Job Safety Analysis / Safe Work Method Manual

In late 2010 NECA SA were successful in receiving funding from the Employers Mutual Member Benefit Program for the development, publication and implementation of a user friendly Hazard ID and Risk Assessment Manual with an associated training program that includes an appropriate JSA/WMS template acceptable to all stakeholders in the building & construction industry.

The focus and intent of the project was to raise the level of proficiency of our members in the process of risk assessment to ensure that the process is not only clearly understood but widely accepted and utilized as a necessary and automatic function of their work.

The project scope included the following:

• Develop a Hazard Identification and Risk Management Manual in consultation with our industry that is accepted by industry as valid and valuable.
• Develop a manual that is easily and willingly used.
• Develop a manual that can focus on the immediate high profile hazards whilst providing a method of hazard and risk approach that can be used universally.
• Provide training to the target group in relation to the contents of the manual that will ‘sell’ the safety concept.

During the development stage a working group established to manage the project saw the need to expand the initial scope of the project to include a JSA/WMS document that can be easily used by members of all size and stature, but more importantly was is widely accepted by clients and principal contractors in the building and construction industry. This process included consultation with the building industry OHS Committee, the members of which are principle stakeholders in this issue and essential to the acceptance and proliferation of the document on site.

A significant part of the project included two free training sessions in Hazard ID and Risk Assessment for NECA members, which were subsequently held on the 19 and 20 of April. The sessions were attended by some 100 members and provided valuable feedback on the development of future training for our industry in this very important area.

The training reflected the content of the Manual and in particular how to use in a practical sense the recently developed JSA/SWM Worksheet that should be acceptable at all worksites.

The training was also designed to provide attendees with the knowledge, skills and practical tools required to undertake Hazard ID and Risk Assessnment and how to:

• Comply with OHS legislative requirements
• Involve employees and document the activity
• Identify the hazards relative to the proposed task
• Assess the level of risk for each hazard
• Determine and document control measures to eliminate or reduce the risk
• Reassess the risk level for each hazard
• Monitor and review the control measures

NECA SA members were provided with a copy of the JSA/SWM Manual in the July / August edition of the NECAnews. However, additional copies are available to NECA members by simply contacting the NECA SA office on (08) 8272 2966 or emailing .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

In addition to this an electronic copy of the JSA / SWM Woksheet is available for members to download once they login to the site. For information about the benefits of NECA membership click here.