Safe Job Analysis - SJA - What is it?
📌 Updated May 2025: This article has been updated with new information about how safe job analysis (SJA) contributes to better non-conformance management, risk reduction and control in construction projects.
Conducting a safe job analysis is an important process to ensure both worker safety and reduce the risk of damage to the environment and economic assets. This systematic assessment identifies potential hazards in advance of an activity and helps plan necessary measures to reduce the risk.
Why are job analyses important in HSE work?
Conducting a thorough risk assessment is not just recommended – it is a statutory requirement in several Norwegian regulations related to the working environment and safety. This type of assessment is an important tool in the systematic HSE work and helps to identify, assess and reduce risk before a work operation is initiated. This includes assessing current work procedures and the need for any adjustments.
Statutory requirements in the Working Environment Act
The Working Environment Act (§3-1 and §4-1) requires employers to ensure that work is planned and carried out in a responsible manner. This includes carrying out risk assessments of work tasks. and necessary measures to reduce risk. Using a structured method such as safe job analysis fulfills part of this statutory responsibility.
Requirements in the Internal Control Regulations
In addition, the Internal Control Regulations (§5) require that businesses have a system for safeguarding health, safety and the environment (HSE) . The regulations require, among other things, that risk assessments shall be documented and systematic , and that the employer shall ensure the participation of employees in HSE work . Safe job analysis fulfills this by being both a practical and documented method that involves employees directly in the risk assessment.
Job analysis as part of comprehensive risk management
Implementing this process into the HSE system creates a culture of safety and awareness of hazards in the workplace. This leads to:
Reduced likelihood of dangerous situations occurring
Increased safety among employees
Improved compliance with HSE regulations
Documentation that can be used in audits and supervision
SJA therefore functions not only as a tool for legal compliance, but also as a strategic method for improving the working environment and reducing absenteeism.
Why use safe job analysis in your company?
Whether you work in construction, manufacturing, oil and gas or any other high-risk business, systematic risk assessment is essential and crucial for identifying hazards and establishing measures to reduce risk in advance of an activity. This type of assessment helps you identify hazards, assess consequences and take action – before damage or dangerous situations occur.
Safety according to the Building Owners' Regulations
In addition to the Working Environment Act and the Internal Control Regulations, the Client Regulations also set clear requirements for safety on construction sites . The regulations apply to all types of construction work, and aim to ensure a fully safe working environment through good planning and risk management.
The client's responsibility for HSE work
According to §5 of the Building Owners' Regulations, the building owner is responsible for planning, coordinating and following up on ensuring that health, safety and environmental considerations are taken into account in all phases of the construction project – from design to completion. This includes requirements for:
Mapping and assessment of risk factors
Documented HSE procedures
Facilitation for the safe performance of work
Preparation of a SHA plan (safety, health and working environment plan)
When should SJA be carried out?
A Safe Job Analysis (SJA) should be conducted when conditions arise during a work operation that are not anticipated in the existing SHA plan and are not covered by current work procedures, other plans or procedures. This may include new, unforeseen situations that require an assessment of risk before work can continue.
Important situations for implementation
In many cases, it will be the workers themselves who see the need for an SJA before they start a work task. In myproject, they can easily complete an SJA on mobile devices or tablets, directly where the work is to be performed.
SJA is particularly important in the following situations:
Deviations from procedures and plans : When the work operation deviates from what is described in procedures and plans, such as the SHA plan .
New and unfamiliar work operation : When the task is new and unfamiliar to those who will perform it.
Unknown collaborators : When workers have not worked together before and therefore do not know each other's working methods.
Use of unfamiliar equipment : When equipment is used that the workers have no experience with.
Changed conditions : When conditions have changed, such as changing weather conditions, time constraints, changed order of tasks, or interaction with other activities.
Previous accidents or incidents : When there have been accidents or adverse events during similar activities.
Implementing an SJA in such situations is crucial to reducing the risk of accidents and ensuring a safe working environment.
Who should participate?
To ensure a thorough assessment of the risks, it is important that everyone who will be involved in the work operation also participates in the Safe Job Analysis . The SJA should therefore be carried out just before the work operation starts, so that everyone has the opportunity to contribute and participate in this assessment.
The leader of the SJA should have the necessary expertise and experience in conducting an SJA. In addition, at least two of the participants should be well-versed in the tasks to be performed, as their knowledge of the work will be important in identifying potential hazards.
All participants can contribute their unique knowledge and experience, which is crucial for discovering risk factors and finding practical solutions to reduce hazards during the execution of the tasks.
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