what is a jsa

A Job Safety Analysis (JSA) is a procedure that helps integrate accepted safety and health principles and practices into a particular task or job operation. In a JSA, each basic step of the job is analyzed to identify potential hazards and to recommend the safest way to do the job. Other terms used to describe this procedure are Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) and Job Hazard Breakdown. JSAs are usually developed when directed to do so by a supervisor, when indicated by the use of a first-tier risk assessment, and when a hazard associated with a task has a likelihood rating of possible or greater. The JSA is usually created by the work group who will perform the task, and the more minds and experience applied to analyzing the hazards in a job, the more successful the work group is likely to be in controlling them. A JSA is a useful technique for identifying hazards so that workers can take measures to eliminate or control hazards. Once the analysis is completed, potential hazards are identified, and potential ways to eliminate them are proposed.