Risk Management Services

www.riskmanagment.ubc.ca

Risk Assessment vs. Job Hazard Analysis

Risk Assessment:
Identify hazards, analyze or evaluate the risk associated with
that hazard, and determine appropriate ways to eliminate or
control the hazard. If a process is determined to be a risk, then a
job hazard analysis is performed as part of the risk assessment.
Job Hazard Analysis:
A job hazard analysis (JHA) is a procedure which helps integrate
accepted safety and health principles and practices into a
particular task or job operation. In a JHA, each basic step of the
job is to identify potential hazards and to recommend the safest
way to do the job.

Risk Assessment & Job Hazard Analysis

Risk assessments and job hazard analysis (JHA) are different
tools for accomplishing the same task: working safely with
hazardous materials. In some literature a JHA is just a portion of
a proper risk assessment. Here we have chosen to separate
them.
The mitigation techniques or equipment found through a risk
assessment mostly apply to the storage of hazards. The
mitigation processes found through a JHA apply to the use and
manipulation of the hazards.

Steps of a Risk Assessment/JHA

For high risk activities a step by step break down of the
procedure and hazards are required. Determine which steps are
necessary. Then create the administrative controls necessary
(training, written SOPs, signage). Then review the equipment or
engineering controls available. The final line of defense is the
personal protective equipment needed.

Minimize/Eliminate/Substitute
Administrative/Work Procedures
Engineering/Task Design
Personal Protective Equipment

Risk Assessment
Must always be performed.
Once a hazard has been identified then specific hazard risk
assessments must be performed. Different hazard types look
at different factors.
Biological assessments: pathogenicity, virulence,
infectious dose, route of exposure and more
Radiation assessments: type of emission, sealed, quantity
Chemical assessments: health effects, flammability,
reactive nature, incompatibilities and more
Physical assessments: surface conditions, layout,
organization, and more
Mechanical assessments: ergonomics, sharps, electrical,
noise, fumes, and more

Job Hazard Analysis

What is a Job Hazard Analysis?
A detailed examination of the steps involved in performing a
task
Determine the existing or potential hazards for each step
Recommend corrective measures:

Changes to procedures or hazards in use

Identify any equipment needs
Identify a need for Personal Protective Clothing

Risk Assessment/JHA Forms

Biologicals: Fill out the Biosafety Approval forms through RISe.
If filled out properly, then it helps the researcher to perform a
basic risk assessment/job hazard analysis. Click for an example
of the forms.
Radiation: Fill out a permit application form, and depending on
the isotope further documented job hazard analysis may be
required.

Chemical: WHMIS provides a good starting point for chemical

risk assessments, however it is important to note that a risk
assessment should be performed when chemicals are combined
to form new chemical compounds. And how does the process
effect the hazards of the experiment.

Mitigating the Risk

Several means of mitigating risk:

Administrative controls: already presented
Structural controls: laboratory and research facility design
Operational and engineering controls: tools and/or techniques
developed to reduce the risk of working with a specific hazard. These
are usually process and hazard specific.

THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

Engineered Controls
Some examples of engineering controls include:
Fume hoods
Biological Safety Cabinets
Centrifuge Safety Cups (sealed rotors)
High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters
Chemical Storage Systems

Flammables cabinets
Corrosive cabinets
Glovebox with noble gas as the atmosphere

Shielding
Monitors (GM and Dosimetry)
Heat, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems
Backflow preventers
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Operational Controls
Some examples of operational controls include:
Aseptic techniques in biological research
Using secondary containers for transportation of materials
Storing incompatible materials as far apart as possible (ex.
Hydrogen and oxygen compressed gas tanks)
Using sealed secondary containers for carcinogens, toxins, and
other highly toxic materials
Storing controlled substances under lock and key
Using tools to increase the distance from the hazard (ex.
Picking up radioactive materials with forceps)

THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

BC Fire Code Separation of Dangerous

Goods for Storage

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THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

Personal Protective Equipment

Should always be viewed as the LAST line of defense. It
should never be the primary means of protection for a worker.
Though the standard laboratory attire is long loose fitting
pants, lab coat, and full covering shoes, a full assessment
should be performed to determine the following:

Appropriate fabrics (for clothing and lab coats)

Gloves (what type)
Eye protection (splash, projectile, full covering)
Additional clothing (scrubs, aprons, sleeve protectors, full
covering suit)
Hearing protection (low frequency versus high frequency)
Respiratory protection (needed, half mask, N95, PAPR, full
face mask)
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