OSHA Compliance

Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) Template — Free Download for Manufacturers

Q: Does OSHA require a job hazard analysis?

OSHA does not have a single standard that requires a JHA for all general industry tasks. However, OSHA recommends JHAs as part of an effective safety and health program, and specific standards require hazard assessment documents for certain activities — including confined space entry (1910.146), hot work, and some construction activities. Many OSHA citations for "general duty clause" violations (Section 5(a)(1)) can be avoided by demonstrating that a JHA was completed and hazards were identified and controlled.

Q: What is the difference between a JHA and a risk assessment?

A JHA focuses on a specific job or task — breaking it into steps and identifying hazards for each step. A risk assessment is broader and typically covers an entire work area, process, or operation. Both tools score hazards by likelihood and severity, but a JHA is task-specific and procedural, while a risk assessment may cover many tasks at once. For manufacturing environments, JHAs are more actionable at the floor level, while a risk register provides the higher-level view required by standards like ISO 9001 Clause 6.1.

Q: How often should a JHA be reviewed or updated?

JHAs should be reviewed and updated whenever: (1) the job or task changes, (2) new equipment or materials are introduced, (3) an incident or near-miss occurs on the task, (4) the control measures are found to be ineffective, or (5) periodically as part of an annual safety program review. A JHA that has not been reviewed since it was written may not reflect actual conditions and can create a false sense of compliance.

A free job hazard analysis (JHA) template for manufacturing environments. Break down tasks into steps, identify hazards at each step, score risk using likelihood × severity, and assign controls using the hierarchy of controls — with a filled-in CNC machine setup example.

Free Job Hazard Analysis Template

Word document (.docx) — use immediately, no sign-up required

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Worked Example — ABC Precision Manufacturing

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Why Every Manufacturer Should Be Using JHAs

A job hazard analysis is the most practical safety tool available to manufacturers — it forces a structured conversation about what could go wrong before it does. Unlike a facility-wide risk assessment, a JHA is task-specific: you pick one job, break it into steps, and work through every hazard step by step.

OSHA does not require a JHA for every general industry task, but the agency explicitly recommends them as part of an effective safety and health program. More importantly, JHAs are the documentation that separates employers who can demonstrate proactive hazard management from those who cannot when OSHA comes calling under the General Duty Clause.

For ISO-certified manufacturers, JHAs also complement your risk management requirements. While ISO 9001 Clause 6.1 looks at process-level risks, a JHA addresses the task-level physical hazards that affect both worker safety and product quality — the two are often more connected than organizations realize.

JHA vs. JSA — Same Tool, Different Names

Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)

The term preferred by OSHA in its publications and training materials. Emphasizes the analytical process — systematic identification and evaluation of hazards before work begins. Common in general industry and manufacturing.

Job Safety Analysis (JSA)

Same tool, same process. The term JSA is more common in construction and field-service industries. If your organization uses JSA, the template works identically — the terminology difference is stylistic, not substantive.

Task Hazard Analysis (THA)

Used interchangeably with JHA in some industries. In high-hazard environments (oil and gas, confined space, electrical work), a THA may be completed at the job site immediately before the work begins — a "tailgate" version of the JHA.

How to Complete a Job Hazard Analysis — 7 Steps

Select the Job or Task

Choose jobs that have a history of accidents or near-misses, jobs with the potential for severe injury, new or modified jobs, and jobs performed infrequently where employees may be out of practice. You do not need to complete a JHA for every task at once — prioritize by risk and work through your list systematically.

Involve the Employees Who Do the Work

The most important step many organizations skip. Employees performing the task know the real hazards — the shortcut everyone takes, the machine that vibrates unexpectedly, the material that slips. Involve them in identifying both the steps and the hazards. A JHA written entirely from a supervisor's desk will miss real-world hazards and get less buy-in during pre-task briefings.

Break the Job into Sequential Steps

List each discrete action in the order it is performed. Steps should be specific enough to identify hazards but not so granular that the analysis becomes unmanageable. A typical job has 5–15 steps. Avoid combining multiple actions into one step — each step should describe a single action ("lift the casting onto the fixture"), not a broad phase ("set up the machine").

Identify Hazards for Each Step

For each step, ask: what could go wrong? Consider struck-by, caught-in/between, fall, electrical, chemical exposure, ergonomic, and temperature hazards. Think about both the immediate task and the surrounding environment — what else is happening nearby that could create a hazard? List all identified hazards even if they seem unlikely.

Score the Risk

Rate each hazard by likelihood (probability of occurrence) and severity (consequence if it occurs). A simple 3×3 or 5×5 risk matrix gives each hazard a score that helps prioritize control effort. High-severity, high-likelihood hazards require immediate controls before work proceeds. Low-severity, low-likelihood hazards may be addressed through awareness training alone.

Determine Controls Using the Hierarchy

Apply controls in hierarchy order: (1) Elimination — remove the hazard entirely, (2) Substitution — replace with a less hazardous option, (3) Engineering controls — isolate people from the hazard, (4) Administrative controls — change how the work is done, (5) PPE — last resort, protect the individual. Document the selected control and the responsible party for implementation.

Review, Approve, and Communicate

Have the completed JHA reviewed by a supervisor and safety professional. Use it as a briefing document before the task begins — not just a file folder item. Each employee performing the task should sign the JHA to confirm they received the hazard briefing. Retain completed JHAs as safety records.

Hierarchy of Controls — Applying the Right Fix

When a hazard is identified, controls must be applied in the following order of preference. Higher-level controls are more effective because they remove the hazard entirely or prevent exposure — PPE only reduces the consequence of exposure.

Elimination — Physically remove the hazard. Most effective. Example: discontinue use of a chemical solvent.

Substitution — Replace the hazard. Example: use a water-based cleaner instead of a solvent.

Engineering Controls — Isolate people from the hazard. Example: machine guard, ventilation system, interlocked barrier.

Administrative Controls — Change how people work. Example: rotation schedule, written procedure, pre-task briefing, permit system.

PPE — Protect the individual. Least effective because it relies on correct use every time. Example: gloves, safety glasses, hearing protection, respirator.

Filled-In Example: CNC Machine Setup — ABC Precision

Below is an excerpt from a JHA completed at ABC Precision Manufacturing for the task of setting up a CNC lathe for a new job — a routine but hazard-rich task that combines manual material handling, sharp tooling, and machine start-up sequence.

JOB HAZARD ANALYSIS — JHA-012

ABC Precision Manufacturing, LLC | Task: CNC Lathe Setup

Prepared by: Maria Gonzalez | Date: March 10, 2026 | Area: CNC Cell 1

Step	Task Step Description	Hazard	Risk (L×S)	Control	Control Type	Responsible
1	Move raw stock from material rack to machine	Struck by falling bar stock; back strain from improper lift	3×3 = High	Use material cart for lengths >4 ft. Two-person lift for bars >30 lbs. Wear steel-toed boots.	Admin / PPE	Operator
2	Install cutting inserts into tool holders	Laceration from sharp insert edges	3×2 = Medium	Always use insert installation tool — never fingers. Cut-resistant gloves required during tool changes.	Admin / PPE	Operator
3	Load and chuck raw stock	Pinch point between chuck jaws and bar; stock ejection if not seated correctly	2×4 = High	Verify stock fully seated before tightening. Use chuck wrench — remove before closing guard. Never reach into rotating chuck.	Admin	Operator
4	Set tool offsets — jog machine	Unexpected machine movement; collision between tool and chuck	2×3 = Medium	Confirm machine in setup mode (feed hold active). One hand on E-stop when jogging. Zero out offsets before approach move.	Admin	Operator
5	Run first part — machine in cycle	Chip/coolant ejection; machine enclosure open during cycle	1×2 = Low	Close machine door before starting cycle. Safety glasses required in CNC cell at all times. Chip-resistant gloves when clearing chips.	Engineering / PPE	Operator
6	Inspect first part at CMM	Trip hazard from coolant on floor	2×2 = Low	Place absorbent mat at machine exit. Clean coolant drips before moving to inspection area.	Admin	Operator

Risk Score: L = Likelihood (1=Unlikely, 2=Possible, 3=Likely) × S = Severity (1=Minor, 2=Moderate, 3=Serious, 4=Critical). Score ≥6 = High; 3–5 = Medium; 1–2 = Low.

Employee sign-off: J. Torres ✓ D. Kim ✓ A. Patel ✓ Supervisor approval: Robert Haines Date reviewed: March 10, 2026

Store and Control JHAs in Training Tiger

JHAs are controlled documents — they need version control, approval workflow, and employee sign-off. Training Tiger stores JHAs as controlled documents, assigns them to the relevant role for training sign-off, and automatically triggers retraining when a JHA is revised. One system for both your OSHA documents and your employee training records.

→Upload JHAs as controlled documents — version tracked, approval required for each revision
→Assign JHA review to the roles who perform the task — track sign-off per employee
→Automatic retraining trigger when a JHA is updated (new hazard or changed control)
→Exportable safety training records for OSHA inspection — timestamped, signed

See OSHA Training Features View Pricing

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a job hazard analysis (JHA)?

A job hazard analysis (JHA) — also called a job safety analysis (JSA) — is a systematic process of breaking a task into steps, identifying hazards for each step, scoring the risk level, and assigning controls. OSHA recommends JHAs for all industries and requires task-specific hazard assessments for high-hazard activities like confined space entry and hot work.

Does OSHA require a job hazard analysis?

OSHA does not require a JHA for all general industry tasks, but recommends them as a core element of a safety program. Specific standards require written hazard assessments for confined space entry (1910.146), hot work, and some construction activities. Many "general duty clause" violations can be avoided by demonstrating a JHA was completed and hazards were addressed.

What is the difference between a JHA and a risk assessment?

A JHA is task-specific — it breaks one job into steps and identifies hazards at each step. A risk assessment is broader, covering an entire work area or operation. Both use likelihood × severity scoring, but JHAs are more actionable at the floor level. For ISO 9001, a risk register covers the QMS-level view; JHAs cover the task-level view for OSHA compliance.

How often should a JHA be reviewed or updated?

Review and update a JHA when: the task or equipment changes, a new material is introduced, an incident or near-miss occurs on the task, controls are found to be ineffective, or as part of an annual safety review. A JHA that has not been reviewed since it was written may not reflect actual conditions.