Job Hazard Analysis (JHA): Free Template & Step-by-Step Guide

What Is a Job Hazard Analysis?

A Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) — also called a Job Safety Analysis (JSA) — is a systematic process that:

1. Breaks a job into individual steps
2. Identifies hazards at each step
3. Determines preventive measures (controls) for each hazard

A JHA transforms vague safety instructions ("be careful") into specific, actionable controls.

At a glance: A JHA (a.k.a. JSA) runs a 5-step process: select the job → break into steps → identify hazards → determine controls (hierarchy of controls) → review. OSHA has no JHA-specific standard, but the General Duty Clause and several standards (confined spaces, silica, general-industry PPE) require hazard evaluation that a JHA documents. A Job Hazard Analysis breaks a task into steps, identifies the hazard at each step, and assigns controls using the hierarchy of controls.

Why JHAs Matter

Without a JHA: "Watch out for falling objects on the jobsite."

With a JHA:

• Step: Unload materials from delivery truck
• Hazard: Shifting load, struck-by risk, back strain
• Controls: Use tag lines, wear hard hat, two-person lift for items over 50 lbs, position workers clear of overhead load

That level of detail is what turns a hazard list into something a crew can act on.

The 5-Step JHA Process

Step 1: Select the Job

Prioritize jobs for JHA based on:

• Injury history — Jobs with past incidents or near-misses; your OSHA 300 Log (29 CFR 1904.29) is the first place to look
• Severity potential — Tasks that could cause serious injury or death
• New or modified — Recently changed procedures or equipment
• Frequency — Tasks performed daily carry cumulative risk
• Regulatory requirement — confined spaces must be evaluated by a competent person (1926.1203(a)), silica tasks described in a written exposure control plan (1926.1153(g)(1)), and general-industry PPE chosen through a certified hazard assessment (1910.132(d)(1)-(2))

Step 2: Break the Job into Steps

Observe the task being performed by an experienced worker; OSHA's booklet says to watch the employee perform the job and list each step as the worker takes it. List each step in sequence:

Example: Grinding Metal

1. Select and inspect grinder and disc
2. Secure workpiece in vise or clamp
3. Don PPE (safety glasses, face shield, gloves, hearing protection)
4. Connect grinder to power source
5. Position grinder and begin grinding
6. Inspect finished work
7. Disconnect power and store grinder

Rule of thumb: 8–12 steps works for most tasks. OSHA sets no number; the breakdown should be neither unnecessarily long nor so broad that it skips basic steps.

Step 3: Identify Hazards at Each Step

For every step, ask:

• Can the worker be struck by or strike against something?
• Can the worker be caught in, on, or between objects?
• Can the worker fall (same level or elevated)? In construction, fall protection starts at 6 feet (1926.501(b)(1)).
• Can the worker be exposed to harmful substances (chemical, noise, radiation)? Chemicals fall under HazCom (1910.1200), construction noise under 1926.52.
• Can the worker overexert (lifting, pushing, repetitive motion)?
• Can the worker contact extreme temperatures or electricity? No one works close enough to contact an energized circuit unless it is deenergized and grounded or guarded (1926.416(a)(1)).

Step 4: Determine Preventive Measures

Apply the Hierarchy of Controls (most to least effective):

1. Elimination — Remove the hazard entirely
2. Substitution — Replace with something less hazardous
3. Engineering controls — Guards, ventilation, barriers
4. Administrative controls — Procedures, training, signage
5. PPE — Last resort, not first choice; in construction the employer must require appropriate PPE wherever there is exposure to hazardous conditions (1926.28(a)), and respirators bring the full program of 1910.134 (1926.103)

For chemical hazards, check the SDS for recommended controls. Use our PPE Selector to match the hazard to appropriate protective equipment.

Step 5: Document and Communicate

A JHA is only valuable if workers can access and understand it. Best practices:

• Post the JHA at the work area
• Review during pre-task toolbox talks, the instruction 1926.21(b)(2) requires
• Include in new-hire orientation
• Store digitally for inspection readiness

JHA Template

Here is a standard JHA format you can adapt:

Integrating JHAs with Your Safety Program

JHAs don't exist in isolation. They connect to:

• HazCom Program — Chemical hazards identified in JHAs should reference the SDS. Generate your HazCom program
• Training Records — a documented JHA review is evidence of the hazard-recognition instruction 29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2) requires. Document it
• Incident Investigation — After an incident, the JHA reveals which control failed
• OSHA Inspections — A current JHA library demonstrates proactive safety management. Prepare with the audit checklist

Common JHA Mistakes

1. Writing JHAs at a desk — Always observe the actual job being performed
2. Too vague — "Be careful" is not a control measure
3. Ignoring ergonomic hazards — Repetitive motion and awkward postures are a common cause of lost-time injuries
4. One-and-done — JHAs are living documents that must be updated
5. Not involving workers — The person doing the job knows the hazards best

Chemical-Specific JHAs

For tasks involving hazardous chemicals, your JHA should reference:

• SDS Section 8 — Exposure controls and PPE
• SDS Section 7 — Handling and storage precautions
• SDS Section 4 — First aid measures

Keep your SDS library current with an SDS Gap Analysis and speed up access with SDS QR Codes.

Related: Job Hazard Analysis hub · Toolbox Talk Guide · Near-Miss, JHA & LOTO · The OSHA Citation Defense Package · New Hire Safety Orientation