How to Do a Job Hazard Analysis (Step by Step)
To do a job hazard analysis (JHA), break the task into sequential steps, identify the hazards of each step, and assign a specific control for each hazard. The standard format is a three-column table: Step, Hazard, Control. Start by picking the task and watching or walking it, list 6 to 12 action-based steps, name the specific hazard at each step, then write a control that a foreman can actually implement, citing the OSHA standard where one applies. Review it with the crew before the work starts.
The steps
- ✓ Pick the task and involve the people who do it; a JHA written at a desk misses real hazards.
- ✓ Break the task into 6 to 12 sequential, action-based steps (for example: unload material, stage and brace, set and fasten).
- ✓ For each step, ask what can go wrong and name the specific hazard ("strut falls from overhead rack" beats "falling objects").
- ✓ Assign a control for each hazard, specific enough to verify, and cite the OSHA standard where one applies.
- ✓ List the required PPE and any equipment inspections.
- ✓ Review and sign off with the crew at the pre-job brief; the JHA is a briefing document, not a filing document.
- ✓ Update it when the task, tools, or conditions change.
Worked example: setting roof trusses
| Step | Hazard | Control |
|---|---|---|
| Unload trusses | Crane swing, pinch points | Taglines, no workers under the load (1926.1425), gloves |
| Stage and brace | Truss tip-over, hand injuries | Brace per plan, cut-resistant gloves |
| Set and fasten at height | Falls over 6 ft | Personal fall arrest anchored per 1926.502, 100% tie-off |
Generate a complete JHA instead
Writing a thorough JHA for every task takes time you may not have at 6 a.m. TailgateDocs generates the full step-by-step analysis for your exact task in minutes for $29, citing verified 29 CFR standards, with a crew sign-off block ready to print. A Spanish version for your crew is $19 more.
Common questions
▸What is the difference between a JHA, JSA, and AHA?
They are the same document with different names: job hazard analysis (OSHA usage), job safety analysis (industry usage), and activity hazard analysis (the term on Army Corps and federal projects, with a specific EM 385 format).
▸How many steps should a JHA have?
Usually 6 to 12. Fewer and you are probably skipping hazards; many more and you are likely describing motions instead of meaningful steps. Keep each step action-based.
▸Who should write the JHA?
Whoever supervises the task, with input from the crew that performs it. The people doing the work spot hazards a manager misses, and involving them means they actually follow the controls.
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