Quick answer
This free JSA template lets you build a job safety analysis in your browser: break the job into basic steps, list the hazards in each step, record controls using the hierarchy of controls, and rate the risk before and after. JSA and JHA (job hazard analysis) are the same method under different names, and you can print the finished form, save it as a PDF or download it as a CSV for Excel.
How to use this tool
- 1Fill in the header: the job or task, location or department, who prepared it, who reviewed or approved it, the date, required PPE, and any training or permits needed.
- 2Add the basic job steps in the order the work is done. Start each step with an action verb, and aim for fewer than about ten steps.
- 3For each step, list the hazards. Use the quick-pick chips (struck-by, caught-in/between, falls, overexertion, awkward posture, electrical, chemical, noise, heat/cold, sharp edges, vehicles) or type your own.
- 4Write specific controls for each hazard, working down the hierarchy of controls: elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative, then PPE.
- 5Rate likelihood (1-5) and severity (1-5) before and after controls. The score is likelihood × severity, from 1 to 25.
- 6Print or save as PDF, or download a CSV that opens in Excel. Load the worked example to see a finished JSA first.
What does this JSA template do?
This free JSA template turns a job safety analysis into a fill-in form that builds itself as you type. You list the basic steps of a job, the hazards in each step and the controls for each hazard, then rate the risk before and after those controls.
The header records the job or task, location or department, who prepared it, who reviewed or approved it, the date, the PPE required, and any training or permits needed. Each row of the step table then holds one job step with its hazards, controls and two risk ratings.
- Quick-pick hazard chips: struck-by, caught-in/between, fall on the same level, fall from height, overexertion/lifting, awkward posture/repetition, electrical, chemical, noise, heat/cold, sharp edges, and vehicles/mobile equipment. You can also type your own.
- Controls hint: a reminder to work down the hierarchy of controls, from elimination to PPE.
- Risk before and after: likelihood 1-5 × severity 1-5, scored 1-25.
- Editing: add, remove and reorder steps. The form autosaves in your browser.
- Output: Print or Save as PDF, download a CSV that opens in Excel, or download a blank printable JSA template PDF to fill in by hand.
- Worked example: load a completed manual-handling JSA (unloading cartons from a delivery truck) to see how a finished form reads.
Your data stays in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server.
JSA vs JHA: what is the difference?
There is no real difference. OSHA's guide, Publication 3071, calls the method a job hazard analysis (JHA) and describes it as "a technique that focuses on job tasks as a way to identify hazards before they occur." It looks at the relationship between the worker, the task, the tools and the work environment.
CCOHS calls the same process a job safety analysis (JSA) and lists job hazard analysis and job hazard breakdown as other names for it. So a JHA template, a JSA form and a job safety analysis template all do the same job.
What should a job hazard analysis template include?
A good job hazard analysis template captures who, where and when, then works through the job one step at a time. OSHA's sample job hazard analysis form records the job title, job location, analyst and date, then a task description, hazard type and hazard description for each task.
CCOHS uses a three-column worksheet: sequence of steps, potential incidents or hazards, and preventive measures. This JSA template combines both layouts and adds the fields most sites also need:
| Section | What to record |
|---|---|
| Header | Job/task, location or department, prepared by, reviewed/approved by, date |
| Requirements | Required PPE, training or permits needed |
| Job steps | Each basic step, in order, starting with an action verb |
| Hazards | What could go wrong in that step |
| Controls | Specific actions, following the hierarchy of controls |
| Risk rating | Likelihood × severity, before and after controls |
When does OSHA recommend a job hazard analysis?
OSHA says a job hazard analysis can be done on many jobs, but priority should go to:
- Jobs with the highest injury or illness rates.
- Jobs with the potential to cause severe or disabling injuries or illness, even if there is no history of previous accidents.
- Jobs where one simple human error could lead to a severe accident or injury.
- Jobs that are new to your operation or have changed in processes and procedures.
- Jobs complex enough to require written instructions.
CCOHS adds infrequently performed jobs, because workers may be at greater risk on non-routine work. Before you start, OSHA also suggests reviewing your accident and near-miss history with employees. If a hazard poses an immediate danger to life or health, act on it now rather than waiting for the analysis.
How do you break a job into steps?
Watch the worker do the job and list each step as they take it. OSHA warns against a breakdown so detailed that it becomes unnecessarily long, or so broad that it leaves out basic steps.
CCOHS gives a useful rule of thumb: most jobs can be described in fewer than ten steps. If you need more, split the job into two analyses. Keep the steps in the right order, note what is done rather than how, and start each step with an action verb such as "Lift", "Carry" or "Place".
Make it clear to the worker that you are evaluating the job, not their performance. OSHA also notes that photos or video of the job can be handy references for a more detailed analysis.
How do you identify hazards in each step?
For each step, OSHA suggests asking: What can go wrong? What are the consequences? How could it arise? What are the other contributing factors? How likely is it to happen?
CCOHS offers prompt questions such as whether a body part can get caught in or between objects, whether the worker can slip, trip or fall, whether lifting, pushing or pulling can cause strain, and whether there is exposure to heat, cold, noise, vibration, dust or fumes. The hazard chips in this JSA template follow the same idea. At this stage, just list hazards and don't try to solve them yet.
Ergonomic hazards are easy to miss because the harm builds up slowly. Our guide to common ergonomic hazards at work covers force, awkward posture and repetition in more detail.
How do you choose controls with the hierarchy of controls?
NIOSH sets out the hierarchy of controls in order of general effectiveness:
- Elimination: remove the hazard at the source.
- Substitution: use a safer alternative.
- Engineering controls: change the equipment or workspace to keep the hazard away from workers.
- Administrative controls: change work practices to reduce how long, how often or how intensely people are exposed, for example training, job rotation and rest breaks.
- PPE: gloves, safety glasses, hearing protection and similar equipment.
NIOSH says employers should not rely on PPE alone when other effective controls are available. CCOHS also advises against vague controls like "be careful" or "use caution". Write specific actions that say what to do and how.
For lifting tasks, you can size the load and layout with our NIOSH lifting equation calculator and record the result as an engineering or administrative control.
How does the risk rating work?
Each step gets two ratings: one for the hazard as it stands, and one after the planned controls are in place. Likelihood and severity are each rated 1-5, and the score is likelihood × severity, so it runs from 1 to 25.
| Score | Band |
|---|---|
| 1-4 | Low |
| 5-9 | Medium |
| 10-16 | High |
| 20-25 | Critical |
These bands are ViveLab's convention, not an OSHA or CCOHS rule. Many organizations set their own matrix and action thresholds, so change the bands to match your safety management system if needed. The rating is a judgment, so agree it as a team.
JSA example: unloading cartons from a delivery truck
Here is a short JSA example for the same kind of task as the worked example in the tool. The ratings are illustrative judgments for this scenario, not measured values.
| Step | Hazards | Controls | Risk before | Risk after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Position truck at the dock | Vehicles/mobile equipment, struck-by | Marked pedestrian exclusion zone; wheel chocks; spotter during reversing | 3 × 5 = 15 High | 1 × 5 = 5 Medium |
| 2. Lift cartons from the truck floor | Overexertion/lifting, awkward posture (bending, twisting) | Use a roller conveyor or pallet so cartons start at waist height; team lift for heavy cartons; lifting training | 4 × 3 = 12 High | 2 × 3 = 6 Medium |
| 3. Carry cartons to the staging area | Fall on same level, overexertion | Use a hand truck; keep walkways clear; limit carry distance | 3 × 3 = 9 Medium | 2 × 2 = 4 Low |
| 4. Stack cartons on racking | Awkward posture (reaching overhead), struck-by falling cartons | Store heavy cartons between knee and shoulder height; step platform for top shelves | 3 × 3 = 9 Medium | 2 × 2 = 4 Low |
| 5. Cut straps and open cartons | Sharp edges | Safety knife with retractable blade; cut-resistant gloves | 3 × 2 = 6 Medium | 1 × 2 = 2 Low |
For a closer look at lifting tasks like step 2, see our walkthrough of a manual handling risk assessment.
Who should be involved in a JSA?
OSHA says it is very important to involve employees, because they have a unique understanding of the job and involving them helps minimize oversights and gets buy-in to the solutions. CCOHS suggests a small team of experienced workers and supervisors, often with a health and safety committee member or a safety specialist.
Once the JSA is complete, CCOHS says the results must be shared with everyone who does or will do the job. It notes that a narrative work procedure is often easier to teach from than the side-by-side table, so consider turning your finished form into a short briefing. A toolbox talk on hazard reporting is a good way to keep new hazards coming back to the team, and our library of safety talk topics has more briefing ideas.
How often should you review a JSA?
OSHA recommends reviewing a job hazard analysis periodically so it stays current. Even if the job hasn't changed, a review can reveal hazards that were missed the first time.
It is especially important to review it after an injury or illness on that job. CCOHS adds that a JSA needs revising whenever equipment, raw materials, processes or the environment change. Whenever you revise it, OSHA says to train all affected employees on the new methods, procedures or protective measures.
Is a JSA legally required?
OSHA does not have a general standard that requires a JSA for every job. OSHA 3071 is guidance, and it reminds employers that compliance with the OSHA standards for their industry is mandatory.
Some standards do require a hazard assessment. Under 29 CFR 1910.132(d), employers must assess the workplace to determine whether hazards are present that require PPE, and certify that assessment in writing with the workplace evaluated, the person certifying, and the date. That paragraph applies to eye and face, head, foot, hand and fall protection, not to respiratory or electrical protective equipment.
A completed JSA template that records the required PPE can support that assessment, but check that it includes all the certification details. Employers in OSHA state-plan states should also check their state's rules. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Next steps
Load the worked example, then replace it with your own job and fill in the JSA template step by step. For jobs where posture and force are the main concern, follow up with our ergonomic risk assessment checklist to screen the whole task in more depth.
Frequently asked questions
What should a JSA template include?
At minimum: the job, location, who prepared and reviewed it, and the date, then a table of job steps, the hazards in each step, and the controls for each hazard. Many forms also record required PPE, training or permits, and a risk rating before and after controls.
Is a job hazard analysis template the same as a JSA form?
Yes. OSHA calls the method a job hazard analysis, and CCOHS calls it a job safety analysis and lists JHA as another name for it. A job hazard analysis template and a JSA form capture the same steps, hazards and controls.
Is a JSA legally required by OSHA?
OSHA has no general standard that requires a JSA for every job. Some standards do require a written hazard assessment, such as 29 CFR 1910.132(d) for PPE, and a JSA can help you meet those. Check the standards for your industry and any state plan rules.
How many steps should a JSA have?
CCOHS gives a rule of thumb that most jobs can be described in fewer than ten steps. If you need more, split the job into two analyses or combine steps.
How often should a JSA be reviewed?
OSHA recommends reviewing it periodically and especially after an injury or illness on that job. CCOHS adds that it needs revising whenever equipment, materials, processes or the environment change.
Where is my JSA data stored?
In your browser only. The form autosaves locally so you can come back to it on the same device, and nothing is uploaded to a server.