When a Risk Assessment Template is configured as a Step-Based Risk Assessment, Serenity allows users to define a sequence of job steps that represent the tasks or activities being evaluated.
This approach is commonly used for Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), where risks are assessed for each individual task in a job or process. By listing out steps, assessors can systematically identify hazards, evaluate risk levels, and recommend controls specific to each task.
When to Use Job Steps
Step-based assessments are ideal when:
Work activities can be divided into discrete tasks or phases (e.g., manufacturing, maintenance, or laboratory processes).
Hazards and controls vary between steps.
The organization wants to visualize or document risk in a task-by-task sequence.
For example, in a Manufacturing Process JHA, steps might include:
Obtain required materials
Assemble part
Inspect finished product
Discard excess materials
Each step is then analyzed individually for potential hazards and mitigation actions.
Adding Job Steps
Once a step-based risk assessment has been created (using a template that supports step-based workflows), users will see a Job Steps panel on the Details tab of the assessment record.
To add job steps:
Open the desired Risk Assessment record.
In the Job Steps section, click New.
Complete the job step form:
Name: Provide a short, descriptive title for the step (e.g., Obtain required materials).
Order: Define the step sequence number. Steps are typically listed in the order they are performed.
Description: Summarize the activity performed during this step. This should be detailed enough to help assessors visualize the task and identify potential hazards.
Click Save to add the step to the assessment.
Viewing and Managing Job Steps
Once job steps are added, they appear in a structured list within the Job Steps panel.
From here, you can:
Edit steps: Click the step name to open and update its details.
Delete steps: Remove unnecessary or duplicated steps using the Delete button.
Each job step serves as a foundation for hazard analysis — once steps are defined, users can move to the Hazard Analysis tab to identify hazards and controls for each one.
Best Practices
Observe the work directly. When performing JHAs, gather steps by observing the actual work being performed rather than relying solely on procedure documents.
Keep steps task-specific. Break the job down into logical, manageable actions (typically 5–10 steps per task).
Use consistent naming. Begin each step with an action verb (e.g., Lift, Assemble, Inspect, Clean) to maintain clarity.
Review with workers. Confirm step descriptions with those performing the work to ensure accuracy and completeness.
Complete hazard identification next. After defining steps, proceed to the Hazard Analysis tab to document hazards, evaluate risk, and identify controls for each step.
By defining clear job steps, Serenity ensures that assessors can perform detailed, task-level risk evaluations.
This structured approach improves hazard identification, ensures control measures are tailored to each activity, and supports a consistent, auditable Job Hazard Analysis process.