OSHA Job Hazard Analysis Form

Overview and Instructions

A job hazard analysis is a structured way to look at a job before work begins, break it into its component tasks, and work out what could go wrong. The OSHA Job Hazard Analysis form guides you through that review one task at a time. Rather than relying on general awareness of risk, it asks you to name the job, describe the work process, identify the hazards it carries, and set down the controls that will keep workers safe. The form is built around three areas: it begins with the details of the job, moves into the specific task, hazards, and controls, and closes with sign-off. Its value lies in the record it produces — a traceable account of what you assessed and why you chose the controls you did.

Task, Hazards and Controls

### Identifying the job Start by capturing who prepared the analysis and when it was conducted, along with the location and job title. Record the number of workers involved, so the level of exposure is clear from the outset. Then describe the task or work process in detail — a specific job, not a general role — so the rest of the analysis stays anchored to real work. ### Naming the hazard The form provides a hazard type list to work through: - Physical, such as noise, radiation, and temperature extremes - Chemical, such as gases, vapors, fumes, and dusts - Biological, such as bacteria, viruses, and mold - Ergonomic, such as repetitive motion and awkward posture - Electrical - Mechanical, such as moving parts and pinch points - Fall hazards, including work at heights, slips, and trips - Fire and explosion - Other, for anything that does not fit the categories above Assign a risk severity rating, then write a detailed hazard description and the potential consequences of exposure. Naming consequences — not just the hazard itself — is what makes the rating meaningful and the eventual controls proportionate. ### Choosing and justifying controls Record the preventive measures and hazard controls you will apply, and add a rationale explaining why those controls are effective. That rationale is what turns a list of measures into a defensible safety decision: it shows you considered the hazard, its consequences, and the fit between the two. ### Signing off Once the analysis is complete, capture a signature and the time it was finished. The signed record is what makes the analysis usable later — as a briefing document, a basis for training, or a reference when the job changes.

Why it matters

A job hazard analysis drives continuous safety improvement because it forces hazards to be identified and controls to be justified before work starts, rather than after an incident. Written down and signed, it becomes a shared reference that supervisors and workers can return to, and a baseline you can revisit when a task, tool, or workspace changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

A job hazard analysis (JHA) is a structured way to break a job into its steps, identify the hazards within each step, and decide how to control them before work begins. The form walks you through documenting the task or work process, choosing a hazard type, rating risk severity, describing the hazard in detail, and recording potential consequences. From there you set out preventive measures and hazard controls, add a rationale for why those controls are effective, and capture signatures once the review is complete.

You follow the form in order. First capture the administrative details: the date it is conducted, who prepared it, the location, the job title, and the number of workers involved. Then describe the task or work process being analyzed, select the hazard type, assign a risk severity rating, and write a detailed hazard description along with the potential consequences. Next, record the preventive measures and hazard controls you will apply and explain the rationale behind them. Close by signing off and recording the finished time.

The form groups hazards into physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, electrical, mechanical, fall, and fire or explosion categories, with an option for anything that does not fit. Working through these categories prompts you to look past the obvious risks and consider the full range of exposures a job may involve.

Written by

Arne Reis

Founder

Process optimizer with 25 years of expertise, focused on operational excellence in quality, maintenance, EHS, and commissioning. Emphasizes innovative solutions and top-quality standards.

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