What is a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)?
A Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)—also commonly known as a Job Safety Analysis (JSA)—is a systematic method for identifying potential hazards associated with a specific job or task, and determining the safest way to perform it. Across industries, the terms JHA and JSA are used interchangeably. Regardless of the name, the goal is the same: to identify risks that could lead to injury, illness, damage to equipment or environmental incidents. The JHA technique involves breaking down a planned job into its component steps, identifying the hazards involved in each, and implementing effective controls before anyone gets hurt.
In high-risk sectors like mining, oil and gas, manufacturing, and construction, JHA is not just a regulatory checkbox. It’s a practical, essential process for ensuring safe work methods, improving task planning, and reinforcing a proactive safety culture. It’s also a legal requirement under many safety frameworks—including ISO 45001, OSHA standards, and various regional WHS regulations.
When used effectively, a JHA provides clear control measures that need to be in place before work can start. It incorporates the risk assessment requirement in order to work safely. In general, the JHA forms part of the permit-to-work process, and ensures that hazards and risks are not just documented—but actively controlled in real time. For safety managers, supervisors, and frontline workers alike, the job hazard analysis is a foundational safety tool that bridges the gap between policy and practice.
How to Conduct a Job Hazard Analysis (Step-by-Step)
A well-executed job hazard analysis is one of the most effective ways to prevent injury or illness on the job. It provides a structured approach to hazard identification and control by focusing on the specific steps required to complete a task safely. Here’s how to carry out a JHA that actually improves workplace safety—not just one that ticks a compliance box.
1. Select the Job or Task to Analyse
The JHA may be applied to work in the early planning stages, for example when applying for a permit to work. In this case, the JHA may be performed by the permit initiator or a multidisciplinary team. Templates from previous jobs may be used to guide the JHA process. Later, after the permit has been approved, a worksite inspection may be required, in which case a second JHA is performed at the worksite itself. Here it is important to identify hazards that might have been overlooked in the planning phase.
Regardless of when the JHA is performed, the overall procedure follows the same approach as described below.
Start by choosing a specific job or task that carries a higher level of potential safety risk, is performed infrequently, or has a history of incidents or near misses. Focus only on one job at a time. Prioritise high-risk or critical operations where the greatest safety gains can be made.
2. Break the Job into Individual Steps
Once you’ve selected the job, break it down into clear, sequential steps. Each step should describe a specific action or phase of the task. Avoid vague groupings—clarity here is critical. For example, “prepare equipment,” “disconnect power,” and “remove guard” would each be separate steps in a maintenance procedure.
3. Identify Hazards for Each Step
Go through each step and ask: What could go wrong here? Look at the work environment, equipment, materials, physical strain, and human factors. The goal is to identify potential hazards before they result in incidents. Consider workplace hazards such as high temperatures, moving machinery, confined spaces, and chemical exposure.
This is the stage where involving experienced workers is crucial. Their knowledge of task hazards, even those that don’t always result in incidents, adds real value to the analysis.
4. Determine Control Measures
For every hazard identified, define the appropriate control measures. Apply the hierarchy of controls:
- Eliminate the hazard entirely where possible
- Substitute with a safer alternative
- Implement engineering controls (e.g., guards, barriers)
- Use administrative controls (e.g., signage, training, procedures)
- Lastly, apply personal protective equipment (PPE)
This process moves the JHA from hazard awareness into actual risk control.
5. Document the JHA Clearly and Accurately
Capture the job steps, identified hazards, and control measures in a structured, accessible format. Whether integrated into an electronic permit-to-work (ePTW) system or stored as a standalone safety document, the analysis should be clear, concise, and reviewed by relevant personnel.
Many companies embed the JHA directly into their work procedure templates or link it to digital permit workflows, which ensures it is reviewed and authorised before work begins.
6. Communicate and Validate with the Work Team
The JHA must be reviewed and discussed with everyone performing the job. This ensures that the team understands both the risks and the controls. A verbal walkthrough and confirmation of understanding go a long way toward preventing incidents. This is often done with the toolbox talk where the worksite supervisor briefs the working party.
The JHA is also where you’ll validate that workers are trained, certified, and authorised to perform the task—closing the loop between risk identification and safe execution.
7. Review, Update, and Learn
A job hazard analysis is not a once-off activity. For more complex jobs, JHA templates are often used to streamline the process. However, the templates should be reviewed regularly—especially after incidents, changes to procedures, or the introduction of new equipment. Continuous improvement is a key part of building a mature, data-driven safety process.
When done well, a job hazard analysis is not just a checkbox exercise—it becomes a tool for proactive safety, driving awareness and accountability at every level of the operation.
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
While job hazard analysis is a proven method for improving safety, it’s also an area where people can take shortcuts. Many teams go through the motions without seeing the real value—usually because of a few avoidable mistakes.
1. Treating the JHA as a Paper Exercise
Too often, a job safety analysis becomes a checklist filled in to satisfy a requirement rather than a tool to prevent harm. When teams rush through the process or simply copy previous entries, critical hazards get overlooked. A JHA must be specific, task-relevant, and dynamic—not recycled from the last job.
How to avoid it: Make the JHA part of active job planning ahead of approving the permit to work. Involve supervisors and workers directly, and then inspect the worksite to ensure the analysis reflects the actual site conditions.
2. Failing to Involve Frontline Workers
Frontline workers often have the most intimate knowledge of the hazards involved in their tasks. While JHAs are often completed by safety officers or planners, some organisations allow a permit initiator to complete the JHA independently under predefined conditions—especially for routine or lower-risk tasks.
How to avoid it: Treat JHA as a collaborative process. Use the experience of workers to identify task-specific risks and effective controls. This not only improves quality—it also increases buy-in and accountability.
3. Relying on Generic Templates
Generic JHAs lack the detail needed to control job-specific risks. While generic templates can provide a starting point, they are not a substitute for a proper hazard analysis tailored to the job or worksite.
How to avoid it: Encourage site-specific customisation. Integrated safety systems like IntelliPERMIT make it easier to build reusable templates that still allow for job-level specificity.
4. Not Updating the JHA with New Information
A job hazard analysis should evolve with your operation. Failing to update it after a change in process, equipment, or site layout can leave teams exposed to new risks.
How to avoid it: Set a routine review cycle. Use feedback from incident reports, near misses, and audits to revise and strengthen your JHA content. In digital systems, this can be streamlined and the results implemented by updating the permit approval workflows going forward.
5. Skipping Verification Steps
If workers aren’t competent or haven’t been trained on the hazards and controls, the JHA loses its effectiveness. Simply having a signed document doesn’t mean the risk is controlled.
How to avoid it: Use competency-based checks to ensure that only authorised personnel perform the job. Integrate JHA approval workflows into your permit system, where roles and competencies are automatically checked.
Avoiding these common pitfalls turns JHA from a reactive safety task into a proactive tool that builds trust, improves decision-making, and helps prevent injuries before they happen.
Integrating JHA with Digital Safety Systems
A job hazard analysis delivers the greatest impact when it’s part of a connected, data-driven safety ecosystem. In many organisations, the challenge isn’t conducting the JHA—it’s making sure it’s relevant, timely, and consistently applied across operations. When the JHA is digital it is possible to integrate into other operational safety systems like an electronic permit to work.
From Isolated Documents to Real-Time Risk Intelligence
When a JHA is embedded into your electronic permit-to-work (ePTW) system, it moves beyond being just a static record. It becomes part of an intelligent workflow that:
- Validates whether workers are trained and competent to perform the job,
- Checks for conflicting tasks or simultaneous operations (SIMOPS),
- Ensures that isolations and safety barriers are in place before work starts.
By linking the JHA with real-time operational data—from systems like SCADA, GIS, or IIoT—you can also dynamically adjust risk controls based on current plant conditions. For example, if a confined space is flagged as oxygen-deficient by a sensor, the system can halt the permit approval process or trigger an alert.
Competency-Linked Job Safety Analysis
A major advantage of integrating JHA into a digital system like IntelliPERMIT is competency-based controls. When approving a permit or assigning a task, the system checks each person’s current qualifications, medicals, and training records—ensuring only authorised personnel are allowed to proceed.
When the electronic JHA system is integrated with HR and learning management systems, it can help prevent errors that arise from manual data capture This also improves compliance with internal procedures and external regulations. It also builds trust across teams by reinforcing that every job is being executed by the right person, with the right skills.
Smarter Planning, Better Safety Outcomes
Integrated JHAs support better decision-making at every level. Planners can visualise job conflicts before they occur, supervisors can receive mobile updates on task risks, and HSE managers can track recurring hazards through analytics.
Instead of living in silos, job safety analysis data becomes part of a larger operational safety picture, supporting trend analysis, continuous improvement, and even audit readiness.
By embedding JHA into your digital safety system, you’re not just digitising paperwork—you’re transforming how risks are identified, managed, and controlled across your entire operation.
Where JHA Makes the Difference
While job hazard analysis is valuable across all work activities, its true power is revealed in high-risk, complex, or non-routine tasks—where the margin for error is small, and the consequences are significant. In these scenarios, a well-executed JHA helps teams foresee problems, implement proper controls, and execute work safely and efficiently.
Confined Space Entry
Few tasks carry as much risk as working inside a confined space. Oxygen deficiency, toxic gases, engulfment, and limited escape routes make this one of the most tightly regulated jobs on any site.
A job safety analysis for confined space entry ensures that all steps—from atmospheric testing to standby procedures—are clearly defined and communicated. When integrated with an ePTW system, entry can be automatically restricted unless all pre-entry checks and controls are verified in real time.
Hot Work in Hazardous Areas
Welding, cutting, and grinding introduce ignition sources in areas where flammable materials may be present. The JHA in these cases must account for fire hazards, energy isolation, and the presence of combustible vapours or gases.
Linking this analysis with permit-to-work systems allows automated cross-checks for gas testing, fire watch assignments, and even the proximity of other ongoing work. This improves coordination and prevents accidents stemming from overlooked details.
SIMOPS and Shutdown Projects
Simultaneous operations (SIMOPS) occur frequently during plant shutdowns, turnarounds, or emergency repairs. These events involve multiple teams working in close proximity on interdependent systems—often under time pressure.
In these cases, a JHA helps identify overlapping jobs and ensures that control measures are considered in the context of other ongoing work. With tools like IntelliPERMIT, these risks can be mapped visually using GIS or 3D models, allowing planners to detect conflicts early and reduce congestion.
Contractor Onboarding and Work Handover
External contractors bring expertise—but they also introduce new variables into your safety system. A JHA becomes essential during the onboarding of third-party teams, ensuring that each contractor understands site-specific hazards and procedures.
Integrated safety systems support this process by linking JHAs with contractor competencies, site induction records, and permit workflows. This streamlines onboarding and strengthens accountability for safety performance.
Non-Routine and First-Time Jobs
When dealing with unique or infrequent tasks—such as equipment upgrades, prototype testing, or emergency repairs—hazards are often unfamiliar or undocumented. A structured job hazard analysis allows teams to slow down, assess the unknowns, and make decisions based on risk rather than assumptions.
In these scenarios, the JHA is not just a form to be filled out—it’s a critical thinking tool that drives safety-first planning, especially when there’s pressure to act quickly.
Best Practices for JHA in 2025 and Beyond
With the advent of digital systems, basic job hazard analysis is evolving. When the JHA is digitised, with complex operations, and heightened regulatory scrutiny, organisations can account for the dynamic nature of jobs and changing conditions. Modern safety leaders are reimagining how JHAs are created, applied, and continuously improved.
Here are some best practices for making your JHA process more effective, resilient, and future-ready.
1. Integrate JHA with Your Permit-to-Work System
A standalone JHA is vulnerable to being bypassed or forgotten. By integrating it directly with your electronic permit-to-work (ePTW) system, you ensure that hazard assessments are always part of the approval process.
This connection also enables automated control checks, audit trails, and access control—turning your JHA into a living document that is enforced in real time.
2. Link JHA to Competency and Training Data
Job safety analysis should never exist in isolation from the people performing the work. When tied to a Learning Management System (LMS) or training database, your JHA process can automatically validate whether team members are qualified and certified for the job.
This ensures that safety isn’t just planned—it’s delivered by the right people, with the right skills.
3. Use Site-Specific Data, Not Generic Templates
Templates have their place, but your JHA should reflect the actual hazards of the site and task. Avoid copying and pasting. Where templates are used make sure that these are kept up to date and updated with historical data from incident reports, near misses, and safety observations to tailor your analysis and identify potential hazards more accurately.
Modern digital safety platforms can automatically suggest relevant risks based on location, job type, or previous JHAs.
4. Make JHA Accessible in the Field
A JHA stuck in a folder on a desktop is no use at the job site. Empower supervisors and workers to review, update, and sign off on JHAs using mobile devices or tablets. This improves accessibility, speeds up workflows, and allows immediate adjustments when conditions change.
Mobile-enabled JHA also supports field verification—ensuring that what’s written down matches what’s actually happening on site.
5. Treat JHA as a Continuous Learning Process
The best job hazard analyses aren’t written once and filed away—they evolve. Build a routine of reviewing JHAs after jobs are completed. Did anything go wrong? Were any near misses reported? Could the controls have been better?
Use this feedback loop to refine your job safety assessments, improve your procedures, and embed a culture of continuous improvement.
Take Your JHA from Reactive to Proactive
A well-executed job hazard analysis isn’t just a procedural formality—it’s a foundational tool for ensuring that high-risk tasks are completed safely, competently, and efficiently. When integrated into day-to-day operations, JHA becomes a shared language for planning, assessing, and controlling risks across teams.
However, the value of JHA depends entirely on how it is implemented. If your current approach feels fragmented, generic, or difficult to manage across departments, it may be time to evaluate how your systems are supporting—or hindering—your safety strategy.
Choosing the right platform to support integrated job hazard analysis, permit-to-work, and competency validation is a critical decision for any safety leader. To support this process, we’ve developed a comprehensive resource to help you navigate your options.
Download the Practical Guide to Selecting Safety Software — a must-read for HSE managers looking to streamline workflows, improve accountability, and reduce risk.
And if you’re looking for a proven solution that ties JHA directly into permit workflows, competency management, and operational risk control, you can also book a demo of IntelliPERMIT to see how it fits within your environment.
Small improvements in how you manage job safety today can make a significant difference tomorrow. Start by assessing your JHA process—and ensure your systems are working as hard as your team is to keep people safe.
