Developing a Critical Job Inventory (CJI) is an important task in creating an effective Injury Prevention Program at your workplace. The following is a Safe Work guideline to developing your CJI :
1. Develop a system for identifying critical jobs:
Review specific tasks conducted by occupations. If you have a large workplace, start by identifying the departments within your workplace. Identify the different occupations within those departments. List the jobs or tasks within each one of the occupational groups.
- Review the equipment used at the workplace. Multiple jobs or tasks may be performed with one piece of equipment. Remember to look at set up, calibration, changing blades and equipment operation for examples.
- Review the statistics you have on file, accident/injury records, first aid books, etc. These will guide you to jobs or tasks that you may have overlooked. What were the injured workers doing when they were hurt? Did you capture this jon or task in the inventory?
Review new jobs or infrequently performed jobs. When a new job is introduced into your workplace, make sure you evaluate it and add it to your critical job inventory. It is important that this process does not stop. It is also important that jobs or tasks that are infrequently done are included and are high on the priority list to develop safe work procedures. These jobs must include a clear procedure so that when workers are to perform then, they are familiar with the safe way to do it.
2. Evaluate your critical jobs. Examine the degree of risk. Factors that you will take into account include:
- Severity-what would the extent of the worker's injuries be if they were hurt while performing this job? Would the injuries be permanent? Would the injuries cause any time off?
- Probability-what is the likelihood of the worker being injured when doing the job? Would it be probable in time? Remotely possible?
- Frequency-how often is the job performed? How many workers would be exposed to the hazards associated with the job?
3. Create a CJI. Your CJI must include the job description and priority so that you can develop Job Hazard Analysis and Safe Work Procedures for the most critical tasks. You then have a plan of action for the remainder of the jobs on your CJI. Things to include on your CJI:
- The date the inventory was done (this should be removed at a minimum every three years along with your program)
- The department the job is conducted in and the manager or supervisor responsible for the area
- The occupation that conducts the job
- The critical rating or priority rating that you have assigned to the job after your evaluation or risk assessment.
Knowing the jobs is the most valuable action you can take towards reducing costs associated with injuries in the workplace. You will need good job descriptions for each job, which are easily compiled with an occupational therapist conducting a Job Demands Analysis (JDA) on jobs listed on your CJI, with prioritization given to those jobs with the highest risk ratings. The JDA will outline and measure all of the physical and cognitive demands of the job, making it easy to draft good job descriptions and help you better match employees to the jobs, at the time of hire.
Please let me know if this post has been helpful. I would like to hear your comments.
Marnie Courage
Owner|Managing Director
Enabling Access
