Plan high-risk work today — JHA and permits
Before high-risk work starts: analyze the hazards, brief the crew, and set the right control — a permit for confined space, hot work or lockout/tagout, a protective system for an excavation, or verified clearance for work at height.
Why this workflow
Confined-space entry, hot work, and lockout/tagout are the tasks most associated with fatalities, so OSHA requires them to be authorized in writing before they start — not reconstructed afterward. This workflow analyzes the task, briefs the crew, and issues the right permit.
Run these tools in order
Each step opens a free tool. Work top to bottom for a clear outcome.
- 1
Competent Person Designation Letter
Name who's authorized before the JHA names the hazards
- 2
Job Hazard Analysis (JHA / AHA) Builder
Break down the task hazards
- 3
Daily Pre-Task / STA Card Generator
Brief the crew
- 4
Confined Space Entry Permit
If entering a permit space
- 5
Hot Work Permit + Fire Watch Generator
If welding / cutting / grinding
- 6
LOTO Procedure Generator
If controlling hazardous energy
- 7
Trench Protective System Selector
If the work is an excavation
- 8
Fall Clearance Calculator
If the work is at height on a harness
When you’re done, you’ll have
- Competent person designated for the activity, in writing (if the standard names one)
- Job hazard analysis completed for the task
- Pre-task / STA card briefed with the crew
- Confined space entry permit issued (if applicable)
- Hot work permit + fire watch set (if applicable)
- Lockout/tagout procedure ready (if applicable)
- Excavation protective system selected (if digging)
- Fall clearance verified below the work surface (if at height)
Frequently asked questions
Do I need all three permits every time?
No — issue what the task triggers. Entering a permit space → entry permit; welding, cutting, or grinding → hot-work permit plus a fire watch; servicing equipment with hazardous energy → a LOTO procedure. The JHA tells you which apply.
How long is a permit valid?
For the specific task or shift it was issued for. When conditions change — a new shift, a changed scope, or a break in atmospheric monitoring — you need a new or revalidated permit.
Who authorizes a confined-space entry?
A designated entry supervisor must authorize entry, verify acceptable conditions, and terminate the entry if anything changes. Attendants and entrants have separate, defined roles that can't be combined away.
Planning aid only — not legal advice. Confirm every determination against the current OSHA standard and your State-Plan's rules.
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