Correct answer)
- It records whether the job step was performed correctly during observation
- It lists corrective actions taken after an injury occurred
- It indicates regulatory compliance status for each step
Correct answer: It documents the recommended preventive measures for each identified hazard
The 'correct' or 'recommended action' column specifies the preventive controls workers should use to eliminate or reduce each identified hazard.
Question 2: Which condition would make a job a HIGH priority candidate for an immediate JSA?
- The job has caused a fatality or severe injury within the past year (Correct answer)
- The job is performed once a year by a single experienced worker
- The job uses equipment purchased more than five years ago
- The job was last analyzed two years ago with no incidents since
Correct answer: The job has caused a fatality or severe injury within the past year
A recent fatality or severe injury indicates the current controls are insufficient, making that job an immediate JSA priority.
Question 3: How does a JSA differ from a Process Hazard Analysis (PHA)?
- A JSA analyzes individual job tasks, while a PHA analyzes entire process systems for catastrophic risk (Correct answer)
- A JSA is qualitative while a PHA is always quantitative
- A JSA is used in construction only while a PHA is used in manufacturing
- A JSA requires engineering input while a PHA requires only worker input
Correct answer: A JSA analyzes individual job tasks, while a PHA analyzes entire process systems for catastrophic risk
A JSA focuses on discrete job tasks and their associated hazards, while a PHA examines entire industrial processes for potential catastrophic failures.
Question 4: Which of the following is an example of an engineering control identified during a JSA for grinding operations?
- Installing a fixed guard over the grinding wheel (Correct answer)
- Requiring workers to wear face shields
- Posting a sign warning of flying debris
- Rotating workers to limit exposure time
Correct answer: Installing a fixed guard over the grinding wheel
A fixed guard physically prevents contact with the grinding wheel, making it an engineering control that reduces hazard at the source.
Question 5: A JSA is being developed for a job that has never resulted in an injury. Why is this still valuable?
- Hazards can exist even if they have not yet caused an incident (Correct answer)
- OSHA mandates JSAs for all jobs regardless of injury history
- Insurance companies require JSAs for all low-risk tasks
- Workers perform better when any task has a written procedure
Correct answer: Hazards can exist even if they have not yet caused an incident
The absence of past injuries does not mean a job is safe; uncontrolled hazards may simply not have caused an incident yet.
Question 6: In the context of a JSA, what does 'residual risk' mean?
- The risk that remains after all recommended controls have been implemented (Correct answer)
- The total risk present before any controls are applied
- Risk that is transferred to a subcontractor
- Risk documented in previous versions of the JSA
Correct answer: The risk that remains after all recommended controls have been implemented
Residual risk is the level of risk that persists even after all feasible controls are in place, and it must be judged acceptable before the job proceeds.
Question 7: Who has the ultimate responsibility for ensuring that a completed JSA is communicated to all workers performing the job?
- The immediate supervisor overseeing the work (Correct answer)
- The safety department that drafted the JSA
- The individual worker who observes the job
- The HR department that maintains training records
Correct answer: The immediate supervisor overseeing the work
The immediate supervisor is accountable for ensuring that all workers under their direction understand and follow the hazard controls identified in the JSA.
COSS Job Safety Analysis (JSA) 4
What is the significance of the 'correct' column in a standard JSA form?