JSA / JHA: Job Safety Analysis
Break a job into steps, identify hazards at each step and agree controls before work starts.
Why it matters
JSA turns a general risk assessment into a task-level plan the crew can follow and discuss in a pre-job briefing.
Who it's for: Crew leaders, technicians, contractors and supervisors.
Learning objectives — by the end you can:
- Break a task into 5–10 sequential steps.
- Identify hazards and consequences at each step.
- Assign a required control, a responsible person and a verification check.
Key terms
- Job step
- One action in the sequence, described as a verb: 'Isolate pump', 'Remove cover'.
- Pre-job briefing
- A short meeting where the crew reviews the JSA before starting.
- Stop-work authority
- Anyone's right and duty to stop work if conditions are unsafe.
Lesson notes
JSA columns
| Job step | Hazard | Possible consequence | Required control | Responsible | Verification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What is done | What could hurt | How badly | What prevents it | Who | How checked |
How to run it
- 1Choose the job and gather the people who do it.
- 2Watch or walk through the job; list steps in order.
- 3For each step, ask 'what could go wrong?'.
- 4Agree controls, owners and checks.
- 5Brief the crew; revise the JSA if conditions change.
Important limitation
Examples here are generic. High-risk work (electrical, height, confined space, hot work, lifting) requires competent supervision, a permit where applicable and site-specific authorisation.
Video lesson
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Search YouTube for related videosPractical story: Changing step 4
Fictional teaching example
Situation. A crew followed a JSA for replacing a valve. Halfway through, the line was found still pressurised.
Known facts
- The JSA said 'depressurise line' but did not say how to verify zero pressure.
Decisions
- A crew member used stop-work authority.
- The JSA was revised to include gauge reading and bleed-valve check.
Outcome. No release occurred. The revised JSA became the site standard.
Lessons
- Controls need a verification method.
- Stop-work authority protects everyone.
- JSAs are living documents.
Worked example
Worked example: cleaning a storage tank exterior with a pressure washer
| Step | Hazard | Consequence | Control | Responsible | Verification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Set up equipment | Trip on hoses | Fall | Route hoses, barricade area | Crew lead | Walk-through |
| Start washer | High-pressure jet | Injection injury | Trained operator, face shield, never point at people | Operator | Competence record |
| Wash lower sides | Wet surface | Slip | Anti-slip boots, squeegee | Crew | Visual check |
| Pack up | Stored pressure | Hose whip | Release pressure before disconnecting | Operator | Gauge reads zero |
Practice exercise
Write a 4-step JSA for 'Replacing a printer toner cartridge in an office'.
JSA / JHA template (CSV)Quiz
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References
- Official guidanceOSHA 3071 — Job Hazard Analysis (PDF)
- Official guidanceHSE (UK) — Risk assessment
Verify current editions and applicability. Standards are copyrighted; consult licensed copies for exact requirements.
Report an issue with this contentRelated topics
Risk Assessment
HIRA: Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
Break work into activities, identify hazards, rate risk, apply the hierarchy of controls and verify that controls are actually in place.
High-Risk Work Controls
Permit-to-Work and Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)
How permits control high-risk work, and how isolation with locks and tags prevents unexpected release of hazardous energy.