⚠️ JSA/JHA Process Playbook

A step-by-step playbook for implementing Job Safety Analysis (JSA) and Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) as part of your daily construction operations. This covers roles, workflows, review cycles, and how to make JHAs stick on your projects.

📄 All JHA/JSA Resources

Resource	What It Covers
JHA Guide	How-to guide with examples, risk matrix, hierarchy of controls
You are here — JSA/JHA Playbook	Implementation workflow, roles, metrics, troubleshooting
JHA Procedure (SOP)	Company procedure — when JHAs are required, policy, compliance
JSA Template (Download)	Downloadable form with fill-out instructions

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Playbook Overview

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                  JSA/JHA WORKFLOW                        │
│                                                         │
│  1. IDENTIFY  →  2. DEVELOP  →  3. REVIEW  →  4. EXECUTE│
│     Task          JHA Document    With Crew     & Monitor│
│                                                         │
│                    ↑                                     │
│                    └───── 5. UPDATE (after incidents,    │
│                           condition changes, annually)   │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

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Roles and Responsibilities

Safety Director / Safety Manager

Responsibility	Frequency
Maintain master JHA template and standards	Ongoing
Build and curate the JHA library	Ongoing
Review JHAs for high-hazard tasks before execution	Per task
Conduct JHA quality audits on active projects	Monthly
Train supervisors on JHA development	At hire + annually
Analyze incident data to trigger JHA updates	After incidents
Report JHA compliance metrics to leadership	Monthly

Superintendent

Responsibility	Frequency
Ensure JHAs are developed for all required tasks	Daily
Review and approve JHAs from foremen	Before task starts
Verify controls are implemented in the field	Daily walkthrough
Coordinate multi-trade JHAs (overlapping work)	As needed
Escalate high-risk JHAs to safety director	As needed
Ensure JHA documentation is filed and accessible	Daily

Foreman / Supervisor

Responsibility	Frequency
Develop JHAs for assigned tasks (with crew input)	Before each new task
Lead pre-task meeting to review JHA with crew	Before each shift/task
Collect signatures from all participating workers	Before work starts
Monitor conditions and update JHA if they change	Throughout shift
Stop work if controls are not being followed	As needed
Submit completed JHAs to superintendent	End of shift

Workers / Craft Employees

Responsibility	Frequency
Participate in JHA development — share what you know	When asked
Attend pre-task meeting and ask questions	Before each task
Sign the JHA acknowledging understanding	Before work starts
Follow identified controls throughout the task	Continuously
Report new hazards or control failures to foreman	Immediately
Suggest improvements based on field experience	Anytime

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Phase 1: Identify the Task

When to Create a New JHA

Automatic triggers:

• New task not in the JHA library
• High-hazard activity (excavation, confined space, hot work, heights, crane/rigging, electrical, LOTO, demolition)
• Non-routine or infrequently performed work
• Task with prior incident history
• Multi-trade operation with overlapping hazards

Conditional triggers:

• Existing JHA but conditions have changed (weather, site layout, equipment)
• New crew members unfamiliar with the task
• New equipment or methods being used
• Near-miss occurred on a similar task

Task Selection Priority

Rank tasks by risk when multiple JHAs are needed:

1. Tasks that could cause fatalities — Always first
2. Tasks with high injury rates — Review OSHA 300 log data
3. New or unfamiliar tasks — No experience to fall back on
4. Tasks affected by changing conditions — Weather, adjacent work, schedule pressure

Pulling From the JHA Library

If a JHA already exists for this type of task:

1. Pull the template from the library
2. Customize for actual site conditions — Never use a library JHA as-is
3. Update the date, location, personnel, and equipment
4. Walk the work area to identify site-specific hazards
5. Add, remove, or modify steps and controls as needed
6. Document it as a new version for this project

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Phase 2: Develop the JHA Document

Preparation (Before Writing)

1. Walk the work area — Physically go to where the work will happen
2. Talk to the crew — Ask workers what hazards they've seen on similar tasks
3. Check incident history — Review your records and industry data for this task type
4. Review related documents — Site safety plan, permits, manufacturer instructions
5. Gather the JHA form — Paper template or digital tool

Writing the JHA

Follow this sequence:

A. Header Information

Fill in all identifying information:

• Project name and number
• Task/activity description (specific, not generic)
• Location on site (building, floor, grid, area)
• Date prepared
• Prepared by (name and title)
• Required personnel (number and trades)
• Equipment and materials needed
• Required PPE

B. Job Steps (5–15 Steps)

Break the task into chronological steps:

Good Step	Bad Step	Why
"Position extension ladder at a 4:1 ratio against wall"	"Set up"	Too vague — doesn't describe the actual action
"Hand-excavate within 24 inches of marked utilities"	"Dig trench"	Missing critical safety detail
"De-energize panel and apply LOTO locks to all sources"	"Lock out"	Missing the verification and multiple source detail

Include these often-missed steps:

• Staging and material delivery
• Tool and equipment inspection
• Setup and positioning
• The main work activity (broken into sub-steps)
• Quality checks during work
• Cleanup and demobilization
• Equipment and material removal

C. Hazards at Each Step

For every step, identify specific hazards:

Bad: "Safety hazard"
Good: "Fall from 12-foot scaffold platform to concrete slab below"

Bad: "Electrical"
Good: "Contact with energized 480V conductors in adjacent panel during wire pull"

Use the hazard categories as a checklist:

• Struck-by / Struck-against
• Caught-in / Caught-between
• Falls (from elevation and same level)
• Overexertion / Ergonomic
• Electrical contact
• Chemical / Biological exposure
• Noise / Vibration
• Temperature extremes
• Fire / Explosion
• Engulfment

D. Risk Assessment

Rate each hazard:

Rating	Severity	Probability
1	Minor (first aid)	Rare
2	Moderate (medical treatment)	Unlikely
3	Serious (lost time)	Possible
4	Critical (permanent disability)	Likely
5	Catastrophic (fatality)	Almost certain

Risk Score = Severity × Probability

Risk Level	Score	Action Required
Extreme	12–25	Stop work. Redesign task or get safety director approval.
High	8–10	Implement controls and verify before starting. Supervisor monitors.
Medium	5–6	Implement controls. Monitor during work.
Low	1–4	Standard precautions. PPE and awareness.

E. Controls for Each Hazard

Apply the Hierarchy of Controls — always start at the top:

1. Elimination — Can we remove the hazard?
2. Substitution — Can we use something less hazardous?
3. Engineering — Can we physically isolate workers from the hazard?
4. Administrative — Can we change procedures, training, or scheduling?
5. PPE — What protective equipment is required? (Last resort)

Write controls as actions:

Bad Control	Good Control
"Be careful"	"Install guardrails with mid-rail and toe board on all open sides"
"Watch out"	"Spotter in position before any crane movement; no workers in swing radius"
"Use PPE"	"Wear ANSI Z87.1 safety glasses and cut-resistant Level A4 gloves"

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Phase 3: Review With the Crew

Pre-Task Meeting Agenda (5–15 Minutes)

Time	Activity	Who
2 min	State the task and scope of work today	Foreman
3 min	Walk through each JHA step, hazards, and controls	Foreman
3 min	Crew input: "What did we miss? Any concerns?"	All workers
2 min	Update JHA with crew additions	Foreman
2 min	Review emergency procedures (nearest exit, first aid, phone numbers)	Foreman
1 min	Collect signatures	All workers
1 min	Assign specific responsibilities (spotter, fire watch, etc.)	Foreman

Crew Review Best Practices

• Hold the meeting at the work location — not in the trailer
• Make it a conversation — not a lecture
• Ask open-ended questions — "What hazards do you see?" not "Any questions?"
• New workers speak first — Fresh eyes catch things veterans miss
• Experienced workers validate — They know what's gone wrong before
• Language consideration — Ensure all workers understand, use translators if needed
• Document additions — If crew identifies new hazards, write them on the JHA

The 2-Minute Rule

If a pre-task meeting takes less than 2 minutes, you're rushing. If it takes more than 15 minutes, it needs to be more focused. The sweet spot is 5–10 minutes of genuine discussion.

Signature Collection

Every worker who will perform or be exposed to the task must sign:

• Printed name
• Signature
• Date and time
• Trade/company (especially on multi-employer sites)

Workers who arrive later must be briefed on the JHA and sign before starting.

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Phase 4: Execute and Monitor

During Work

Monitoring Activity	Frequency	Responsible
Verify controls are in place (guardrails, barricades, etc.)	Before work starts	Foreman
Observe work practices match the JHA	Continuously	Foreman
Walk-through inspections	2–3 times per shift	Superintendent
Check for condition changes (weather, adjacent work)	Hourly	Foreman
Address deviations immediately	As needed	Foreman / Superintendent

Stop Work Triggers

Any of these requires stopping work and reviewing/updating the JHA:

• A control is not working as intended
• Conditions have changed from what the JHA assumed
• A new hazard is identified that's not on the JHA
• A near-miss occurs
• Weather changes significantly (wind, rain, lightning, heat)
• Adjacent work creates a new exposure
• A worker raises a safety concern
• Equipment malfunctions

Documenting During Execution

• Note any changes to the JHA during the shift
• Record near-misses and corrective actions taken
• Take photos of hazard controls in place (digital JHAs)
• Record actual vs. planned conditions

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Phase 5: Update and Improve

After Each Task

1. File the completed, signed JHA (paper: project safety file; digital: cloud archive)
2. Note any lessons learned on the JHA or in a separate log
3. If the task will be repeated, update the library JHA with what you learned

After an Incident or Near-Miss

1. Immediately — Stop work, secure the scene, report per incident procedure
2. Within 24 hours — Review the JHA with the investigation team
3. Investigate — Was the hazard on the JHA? Were controls followed? What was missed?
4. Update — Revise the JHA with new hazards and improved controls
5. Communicate — Re-brief all affected workers on the updated JHA
6. Library update — Push changes to the master JHA library

Periodic Review Schedule

Review Type	Frequency	Triggered By
Task-specific review	Each time task is performed	New project, new conditions
Incident-triggered review	Within 24 hours of incident	Any incident or near-miss
Condition change review	Immediately	Weather, equipment, personnel, adjacent work
Library audit	Annually	Calendar
Program audit	Quarterly	Safety director

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Integration With Daily Operations

Morning Routine (Recommended)

6:00 AM  Superintendent reviews day's activities
6:15 AM  Identify tasks requiring new or updated JHAs
6:30 AM  Foremen pull library JHAs and customize for today
6:45 AM  Pre-task meetings at each work area (foremen lead)
7:00 AM  Work begins with controls verified

JHA and Toolbox Talks

• Use the day's JHA to drive toolbox talk topics
• If the JHA identifies fall hazards, discuss falls
• Make it relevant — the best toolbox talk is about today's actual work

JHA and Daily Reports

Link JHAs to daily reports:

• Reference JHA number in daily report
• Note any JHA changes during the shift
• Document compliance observations
• Record safety conversations and corrections

JHA and Permits

Some tasks require both a JHA and a permit:

Task	JHA	Permit
Hot work	Yes	Hot Work Permit
Confined space	Yes	Confined Space Entry Permit
Crane lift (critical)	Yes	Critical Lift Plan
Excavation	Yes	Excavation Permit (some jurisdictions)

Complete the JHA first, then reference it in the permit.

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Metrics and Tracking

Leading Indicators (Measure Effort)

Metric	Target	How to Track
JHA completion rate	100% of high-hazard tasks	Count JHAs vs. high-hazard tasks
Pre-task meeting attendance	100% of workers signed	Signature count vs. headcount
JHA quality score	over 80% meeting standards	Monthly audit (see checklist below)
Worker participation in development	over 50% have crew input documented	Review JHAs for crew additions
Library currency	100% reviewed within 12 months	Review dates on library JHAs

Lagging Indicators (Measure Results)

Metric	Direction	What It Tells You
OSHA recordable rate (TRIR)	Declining	Safety program is working
Near-miss reports	Increasing (early), then stabilizing	Workers are reporting; hazards being addressed
Incidents on tasks with JHAs vs. without	Lower with JHAs	JHA process is effective
JHA-identified hazards involved in incidents	Declining	JHA quality is improving

JHA Quality Audit Checklist

Use this monthly to evaluate JHA quality on your projects:

• JHA exists for all high-hazard tasks in progress
• Job steps are specific and in logical sequence
• Hazards are specific (not vague like "safety hazard")
• Controls are actionable (not vague like "be careful")
• Hierarchy of controls applied (not PPE-only)
• Risk ratings are documented
• All workers signed before work started
• JHA is posted or accessible at the work area
• JHA reflects actual site conditions (not a generic copy)
• JHA has been updated when conditions changed

Scoring: Each item = 10 points. Score over 80 = Acceptable. Score under 80 = Needs improvement + retraining.

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Troubleshooting Common Problems

"My foremen won't do JHAs"

• Root cause: They see it as paperwork, not a safety tool
• Fix: Simplify the form. Provide library JHAs so they customize, not create from scratch. Recognize and reward good JHAs. Make it part of their performance evaluation.

"The JHAs all look the same"

• Root cause: Copy/paste without customization
• Fix: Require site-specific details (location, equipment serial numbers, crew names). Audit for specificity. Walk the work area with the foreman when reviewing.

"Workers tune out during pre-task meetings"

• Root cause: The meeting is a lecture, not a discussion
• Fix: Ask questions: "What's the worst thing that could happen at step 3?" Let workers lead parts of the discussion. Keep it under 10 minutes. Hold it at the work area, not in a trailer.

"We have JHAs but still have incidents"

• Root cause: JHAs are documents, not actions — controls aren't being verified
• Fix: Implement field verification. Superintendents physically check that controls are in place. Add "control verification" as a checklist item. Investigate whether the incident hazard was on the JHA.

"It takes too long to create a JHA"

• Root cause: Starting from blank forms every time
• Fix: Build the JHA library. For common tasks, a foreman should only need to customize a library JHA (10–15 minutes), not write one from scratch (30–60 minutes).

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Templates and Tools

Resource	Link
Downloadable JSA Template	Download JSA Template
JHA Guide (detailed how-to)	JHA Guide
Safety Compliance Guide	Compliance Guide
Toolbox Talk Library	Toolbox Talks
Incident Reporting Guide	Incident Reporting

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Related Resources

• Job Hazard Analysis Guide — Detailed how-to with examples
• JSA Template (Download)
• Safety Compliance Guide
• Safety Compliance Guide
• Run Effective Safety Meetings