Table of Contents

Last Updated on October 15, 2026

Quick answer:

A JSA (job safety analysis) and a JHA (job hazard analysis) are the same method under two names: break a task into steps, identify the hazards, and set controls. An AHA (activity hazard analysis) is the version the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requires under its manual EM 385-1-1, accepted before the activity starts. A JSEA (job safety and environment analysis) is an Australian industry variant that adds environmental impacts.

Key facts

  • JSA and JHA are the same method. OSHA’s booklet, Publication 3071, uses JHA.
  • The AHA is required by USACE manual EM 385-1-1 (March 15, 2024).
  • A JSEA adds environmental aspects to each step.
  • No OSHA standard requires any of the four by name.
  • All four follow the same pattern: steps, hazards, controls.
Lindsay Jacobson

About Lindsay Jacobson

Lindsay Jacobson is a workplace safety and risk management professional with experience in emergency response, healthcare, employee training, and safety programs. Her background includes OSHA 30-hour training and Nationally Registered Paramedic certification. She brings a practical, safety-focused perspective to hazard identification, risk prevention, and workplace safety compliance.

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What’s the difference between a JSA, JHA, AHA, and JSEA?

Job Hazard Analysis Comparison
Term Full name Where it is used Who requires it Scope Accepted before work?
JSA Job safety analysis Common in the United States and Canada No OSHA standard by that name. Employer policy or a contract may. One job or task Set by the employer
JHA Job hazard analysis The term in OSHA Publication 3071 Same as a JSA One job or task Set by the employer
AHA Activity hazard analysis U.S. Army Corps of Engineers work and contracts that apply EM 385-1-1 EM 385-1-1, paragraph 2-6 for contractors A work activity, task, or definable feature of work Yes. The contractor's acceptance authority accepts the risk, then the government reviews.
JSEA Job safety and environmental analysis Australia, mainly mining, energy, and resources Company procedure. It is not a term in Australia's model work health and safety laws. One task, plus its environmental effects Set by the employer

What is a JSA (job safety analysis)?

A JSA is a step-by-step review of one job. You list each step of the task, identify the hazards in each step, such as pinch points or chemical splashes, and set a control for each hazard. It is not an SOP. An SOP tells a worker how to do the job; a JSA looks at what happens during the job and what could go wrong. Our complete guide to the job safety analysis covers the full method.

What is a JHA (job hazard analysis)?

Job hazard analysis is the name OSHA uses. OSHA Publication 3071 defines it as a technique that focuses on job tasks as a way to identify hazards before they occur. The process and the output are the same as a JSA.

1. Is a JHA the same as a JSA?

Yes. A JSA and a JHA are the same thing, and OSHA itself uses both terms. The only difference you may find is at company level, where some employers define each term in their own procedures. Since no OSHA standard defines either one, ask your supervisor or safety lead how your company uses each.

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) calls the procedure a job safety analysis and lists job hazard analysis as another name for it. OSHA’s oil and gas eTool does the same.

2. Is a JHA the same as a task hazard analysis (THA)?

In practice, yes. Task hazard analysis is another name for the same kind of analysis. Jefferson Lab, a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory, uses the term in its work planning process.

What is an AHA (activity hazard analysis)?

A JSA can be used in any commercial or industrial workplace. An AHA is narrower. It is required by EM 385-1-1 on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) work and on Department of Defense contracts that apply the manual, so the requirement comes from the contract, not from a general federal regulation. EM 385-1-1 is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) manual titled Safety and Occupational Health Requirements, and the current edition is dated March 15, 2024. Under paragraph 2-6, a contractor must prepare an initial AHA before beginning each work activity, task, or definable feature of work.

Who requires an AHA?

  • USACE itself. The manual applies to USACE organizations, USACE contracts, and contracts administered on behalf of USACE.
  • Department of Defense construction contracts. FAR clause 52.236-13, Accident Prevention, requires contractors on construction, dismantling, demolition, or removal contracts with a Department of Defense agency to comply with the version of EM 385-1-1 in effect on the date of the solicitation.
  • Other USACE contract types. The manual says maintenance, service, research and development, and supply contracts must comply, with a narrow exception for very limited work. It also applies to contracting for hazardous, toxic, and radioactive waste site work.
  • Navy projects. The guide specification for governmental safety requirements, UFGS 01 35 26, lists NAVFAC as its preparing activity and calls for compliance with EM 385-1-1 and an AHA.

Existing contracts keep the previous edition of the manual until the contract is complete.

What must an AHA include?

Paragraph 2-6 lists the minimum contents:

  • The activity, task, or definable feature of work, the contractor name and contract number, the project location, and the date
  • The name and title of the preparer and of the acceptance authority
  • The job steps and work sequence are in enough detail that a reader understands how the job will be done
  • All potential hazards for each step
  • The controls for each hazard
  • A Risk Assessment Code (RAC) for each step, showing the residual risk after controls
  • An overall RAC that is no lower than the highest step RAC
  • The equipment, training, and inspections the work needs, and the competent and qualified persons named in writing

Paragraph 6 of each chapter adds requirements for specific work. For example, when an activity requires control of hazardous energy, chapter 12 requires a Hazard Isolation Procedure attached to the AHA, and it states that an AHA by itself is not a Hazard Isolation Procedure.

The manual also uses its own risk words. Its risk levels are extremely high, high, medium, and low. On a contract that applies EM 385-1-1, these terms are contractually binding, not suggestions. They do not line up with the risk matrices many companies use in general industry, so an AHA scored on a company matrix can be found non-compliant in an audit. Use the manual’s risk assessment codes on every AHA.

How is an AHA different from a JHA?

Because USACE and DoD contracts require the AHA, whoever prepares it needs to know the manual’s Risk Assessment Code (RAC) scoring. The manual also sets out who can serve as a competent person and who must sign before work starts. In short, an AHA is more detailed and more tightly governed than a JHA.

Point JHA or JSA AHA under EM 385-1-1
Why it exists Employer’s choice, or a customer’s requirement Required by the manual and the contract
Scope One job or task A work activity, task, or definable feature of work
Who writes it Set by the employer A competent person
Acceptance Set by the employer The activity does not begin until the proper authority has reviewed, accepted, and signed the AHA. Contractors set their own acceptance authority, then submit accepted AHAs to the contracting officer or the contracting officer’s representative for review and acceptance.
Crew review Good practice Every involved employee reviews and signs before starting the task.
Kept on site Good practice Available on site for 12 months, or the length of the contract

One point surprises people. The manual says JSAs, JHAs, and similar tools are considered equivalent to, and acceptable substitutes for, AHAs as long as the data collected is the same as an AHA requires. Even so, starting with the AHA format can save time. A JSA or JHA that is missing any element from paragraph 2-6 can be rejected, which delays the work.

What is the difference between an AHA and an APP?

The Accident Prevention Plan (APP) is the site-specific safety plan for the whole contract. The government must accept it before any work starts. It sets out who is responsible, the general safety rules for the site, and how ongoing risks will be managed. An AHA works under the APP. Each AHA covers one activity or task, addresses that task’s specific hazards, and assigns Risk Assessment Codes.

What is a JSEA (job safety and environment analysis)?

A JSEA is a JSA or JHA with the environment factored in. Think of tasks such as refueling equipment on site or using chemicals where a spill or release could harm the environment directly. The term comes from Australian industry. A Queensland Mines Inspectorate guidance note on job safety analysis lists “Job Safety and Environment Analysis (JSEA)” among the versions of JSA in use. You will also find it written as “job safety and environmental analysis.”

JSEA is not a term in Australia’s model work health and safety laws, and it is not a U.S. regulatory term.

What does the “E” add?

The “E” covers four main areas: spills and runoff into water and soil; dust, vapors, and fumes released into the air; waste and how it is disposed of, since not everything can go to a landfill; and effects on nearby communities, such as noise, vibration, and lighting. Here is one step from a caustic transfer job with both columns filled in.

Step Safety hazard Environmental aspect Controls
Pump sodium hydroxide solution from a drum into a smaller container. Splash on the face, eyes, or skin. A spill reaches a floor drain or the soil. Containment tray under the container. Drain cover in place. Spill kit at the work area. Goggles, face shield, and gloves.

JSEA vs SWMS

Readers outside the United States may also meet the safe work method statement (SWMS). Unlike a JSEA, a SWMS is a legal requirement. Australia’s model Work Health and Safety Regulations require one for high risk construction work (regulation 299), and the Commonwealth’s construction work code of practice says it must be prepared before that work starts. The model laws apply in every Australian jurisdiction except Victoria, and details vary by state and territory.

Do US facilities need the environmental element too?

No U.S. law requires a JSEA by name, but environmental rules still apply to everyday tasks, and missing them can lead to significant fines for the company. A missed safety step often creates an environmental problem too, because both usually come from the same gap in planning. Adding environmental aspects to the JSA helps prevent releases above reportable quantities. If the location operates under Title V (emissions) and NPDES (water discharges) permits, as many plants do, everyday tasks for production and maintenance are directly tied to permit limits. Breaching either permit can mean significant fines and even a shutdown. Four federal programs come up most often:

  • Oil spill prevention (SPCC, 40 CFR Part 112). Applies to facilities that could reasonably be expected to discharge oil to navigable waters and that have more than 1,320 U.S. gallons (about 5,000 liters) of aboveground oil storage capacity, counting only containers of 55 gallons (about 208 liters) or more, or more than 42,000 gallons (about 159,000 liters) of completely buried capacity.
  • Hazardous waste (RCRA, 40 CFR Part 262). A generator’s duties depend on how much hazardous waste it generates in a calendar month. A task that creates waste can change that count. An aqueous waste with a pH of 12.5 or higher, such as spent caustic, is corrosive hazardous waste (D002) under 40 CFR 261.22.
  • Release reporting (CERCLA and EPCRA). A release of a hazardous substance at or above its reportable quantity in any 24-hour period must be reported immediately to the National Response Center (40 CFR 302.6). EPCRA Section 304 adds notice to state and local emergency planning bodies.
  • Stormwater (40 CFR 122.26). Certain categories of industrial activity need permit coverage for stormwater discharges, so outdoor tasks that expose materials to rain matter.

For chemical tasks, add an environmental column to the JSA, whatever you call the form.

Using the SDS for the environmental column

The Safety Data Sheet (SDS) feeds both columns. For safety, start with Section 2 (hazards) and Section 8 (exposure controls and PPE). For the environmental column, look at Section 6 (accidental release measures), Section 12 (ecological information), Section 13 (disposal considerations), and Section 14 (transport information).

One caution. OSHA requires the Section 12 through 15 headings on an SDS, but it does not enforce the content of those sections because they are outside its jurisdiction. EPA and DOT rules apply whether or not those sections are complete or clear. The company is responsible for meeting all of its permits and for getting the environmental information it needs, from the supplier if the SDS is too vague.

Other hazard analysis acronyms you may see

Hazard Analysis Terminology
Term What it is Where you will see it
THA (task hazard analysis) Another name for a JSA-type analysis A U.S. national laboratory, and Australian mining guidance
FLHA (field level hazard assessment) A site-specific hazard assessment done at the worksite before work proceeds Canada, especially energy
Take 5 A short personal check before starting work. Queensland guidance places it a level below a JSA. Australia, mining
PHA (process hazard analysis) An analysis of a whole covered process, required by 29 CFR 1910.119(e) U.S. process safety
SWMS (safe work method statement) A required document for high risk construction work Australia
PTW (permit to work) A formal written system used to control potentially hazardous work United Kingdom and many industries

Which one should you use?

For a JSA or JHA, pick one name, or keep the one already in use, and use it the same way everywhere. Switching between the two names can confuse workers and lead to missed steps. Use an AHA or a JSEA when a contract or company procedure calls for one, as the table below shows.

Your situation Use
U.S. general industry or construction A JSA or JHA. Use either name, and use it the same way everywhere.
USACE work, or a contract that applies EM 385-1-1 An AHA with every element in paragraphs 2-6. Ask the contracting officer before substituting another form.
Australian or multinational operations A JSEA where company procedure calls for one and a SWMS where high-risk construction work applies
Any task with hazardous chemicals Add an SDS-based environmental column, whatever the form is called

Can one template cover all four?

Yes. One form can cover all four. Use a table in which each row follows this format:

  1. Job step
  2. Safety hazards from your JSA/JHA
  3. Environmental hazards (JSEA)
  4. Risk code (AHA)
  5. Elimination and control actions

Laid out this way, each task stays on one row, the form is easy to read, and a missing element stands out. For an AHA, also add the contract details, the overall Risk Assessment Code, and the acceptance fields from paragraphs 2-6.

JSA vs JHA vs AHA vs JSEA FAQs

  • Is a JHA required by OSHA?

Not by name. No OSHA standard requires a JHA, but some require a hazard assessment. For example, 29 CFR 1910.132(d) requires employers to assess the workplace for hazards that call for PPE and to certify that assessment in writing. A JHA is a practical way to meet that duty and to find and control hazards before work starts.

  • Is an AHA the same as a JHA?

The method is the same. An AHA adds contract details, a Risk Assessment Code, and formal acceptance under EM 385-1-1.

  • Who approves an AHA?

The contractor’s own acceptance authority accepts the residual risk. The contractor then submits the AHA to the contracting officer or the contracting officer’s representative for review and acceptance.

  • What does JSEA stand for?

Job safety and environment analysis. Some companies write it as job safety and environmental analysis.

  • Is a JSEA required in the United States?

No. It is an Australian industry term. U.S. environmental duties come from EPA and state rules, and a JSA can capture them in an added column.

  • What is the difference between a JSEA and a SWMS?

A JSEA is a company tool. A SWMS is required by Australian work health and safety regulations for high-risk construction work.

  • What is the difference between an AHA and an APP?

The APP is the safety plan for the whole contract. Each AHA covers one activity under that plan.

  • How often should an AHA be updated?

When site conditions, operations, or the named competent or qualified persons change. If a change raises the Risk Assessment Code, the AHA is resubmitted for acceptance before work starts.

References

  1. OSHA Publication 3071 (Job Hazard Analysis): https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/osha3071.pdf
  2. EM 385-1-1 (March 2024): https://pacific.navfac.navy.mil/Portals/72/Far_East/Documents/Contractors%20Information/EM%20385-1-1_Mar%202024.pdf
    I couldn’t find a USACE-hosted copy. This one is the March 2024 edition on a Navy (NAVFAC) site. If you have the publications.usace.army.mil link, use that instead.
  3. FAR 52.236-13: https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.236-13
  4. UFGS 01 35 26: https://www.wbdg.org/dod/ufgs/ufgs-01-35-26
  5. CCOHS, Job Safety Analysis: https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/hsprograms/job-haz.html
  6. OSHA Oil and Gas eTool, JSA Process: https://www.osha.gov/etools/oil-and-gas/jsa-process
  7. Jefferson Lab ES&H Manual, Chapter 3210: https://www.jlab.org/esh-man/3210
  8. QGN 17: https://www.resources.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/240359/qld-guidance-note-17.pdf
  9. Safe Work Australia, Model WHS Regulations: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/doc/model-work-health-and-safety-regulations
    Model WHS Act (for “Model WHS Laws”): https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/doc/model-work-health-and-safety-act
  10. Construction Work Code of Practice 2015: https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2016L00394/latest
  11. Energy Safety Canada, Formal Hazard Assessment: https://www.energysafetycanada.com/resource/formal-hazard-assessment
  12. HSE permit-to-work guidance: https://www.hse.gov.uk/safemaintenance/permits.htm
  13. 29 CFR 1910.119: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1910.119
  14. 29 CFR 1910.132(d): https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1910.132#p-1910.132(d)
  15. 29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(2): https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1910.1200#p-1910.1200(g)(2)
  16. 40 CFR 112.1: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/section-112.1
  17. 40 CFR Part 262: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/part-262
    40 CFR 260.10: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/section-260.10
    40 CFR 261.22: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/section-261.22
  18. 40 CFR 302.6: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/section-302.6
    EPA, EPCRA emergency release notifications (Section 304): https://www.epa.gov/epcra/emergency-release-notifications
  19. 40 CFR 122.26: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/section-122.26
  20. 40 CFR Part 70 (Title V): https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/part-70
    40 CFR Part 122 (NPDES): https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/part-122
  21. Olin SDS, Sodium Hydroxide 30–54% (No. 10000001221): https://olinchloralkali.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/08/10000001221-Sodium-Hydroxide-30-54-US-EN.pdf
    Open this PDF and confirm it says Version 6.0, revised January 21, 2025. Olin may have updated it since.

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