Skip to Main Content

Job Hazard Analysis

Purpose

One of the “root causes” of workplace injuries, illnesses, and incidents is the failure to identify or recognize hazards that are present, or that could have been anticipated.

A Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) is both a tool and a process of identifying and evaluating potential hazards or risks associated with a particular job or task. It involves breaking down a job into its individual steps and analyzing each step to identify potential hazards that could cause injury or illness to workers and the controls to mitigate the hazards. JHA are sometimes called “task hazard analyses.”

To identify and assess hazards, employers and workers:

  • Collect and review information about the hazards present or likely to be present in the workplace.
  • Conduct initial and periodic workplace inspections of the workplace to identify new or recurring hazards.
  • Investigate injuries, illnesses, incidents, and close calls/near misses to determine the underlying hazards, their causes, and safety and health program shortcomings.
  • Group similar incidents and identify trends in injuries, illnesses, and hazards reported.
  • Consider hazards associated with emergency or nonroutine situations.
  • Determine the severity and likelihood of incidents that could result for each hazard identified, and use this information to prioritize corrective actions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is a job hazard analysis (JHA)?

It’s a procedure that helps to integrate acceptable safety and health principles and practices into a particular operation. It is based on the idea that safety is an integral part of every job– not a separate entity. JHA’s are sometimes called “task hazard analyses”

How do JHA’s improve safety and reduce injuries and illnesses?

By doing an analysis of particular jobs, previously undetected hazards might be identified. The systematic, four-step, analysis process leads to increased job knowledge, hazard awareness, communication between workers and supervisors, and acceptance of safe work practices.

What are the steps?

At its core, (1) Select the job tasks to be analyzed, (2) Break the job down into a sequence of steps, (3) Identify hazards, (4) Determine preventative measures to overcome the hazards. There are many types of ways to approach, OSHA.gov provides a more comprehensive breakdown.

How do I select the job for JHA?

Ideally, all jobs should be subjected to a JHA. However, due to practical constraints, the most critical jobs should be examined first. Factors to consider: (1) Accident frequency and severity. (2) Potential for severe injuries and illnesses. (3) New jobs– hazards may not be evident or anticipated. (4) Modified jobs– new hazards associated with changes. (5) Infrequently performed jobs–non-routine jobs often put workers at greater risk.

How do I break the job into “basic steps”?

This part of the JHA is best prepared by watching a worker doing the job. A rule of thumb is that most jobs can be described in less than ten steps. If more steps are required, you might combine steps if appropriate, or divide the job into two segments, with separate JHA’s. Steps are recorded in sequence, and begin with an action verb, i.e., “Park vehicle” and “Remove spare and tool kit”.

How do I identify hazards?

Each basic step may have associated hazards. These can be determined by observation, knowledge of accident and injury causes, personal experience, etc. The best way to identify hazards is to observe a worker who is experienced and capable in all aspects of the job. Often, multiple observations may be needed. Use questions to help identify hazards, i.e.; can parts of the body get caught in or between…; can the worker slip, trip, or fall; is there a danger from falling objects, etc.?

How do I determine preventive measures?

Consider the hierarchy of controls. It is a method of identifying and ranking safeguards to protect workers from hazards. These methods are arranged from the most to least effective.

(1) Eliminating the hazard through engineering, i.e., increasing ventilation, or substitution, i.e., less hazardous substance or changing equipment or tools. (2) Containing the hazard with enclosures, guards, booths, etc. (3) Administrative measures, such as revising work procedures, i.e., changing the sequence of steps or adding steps, such as lockout/tagout. (4) Personal Protective Equipment may be the least effective control measure, and should be used only if no other solutions are possible.

Hierarchy of Controls

How do I communicate the JHA information to everyone affected?

Communicate the preventative measures or new/modified procedures which are associated with each step in the job. For more information view OSHA’s Hazard Identification.


Resources

Occupational Safety and Health

Lea Faka-Tonga (Tongan)

‘Okú ke fie maʻu tokoni ʻi ha lea fakafonua ʻe taha? Temau kumi haʻo taha fakatonulea taʻetotongi. Telefoni ki he (808-586-9116) ke fakahā mai ʻa e lea fakafonua ʻokú ke lea aí.

You have the right to an interpreter at no cost to you.

Occupational Safety and Health

VISAYAN: CEBUANO

Gakinahanglan ka ba ug tabang sa imong pinulongan? Amo kang mahatagan ug libre nga maghuhubad. Tawag sa (808-586-9116) aron magpahibalo kung unsa ang imong sinulti-han.

You have the right to an interpreter at no cost to you.

Occupational Safety and Health

TIẾNG VIỆT: VIETNAMESE

Bạn có cần giúp đỡ bằng ngôn ngữ khác không ? Chúng tôi se yêu cầu một người thông dịch viên miễn phí cho bạn. Gọi (808-586-9116) nói cho chúng tôi biết bạn dùng ngôn ngữ nào.

You have the right to an interpreter
at no cost to you.

Occupational Safety and Health

ภาษาไทย: THAI

คุณต้องการความช่วยเหลือทางด้านภาษาหรือไม่ ทางเราจะจัดหาล่ามฟรีให้คุณ โทรที่เบอร์ (808-586-9116) และบอกเราว่าคุณพูดภาษาอะไร

You have the right to an interpreter
at no cost to you.

Occupational Safety and Health

TAGALOG: TAGALOG

Kailangan ba ninyo ng tulong sa ibang lengguwahe? Ikukuha namin kayo ng libreng tagasalin. Tumawag sa (808-586-9116) para sabihin kung anong lengguwahe ang nais ninyong gamitin.

You have the right to an interpreter
at no cost to you.

Occupational Safety and Health

ESPAÑOL: SPANISH

¿Necesita ayuda en otro idioma? Nosotros le ayudaremos a conseguir un intérprete gratuito. Llame al (808-586-9116) y diganos que idioma habla.

You have the right to an interpreter
at no cost to you.

Occupational Safety and Health

GAGANA SAMOA: SAMOAN

E te mana’o mia se fesosoani i se isi gagana? Matou te fesosoani e ave atu fua se faaliliu upu mo oe. Vili mai i le numera lea (808-586-9116) pea e mana’o mia se fesosoani mo se faaliliu upu.

You have the right to an interpreter
at no cost to you.

Occupational Safety and Health

KAJIN MAJÔL: MARSHALLESE

Kwoj aikuij ke jiban kin juon bar kajin? Kim naj lewaj juon am dri ukok eo ejjelok wonen. Kirtok (808-586-9116) im kwalok non kim kajin ta eo kwo melele im kenono kake.

You have the right to an interpreter
at no cost to you.

Occupational Safety and Health

한국어: KOREAN

다른언어로 도움이 필요하십니까? 저희가 무료로 통역을 제공합니다. (808-586-9116) 로 전화해서 사용하는 언어를 알려주십시요

You have the right to an interpreter
at no cost to you.

Occupational Safety and Health

日本語 (JAPANESE)

貴方は、他の言語に、助けを必要としていますか ? 私たちは、貴方のために、無料で 通訳を用意で きます。電話番号の (808-586-9116) に、電話して、私たちに貴方の話されている言語を申し出てください。

You have the right to an interpreter
at no cost to you.

Occupational Safety and Health

ILOKANO: ILOCANO

Masapulyo kadi ti tulong iti sabali a pagsasao? Ikkandakayo iti libre nga paraipatarus. Awaganyo ti (808-586-9116) tapno ibagayo kadakami no ania ti pagsasao nga ar-aramatenyo.

You have the right to an interpreter
at no cost to you.

Occupational Safety and Health

ʻŌLELO HAWAIʻI: HAWAIIAN

Makemake `oe i kokua i pili kekahi `olelo o na `aina `e? Makemake la maua i ki`i `oe mea unuhi manuahi. E kelepona (808-586-9116) `oe ia la kaua a e ha`ina `oe ia la maua mea `olelo o na `aina `e.

You have the right to an interpreter
at no cost to you.

Occupational Safety and Health

KAPASEN CHUUK: CHUUKESE

En mi niit alilis lon pwal eu kapas? Sipwe angei emon chon chiaku ngonuk ese kamo. Kokori (808-586-9116) omw kopwe ureni kich meni kapas ka ani.

You have the right to an interpreter
at no cost to you.

Occupational Safety and Health

中文 – CHINESE Mandarin

您需要其它語言嗎?如有需要, 請致電 (808-586-9116), 我們會提供免費翻譯服 (Traditional)

您需要其它语言吗?如有需要,请致电 (808-586-9116), 我们会提供免费翻译服务 (Simplified)

You have the right to an interpreter at no cost to you.

Occupational Safety and Health

中文 – CHINESE: Cantonese

您需要其它語言嗎?如有需要, 請致電 (808-586-9116), 我們會提供免費翻譯服務 (Traditional)

您需要其它语言吗?如有需要,请致电 (808-586-9116), 我们会提供免费翻译服务 (Simplified)

You have the right to an interpreter at no cost to you.