Risk Assessment and Job Hazard Analysis (JHA/JSA) Procedures for Workplace Hazard Identification and Control

Assessment Date: [DATE]

Assessor: [ASSESSOR NAME]

Department/Area: [DEPARTMENT/AREA]

Review Date: [REVIEW DATE]

1. Assessment Scope

This assessment covers the systematic use of job hazard analysis (JHA) and job safety analysis (JSA) methods to identify workplace hazards, evaluate risk levels, and implement controls for routine and non-routine tasks. It applies to task planning, pre-job briefings, work execution, and post-job review activities across the workplace. The scope includes hazards associated with tools, equipment, materials, work methods, the physical environment, and human factors, as well as the selection of personal protective equipment where required. It excludes detailed engineering design reviews, medical surveillance programs, and site-specific emergency response plans that are maintained as separate controlled documents, except where those topics directly affect task-level hazard control.

2. Risk Assessment Methodology

A structured JHA/JSA methodology is used to break work into discrete steps, identify hazards at each step, evaluate the likelihood and severity of harm, and assign an overall risk rating using a consistent qualitative scale of Low, Medium, High, and Extreme. The assessment follows the hierarchy of controls in order of preference: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and PPE. The process includes worker involvement, observation of the task, review of findings with employees, and documentation of hazards and controls. The assessment is treated as a living document and must be updated when conditions, equipment, procedures, or hazards change.

3. Risk Matrix Reference

The following matrix is used to evaluate risk levels based on likelihood and severity:

		Likelihood
Rare	Unlikely	Possible	Likely	Almost Certain
Severity	Catastrophic	Low	Low	Medium	Medium	High
Major	Low	Medium	Medium	High	High
Moderate	Medium	Medium	High	High	Extreme
Minor	Medium	High	High	Extreme	Extreme
Negligible	High	High	Extreme	Extreme	Extreme

4. Hazard Identification and Risk Evaluation

1. Inadequate task planning or failure to break work into discrete steps, resulting in missed hazards during the JHA/JSA process.

Potential Consequences: Critical hazards may remain unidentified, leading to incidents such as injuries, equipment damage, exposure to hazardous energy, or ineffective PPE selection. [1] [1] [5]

Affected Persons: Workers performing the task, supervisors, maintenance personnel, contractors, and nearby workers who rely on the analysis.

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Likely	Major	High

Control Measures

• Eliminate unnecessary or redundant task steps where possible.
• Standardize the JHA/JSA process so every task is analyzed using the same method.
• Require direct observation of the work and employee participation in the analysis.
• Use administrative controls such as pre-job briefings, documented task steps, and formal review of findings.
• Provide PPE only after hazards are identified and other controls are considered.

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Unlikely	Major	Medium

2. Exposure to moving machinery, unguarded tools, or improper use of equipment during task execution.

Potential Consequences: Cuts, amputations, crushing injuries, entanglement, struck-by injuries, or fatal trauma may occur if equipment is used without adequate safeguards. [3] [3] [2]

Affected Persons: Operators, helpers, maintenance staff, and nearby workers.

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Possible	Catastrophic	Extreme

Control Measures

• Eliminate the hazard by redesigning the task so the work can be completed without exposure to moving parts.
• Substitute safer tools or equipment with built-in safety features.
• Install engineering controls such as guards, interlocks, barriers, or enclosures.
• Use administrative controls including safe work procedures, equipment inspections, and training on correct tool use.
• Require appropriate PPE such as eye protection, gloves, and protective footwear where residual risk remains.

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Unlikely	Major	Medium

3. Work at height, including use of ladders, platforms, or elevated access equipment.

Potential Consequences: Falls from height can cause fractures, head injuries, spinal trauma, or death. [4] [4] [4]

Affected Persons: Workers performing elevated work, spotters, and persons below the work area.

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Possible	Catastrophic	Extreme

Control Measures

• Eliminate work at height by completing tasks from the ground whenever feasible.
• Substitute a safer access method such as an elevating work platform instead of a ladder where appropriate.
• Install engineering controls such as guardrails, toe boards, and fall arrest anchor points.
• Use administrative controls including fall protection plans, work-at-height procedures, pre-use inspections, and rescue planning.
• Require PPE such as fall arrest systems, head protection, high-visibility clothing, protective footwear, and eye protection as applicable.

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Unlikely	Major	Medium

4. Slips, trips, and falls caused by wet floors, uneven surfaces, poor housekeeping, or obstructed walkways.

Potential Consequences: Sprains, fractures, head injuries, lost-time injuries, and secondary incidents from falls into equipment or traffic paths may occur. [1] [3] [8]

Affected Persons: Workers, visitors, contractors, and members of the public in shared areas.

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Likely	Moderate	High

Control Measures

• Eliminate spill sources and remove unnecessary obstacles from walkways.
• Substitute safer floor treatments or materials where practical.
• Use engineering controls such as anti-slip surfaces, drainage, barriers, and adequate lighting.
• Apply administrative controls including housekeeping standards, spill response procedures, signage, and routine inspections.
• Use PPE such as slip-resistant footwear where required by the task and environment.

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Unlikely	Minor	Low

5. Manual handling, repetitive motion, and awkward postures during task performance or setup.

Potential Consequences: Musculoskeletal disorders, strains, sprains, fatigue, reduced concentration, and increased likelihood of secondary incidents may result. [1] [9] [3]

Affected Persons: Workers performing repetitive or forceful tasks, especially new or inexperienced workers.

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Likely	Moderate	High

Control Measures

• Eliminate unnecessary manual handling by redesigning the task or workflow.
• Substitute mechanical aids or alternative methods that reduce force and repetition.
• Use engineering controls such as lift assists, carts, adjustable workstations, and ergonomic tools.
• Apply administrative controls including job rotation, work-rest cycles, training on body mechanics, and early reporting of discomfort.
• Provide PPE only where it supports the task, such as grip-enhancing gloves, without relying on PPE as the primary control.

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Possible	Minor	Medium

6. Exposure to hazardous chemicals, including inhalation, skin contact, or splash hazards during handling, mixing, or cleanup.

Potential Consequences: Chemical burns, dermatitis, respiratory irritation, poisoning, eye injury, fire, or environmental release may occur. [10] [12] [3]

Affected Persons: Workers handling chemicals, cleaners, maintenance staff, and nearby personnel.

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Possible	Major	High

Control Measures

• Eliminate hazardous chemicals where a non-hazardous process can be used.
• Substitute less hazardous substances, such as water-based products instead of solvent-based products where feasible.
• Use engineering controls such as local exhaust ventilation, closed transfer systems, and chemical storage cabinets.
• Apply administrative controls including SDS review, labeling, training, spill procedures, and restricted access.
• Require PPE such as chemical-resistant gloves, eye and face protection, protective clothing, and respiratory protection when justified by the hazard assessment.

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Unlikely	Moderate	Medium

7. Electrical exposure from damaged cords, exposed conductors, temporary power, or improper isolation of energy sources.

Potential Consequences: Electric shock, burns, arc flash injuries, fire, equipment damage, or fatal electrocution may occur. [3] [2] [7]

Affected Persons: Electricians, maintenance workers, operators, contractors, and anyone in the vicinity of energized equipment.

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Possible	Catastrophic	Extreme

Control Measures

• Eliminate exposure by de-energizing equipment before work begins whenever possible.
• Substitute lower-voltage or battery-powered equipment where practical.
• Use engineering controls such as grounding, insulation, covers, barriers, and lockable disconnects.
• Apply administrative controls including lockout/tagout procedures, permit systems, inspections, and qualified-person requirements.
• Use PPE such as arc-rated clothing, insulated gloves, face protection, and dielectric footwear when energized work cannot be avoided.

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Unlikely	Major	Medium

8. Struck-by or caught-in/between hazards from vehicles, mobile equipment, or suspended loads.

Potential Consequences: Crushing injuries, fractures, amputations, internal injuries, or fatal trauma may occur if workers are in the line of fire. [3] [9] [3]

Affected Persons: Operators, riggers, spotters, pedestrians, contractors, and visitors.

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Possible	Catastrophic	Extreme

Control Measures

• Eliminate pedestrian exposure by separating work zones from vehicle routes where possible.
• Substitute remote handling methods or smaller equipment where feasible.
• Use engineering controls such as physical barriers, exclusion zones, alarms, mirrors, and load-rated lifting devices.
• Apply administrative controls including traffic management plans, spotter procedures, communication protocols, and competency requirements.
• Require PPE such as high-visibility clothing, head protection, protective footwear, and gloves as appropriate.

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Unlikely	Major	Medium

9. Inadequate communication, supervision, or change management when conditions differ from the original JHA/JSA.

Potential Consequences: Workers may follow outdated controls, miss new hazards, or fail to respond correctly to changing conditions, increasing the likelihood of incidents. [1] [1] [11]

Affected Persons: Workers, supervisors, contractors, and any persons affected by the task.

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Likely	Major	High

Control Measures

• Eliminate ambiguity by requiring a current, task-specific JHA/JSA before work starts.
• Substitute informal communication with structured pre-job briefings and documented change control.
• Use engineering controls where possible to reduce dependence on human memory, such as interlocks or physical barriers.
• Apply administrative controls including stop-work authority, revised briefings when conditions change, and supervisor verification.
• Use PPE as a supplementary measure only after higher-level controls are in place.

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Unlikely	Moderate	Medium

5. General Control Measures

• Require worker participation in hazard identification and control development.

Involve the employees who perform the task, observe the work, and review the findings with them before finalizing the JHA/JSA. [1] [1]

• Use the hierarchy of controls to select the most effective hazard controls first.

Prioritize elimination and substitution before relying on engineering controls, administrative controls, or PPE. [3] [6]

• Conduct routine workplace inspections and follow-up reviews to verify that controls remain effective.

Inspect tools, equipment, work areas, and work practices; investigate incidents and near misses; and update controls when deficiencies are found. [3] [3]

• Maintain a documented hazard assessment and keep it current when work conditions change.

Treat the JHA/JSA as a living document and revise it after changes to equipment, materials, procedures, staffing, or site conditions. [1] [11]

• Ensure PPE is selected only after higher-level controls have been considered and documented.

Use the hazard assessment to determine the specific PPE needed for the task, and verify that PPE matches the hazard type and exposure conditions. [12] [13]

6. Emergency Preparedness

• Establish task-specific emergency response actions for falls, chemical exposure, electrical shock, struck-by incidents, and serious cuts or crush injuries. The response plan should define immediate first aid actions, emergency notification steps, and criteria for stopping work and evacuating the area. [4] [11]
• Provide rescue and recovery arrangements where work at height, confined access, or energized systems create time-critical rescue needs. Rescue capability must be available before work begins, not developed after an incident occurs. [4] [1]
• Ensure spill response materials, eyewash access, and decontamination procedures are available when chemical hazards are present. Workers must know how to isolate the area and prevent secondary exposure. [10] [12]
• Implement stop-work and area-isolation procedures for uncontrolled hazards such as damaged guards, exposed electrical parts, unstable loads, or unexpected site conditions. Work must not resume until the hazard is reassessed and controls are verified. [3] [8]

7. Training Requirements

• JHA/JSA Process Training: Workers and supervisors must be trained to participate in the JHA/JSA process, break tasks into steps, identify hazards, and recommend controls. Training should emphasize that the analysis is task-specific and must be reviewed before work begins. [1] [5]
  • How to observe a task and document each step
  • How to identify obvious and hidden hazards
  • How to select controls using the hierarchy of controls
  • How to update the analysis when conditions change
• Hierarchy of Controls Training: Employees and supervisors must understand the order of control preference and why elimination and substitution are more effective than PPE. Training should reinforce that PPE is the last line of defense, not the primary control. [3] [8]
  • Elimination
  • Substitution
  • Engineering controls
  • Administrative controls
  • PPE as last resort
• Task-Specific Hazard Training: Provide training on the specific hazards identified in the JHA/JSA, such as fall protection, chemical handling, electrical safety, machine guarding, traffic control, and manual handling. Training must include safe work procedures, warning signs, and emergency actions. [4] [10]
  • Fall protection and ladder safety
  • Chemical handling and SDS awareness
  • Lockout/tagout and electrical awareness
  • Traffic management and struck-by prevention
  • Ergonomic handling and use of mechanical aids
• Change Management and Refresher Training: Refresher training is required whenever the JHA/JSA is revised, when new equipment or materials are introduced, after incidents or near misses, and when workers are assigned to unfamiliar tasks. Training should confirm understanding of revised controls before work resumes. [11] [10]
  • After incidents or near misses
  • After changes to equipment, materials, or procedures
  • When new hazards are identified
  • When workers are new to the task or workplace

8. Monitoring and Review

Review Frequency: Annually, and immediately after incidents, near misses, changes in equipment, materials, procedures, staffing, or site conditions.

Monitoring Type	Frequency	Responsible Party	Description
Regular Workplace Inspection	Before work starts and at defined intervals during the job	Supervisor or competent person	Inspect the work area, tools, equipment, access routes, and housekeeping conditions to confirm that hazards identified in the JHA/JSA remain controlled and that no new hazards have been introduced. [3]
Pre-Job Briefing Verification	Before each task or shift	Supervisor and crew lead	Verify that the current JHA/JSA has been reviewed with the crew, that site-specific hazards are understood, and that any changes in conditions have been communicated before work begins. [1]
Incident and Near-Miss Review	After every incident, injury, illness, or near miss	Supervisor, safety representative, and management	Investigate events to identify underlying hazards, control failures, and opportunities to revise the JHA/JSA and related procedures. [3] [11]
Control Effectiveness Review	Monthly or after any significant change	Supervisor and safety professional	Check whether control measures are functioning as intended, whether workers are following procedures, and whether additional controls are needed to reduce residual risk. [8] [8]
Document Review and Update	Annually and whenever work conditions change	Management and safety representative	Review the JHA/JSA for changes in tasks, equipment, materials, staffing, layout, or environmental conditions, and update the document to reflect current hazards and controls. [11] [1]

9. Special Circumstances

• Weather conditions such as rain, ice, heat, wind, or poor visibility can increase slip, trip, fall, transportation, and heat-stress risks. The JHA/JSA must be adjusted when weather affects safe access, visibility, or equipment stability. [1] [9]
• Night work or reduced-light conditions can reduce visibility, increase fatigue, and make communication and hazard recognition more difficult. Additional lighting, supervision, and communication controls may be required. [9]
• Lone work increases the consequence of incidents because immediate assistance may not be available. Check-in procedures, communication devices, and emergency escalation steps are required. [9]
• New, inexperienced, or reassigned workers may not recognize hazards or may require additional supervision and training before performing the task independently. [9]
• Non-routine work such as maintenance, repair, cleaning, or emergency response often introduces hazards that are not present during normal operations and must be separately assessed. [9]

Approval and Sign-off

This risk assessment has been reviewed and approved by:

Assessor: _________________________ Date: __________

Manager/Supervisor: _________________________ Date: __________

Safety Representative: _________________________ Date: __________

This risk assessment must be reviewed annually, and immediately after incidents, near misses, changes in equipment, materials, procedures, staffing, or site conditions. or when significant changes occur.

Safety powered by SALUS