JSA as a tool for decentralised risk handling in construction projects

In this paper, we analyse the role and contributions of job safety analysis (JSA) as a tool for decentralised risk assessments and decision-making related to workplace safety in inter-organisational construction projects. The paper applies the concept of risk handling to theorise a contextual approach to JSA and analyses fieldwork, interviews, workshops and document data from a qualitative study of Norwegian energy construction projects. The research results show that a contextual approach to JSA can contribute to an improved understanding of organisational factors and the decentralised handling of workplace safety risk in construction projects and help build resources and social capacities to handle risk. The paper discusses limitations, opportunities and unexploited potential of current JSA applications in inter-organisational project-based work. Implications are drawn for how JSA can make contributions to workplace safety.