Which hazard analysis process is used to identify hazards in a work task before it begins?

Which hazard analysis process is used to identify hazards in a work task before it begins?

• A. Root cause analysis
• B. Job hazard analysis
• C. Incident investigation
• D. Market analysis

Answer: (C)

Proactively identifying hazards before starting work is done through a job hazard analysis. This process breaks the task into steps, examines what can go wrong at each step, and determines controls to reduce or eliminate those risks before the work begins. It helps reveal hazards such as equipment malfunctions, ergonomic stresses, and environmental or procedural risks so appropriate safeguards—engineering controls, safer work practices, or personal protective equipment—can be put in place in advance. In contrast, root cause analysis and incident investigation focus on understanding why an incident occurred after it happens, not on identifying hazards before work. Market analysis is unrelated to safety hazards in a specific task. So, identifying hazards before a task starts is the job hazard analysis.

Proactively identifying hazards before starting work is done through a job hazard analysis. This process breaks the task into steps, examines what can go wrong at each step, and determines controls to reduce or eliminate those risks before the work begins. It helps reveal hazards such as equipment malfunctions, ergonomic stresses, and environmental or procedural risks so appropriate safeguards—engineering controls, safer work practices, or personal protective equipment—can be put in place in advance. In contrast, root cause analysis and incident investigation focus on understanding why an incident occurred after it happens, not on identifying hazards before work. Market analysis is unrelated to safety hazards in a specific task. So, identifying hazards before a task starts is the job hazard analysis.