Contractors moving between private and federal work often run into two similar-sounding documents: the Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) and the Activity Hazard Analysis (AHA). Both identify hazards and controls for a piece of work. The difference is mostly about where the requirement comes from and what format is expected.
Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)
A JHA — also called a Job Safety Analysis (JSA) — breaks a specific task into steps, identifies the hazards of each step and lists the controls that will be used. OSHA describes the method in its publication Job Hazard Analysis (OSHA 3071).
- Common across private construction, industrial facilities and manufacturing.
- Format varies by company, owner or general contractor.
- Often reviewed in a pre-task meeting with the crew doing the work.
Activity Hazard Analysis (AHA)
The AHA is required by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Safety and Health Requirements Manual, EM 385-1-1, and is used on USACE projects and many other federal projects that adopt it.
- Prepared for each definable feature of work before that work begins.
- Identifies the work sequence, hazards, controls, required equipment, inspections and training.
- Assigns a Risk Assessment Code (RAC) for the activity.
- Reviewed with the government before the work starts and kept current as conditions change.
What makes either one useful
The document only protects people if it reflects how the work will actually be done. The most common weaknesses we see are:
- Generic, copied hazards that do not match the task or the site.
- Controls written as goals (“be careful”) rather than actions (“install guardrail before decking”).
- Crews who never saw the document before starting work.
- No update when the scope, crew, equipment or conditions change.
Need help?
Fidelity Safety Group develops and reviews JHAs and AHAs as part of our safety consulting services, and provides SSHO support for federal projects through safety staffing.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Always follow the specific requirements of your contract and the current edition of applicable standards.