What it means
A JSA looks at one job, step by step. For each step it asks what could hurt someone and what will be done about it. The answer goes on paper or on a phone before anyone picks up a tool.
JSA and JHA are the same idea under two names. Some companies say job safety analysis, others say job hazard analysis. The method is the same either way, so use whichever name your crews already know.
A good JSA is written by the people who do the job, not only by the office. It covers the real task, on this site, with this crew and this equipment.
Why it matters
Most injuries happen in the middle of a task, not in the planning. A JSA makes the crew say the hazards out loud while there's still time to change the plan. It also gives a lead something to point to when the job changes.
What it looks like on a site
- The foreman and crew walk the job and list the steps in order, such as setting up, cutting, lifting and cleaning up.
- Each step gets a hazard and a control, like a spotter for backing the truck or a barrier around the open hole.
- The crew signs or initials it before work starts, on paper or on a phone.
- A new task, a new crew member or a change in weather means the JSA gets looked at again.
- Finished JSAs are kept with the job so a safety lead can find them later.
This is general information, not legal advice. Check the current rule and your own procedures. Back to the glossary