Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)

Upon completing this program, participants will be able to:

• Explain the purpose, regulatory basis, and application of Job Hazard Analysis within the OSHA framework, distinguishing JHA from other hazard identification methodologies (risk assessment, HAZOP, PHA, FMEA) and understanding when each is appropriate.
• Select and prioritise jobs for analysis based on risk criteria: jobs with high injury/illness rates, jobs with potential for severe injury, new jobs or modified procedures, jobs where near-misses have occurred, and jobs performed infrequently where workers may be less familiar with hazards.
• Break selected jobs into sequential steps: observing the task, interviewing experienced workers, reviewing procedures, and documenting each discrete step in the correct sequence without making steps too broad or too narrow.
• Identify hazards at each step by systematically evaluating energy sources (mechanical, electrical, chemical, thermal, gravitational, pressure), exposure pathways (inhalation, contact, ingestion, injection), environmental conditions (weather, lighting, noise, confined space), and human factors (fatigue, distraction, communication, training gaps).
• Determine controls for each identified hazard using the hierarchy of controls: elimination (remove the step or hazard), substitution (use less hazardous materials, tools, or methods), engineering controls (guards, barriers, ventilation, interlocks), administrative controls (procedures, training, rotation, permits), and PPE (last resort when higher-level controls are insufficient).
• Document the JHA using standard forms: job title, date, analyst, required PPE, job steps, hazards per step, and controls per hazard — producing a clear, actionable document that workers and supervisors can use at the point of work.
• Communicate the JHA to workers before task execution: pre-task briefings, toolbox talk integration, worker review and sign-off, and the verification that all identified controls are in place before work proceeds.
• Review and update JHAs when conditions change: new equipment, modified procedures, post-incident revisions, seasonal changes, and the scheduled review cycle that keeps JHAs current and accurate.
• Integrate JHA into the broader safety management system: linking JHAs to permit-to-work systems, incident investigation (identifying JHA gaps as contributing factors), training programmes (using JHAs as training content), and inspection checklists (verifying JHA controls during walkthroughs).
• Manage the JHA programme: JHA inventory management, prioritisation scheduling, quality assurance for completed JHAs, and the programme metrics (completion rate, review currency, worker participation) that measure JHA programme effectiveness.

Core Curriculum Topics

• JHA Fundamentals and Regulatory Basis: what JHA is, OSHA 3071 methodology, JHA versus JSA versus AHA terminology, and how JHA fits within the hazard identification toolkit
• Job Selection and Prioritisation: risk-based criteria for selecting which jobs to analyse first
• Job Step Decomposition: observation techniques, worker interviews, the right level of detail, and sequential documentation
• Hazard Identification at Each Step: energy sources, exposure pathways, environmental conditions, human factors, and the systematic questioning technique that ensures no hazard is missed
• Hierarchy of Controls Application: matching each hazard to the highest-level feasible control, documenting the rationale, and specifying what the control actually requires
• JHA Form Design and Documentation: standard form elements, writing clear and actionable hazard descriptions and control measures, and creating forms that workers actually read and use
• Pre-Task Communication and Worker Engagement: briefing workers on the JHA before the task, integrating JHA into toolbox talks, worker sign-off, and verifying controls are in place
• JHA Review, Update, and Revision: triggers for update (incidents, near-misses, equipment changes, procedure modifications), scheduled review cycles, and version control
• JHA Programme Integration: linking JHA to permits, investigations, training, inspections, and the broader safety management system
• Hands-On JHA Development: writing complete JHAs for real-world job scenarios across multiple industries

• Basic safety awareness is helpful but not required
• No prior JHA experience required
• No formal academic degree required
• Suitable for safety professionals, supervisors, and workers at all levels
• All instruction in English; working proficiency required

Upon completion, graduates receive an American Institute of Safety Professionals certificate, wallet card, and transcript. Employer-verifiable at amiosp.com/student-verifications.

• Safety officers and HSE officers who develop and review JHAs as part of their daily responsibilities
• Supervisors and foremen who must conduct JHAs before high-risk tasks and brief workers on the results
• Safety managers who oversee the JHA programme and need to ensure quality and consistency across the organisation
• Workers who participate in JHA development by providing task knowledge and hazard observations
• Safety committee members who review JHAs and recommend improvements
• Safety trainers who teach JHA methodology to supervisors and workers
• Safety consultants who develop JHA programmes and train client organisations in JHA methodology
• Anyone preparing for certifications (CHSO, CSSP, CSS) where JHA is a core competency tested

• Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) — YOU ARE HERE (core hazard identification methodology)
• Introduction to OSH Training (foundational awareness including hierarchy of controls)
• 10-Hour / 30-Hour Programmes (OSHA training that references JHA as a compliance tool)
• CHSO / CSSP / CSS (certifications where JHA is a core competency)
• International Diploma in Industrial Safety Management (Unit 2 covers hazard identification including JHA at diploma depth)
• International Diploma in Construction Safety Management (Unit 2 covers risk assessment methodology for construction)