Originally published in September 2021. Last updated on March 24, 2025.
Obviously, you want to keep your team safe on the job. But how do you make sure you’ve got your bases covered when it comes to workplace hazards, especially when your crew is on another job site?
A job hazard analysis (JHA) helps you (and your crew) identify potential dangers, prevent accidents, and protect both your workers and business.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to create a job hazard analysis checklist tailored to the home service industry that your team can rely on every day. We’ll take you through the step-by-step process of breaking down jobs, spotting hazards, and developing safety measures.
What is a job hazard analysis?
A job hazard analysis, or job safety analysis (JSA), is a process that identifies the dangers and risk levels of a specific job. It helps you catch threats to your crew’s health and safety before they happen.
Creating a job hazard analysis checklist is the best way to ensure your work environment and crew meet the safety standards of your industry and avoid legal and financial penalties. It’s a must-have in your business’s overall safety program.
An online safety checklist, like the one shown below that was created using Jobber’s job forms feature, can be easy to edit, duplicate, or expand over time as you add more safety measures to your jobs.
The benefits of a job hazard analysis
While the main goal is to prevent injuries and health risks, JHAs come with lots of benefits. They can:
- Ensure a consistent job every time with no small details missed
- Train new employees and help standardize your business’s operations as you grow
- Make your business look more professional
- Improve employee morale by showing that their well-being matters
- Help you and your team become comfortable talking about safety issues, which could help you pinpoint safety concerns you wouldn’t have found otherwise
When your team gets used to doing a JHA, they start thinking ahead. For an electrical business, that might mean always testing for live wires before touching anything or verifying that lockout/tagout is in place before starting repairs.
Once these checks become routine, safety will become part of how your business runs.
On that note, OSHA doesn’t play around when it comes to safety violations. If an inspector drops by unannounced while your team’s upgrading a commercial panel, you can show them a completed electrical job hazard analysis checklist with identified risks, proper controls, and sign-offs. It proves you’re serious about safety. And, by doing so, you’re avoiding fines, shutdowns, and liability issues if something goes wrong.
Common job hazards in field services
Whether you’re rewiring a kitchen, pressure-washing a driveway, or laying sod in the summer heat, there’s always something that could go wrong. Every trade has its own set of risks, but some dangers are universal. The good news? Knowing what you’re up against is half the battle.
Here are some of the most common hazards by industry:
- Cleaning services: Biological hazards, chemical exposure, physical strain, and stress
- Construction: Falls, struck-by incidents, caught-in/between hazards, electrical risks, and noise
- Plumbing: Hazardous substances, slips and falls, confined spaces, and heavy lifting
- Landscaping: Equipment-related injuries, heat stress, and repetitive motion injuries
- General contracting: Respiratory hazards, ergonomic strain, and fire risks
Recognizing these hazards is the first step in preventing them. A proactive approach to safety can mean the difference between a productive day and a potentially life-altering accident.
There’s nothing scary about health and safety precautions. Just check the list before the job.
Job hazard analysis checklist for field services
While specific hazards vary by industry, many are common across different field service businesses. To help you get started, use the examples below as the foundation for your job hazard analysis checklist. They’re yours to customize depending on what applies to your work.
Or skip to: How to do a job hazard analysis
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Are all required PPE available and in good condition?
- Are employees wearing PPE correctly and consistently?
- Is there a system in place for replacing damaged or worn PPE?
- Are safety glasses compliant with the ANSI Z87.1 eye protection standard?
- Are hard hats free from dents or deformities?
- Are respirators fit-tested and are employees properly trained in their use?
- Is PPE appropriate for the specific tasks being performed?
- Are employees trained in proper PPE usage and limitations?
Workspace safety
- Are all work areas well-lit and free from tripping hazards?
- Are walkways and floors clear from obstructions?
- Is proper lighting available for all tasks, including portable lighting if needed?
- Are emergency exits clearly marked and unobstructed?
- Is there adequate ventilation in enclosed workspaces?
- Are non-slip mats used in areas prone to wetness?
- Are work areas kept clean and organized throughout the day?
Tool and equipment safety
- Are all tools and equipment properly maintained and in good working order?
- Are power cords and cables free from frays or damage?
- Are tools stored safely when not in use?
- Is there a system for reporting and addressing equipment malfunctions?
- Are safety guards in place on power tools and machinery?
- Is there a regular schedule for tool and equipment maintenance?
- Are employees trained in the proper use of all tools and equipment?
- Are tools and equipment appropriate for the job being performed?
Chemical and material handling
- Are all chemicals properly labeled and stored?
- Are Safety Data Sheets readily available for all hazardous materials?
- Do employees understand proper handling and disposal procedures for chemicals?
- Is there adequate ventilation when working with volatile substances?
- Are chemical storage areas secured and access-controlled?
- Are incompatible chemicals stored separately?
Electrical safety
- Are all electrical cords and plugs in good condition, without frays or exposed wires?
- Are Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) used in wet environments?
- Are employees trained to identify and report electrical hazards?
- Are extension cords used properly and not as permanent wiring?
- Are electrical panels easily accessible and clearly labeled?
- Is the lockout/tagout procedure followed when working on electrical equipment?
Vehicle and transportation safety
- Are company vehicles regularly inspected and maintained?
- Do drivers perform pre-trip safety checks?
- Are proper procedures in place for securing tools and materials during transport?
- Is there a policy for mobile phone use while driving?
- Are vehicle safety kits (first aid, flashlight, etc.) present and fully stocked?
- Are drivers trained in safe driving practices specific to their vehicle type?
Ergonomics and manual handling
- Are employees trained in proper lifting techniques and body mechanics?
- Are appropriate tools available to assist with heavy lifting or repetitive tasks?
- Are employees encouraged to take regular breaks during repetitive tasks?
- Is there a system for reporting ergonomic concerns?
- Are tasks rotated to reduce prolonged exposure to repetitive motions?
- Are workstations adjustable to accommodate different employee heights and needs?
Emergency preparedness
- Is there a well-communicated emergency action plan?
- Are first aid kits readily available and fully stocked?
- Do employees know how to respond to common emergencies in their line of work?
- Are emergency contact numbers clearly posted?
- Are fire extinguishers easily accessible and regularly inspected?
- Is there a designated meeting point in case of evacuation?
Communication and training
- Are regular safety meetings or toolbox talks conducted?
- Is there a clear process for employees to report safety concerns?
- Are all employees up to date on the required safety training?
- Is there a system for communicating new safety procedures or hazards?
- Are safety policies and procedures easily accessible to all employees?
- Is there a process for reviewing and updating safety training materials?
Environmental hazards
- Are procedures in place to address extreme weather conditions?
- Are employees trained to recognize and respond to potential hazards in clients’ homes?
- Is there a protocol for identifying and handling biological hazards (e.g., mold, pests)?
- Are measures in place to prevent slips and falls in wet or icy conditions?
- Is there a system for monitoring air quality in enclosed workspaces?
- Is there a procedure for dealing with unexpected environmental hazards encountered on job sites?
How to do a job hazard analysis in 5 steps
A JHA is a step-by-step process to help you identify safety hazards in your business. Follow these five simple steps to make every job site safer and more efficient:
1. Break the job into basic tasks
To find and analyze hazards, you need to know which job tasks those hazards can come from. Every job needs to be broken down into its most basic steps.
It’s best not to rely on memory alone. Take a day to monitor a job from start to finish and document individual tasks as they happen.
For instance, if you’re monitoring the installation of an electrical outlet receptacle, you might write:
- Turn off the power
- Unscrew and remove the old outlet
- Prepare the new cables
- Strip the wires
- Attach pigtail wires to circuit wires…
…and so on.
Even though you haven’t outlined electrical hazards yet, you’ll have already created a job checklist that will help your team stay consistent from job to job.
Using job forms in the Jobber app, you can check off tasks as they’re done on your phone or tablet, right at the job site.
Before you start job monitoring, you might want to let your employees know that you’re not evaluating their performance—you’re reviewing the job tasks. This can help relieve any unease they may feel about being watched while working and get them involved in the job hazard analysis process from start to finish.
Once you’ve outlined all the job tasks, review them back at the office with your team and start working on the next step: hazard identification.
2. Identify potential hazards
Using your new job checklist as a full record of a typical job, start listing all the potential hazards you can think of underneath each task. This is a great time to get your whole team in the room and use their experience to jot down as many hazards as possible.
Try to list all the usual risks that come with the work environment (e.g., dangerous fumes, hot surfaces, flying debris), common slip-ups, and any severe accidents that could come from performing a particular task without caution.
Using your team’s knowledge and your records of past incidents, you should also decide which tasks pose the highest injury risks to your workers. Those are the hazards to keep a close eye on and to place at the top of your site inspection checklists.
Any historical information you have on job site incidents is crucial to bring out in this process.
This step is very important: Find the workplace hazards in your industry outlined by your local or federal health and safety office. These websites offer resources for hazard identification, risk assessment, inspections, and safety training:
- Canada: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS)
- United States: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- United Kingdom: Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
- Australia: Safe Work Australia (SWA)
3. Determine preventative measures
CCOHS outlines a few different categories of hazard controls, depending on when and where they’re needed.
- At the source. Placing a control at the source means eliminating the hazard before it affects workers. This could mean installing ventilation in a fume-heavy work environment or removing a dangerous piece of equipment from the job site. These controls are the most effective at reducing risk.
- Along the path. Hazards that are found during the job can be replaced, modified, or repaired to prevent injuries and illnesses.
- At the worker. Although not as effective as total hazard elimination or substitution, there are measures your team can take to decrease the risk of incidents. The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is an example of this kind of control.
- Temporary controls address the hazard on the spot. For example, if excess sawdust or debris becomes a respiratory hazard, you might ask your workers to wear face masks.
- Permanent controls help you prevent recurring hazards by changing your work processes or engineering a solution (AKA creating engineering controls). These can also be administrative controls, such as writing operating procedures or limiting your workers’ exposure time to extreme temperatures.
We’ve included concrete examples of hazard controls in our checklist templates (see above).
Make sure you review your health and safety authority’s list of standards for your industry.
Complying with these guidelines is the law.
But it’s also important that you continue working with your team to build on those hazard controls and choose ones that apply to the specific set of jobs you do. Only you can run a job hazard analysis that’s 100% specific to your business.
Noticing a trend here? It’s important to involve your team in every step of the job hazard analysis. Getting all your employees involved in safety encourages future engagement and buy-in for your safety program.
When your team grows, you’ll have experienced safety leaders who can act as supervisors for your larger crew. And since employees will see that their health and well-being matter to you, they’ll feel better about going to work every day.
4. Create shareable job hazard analysis checklists
Once you’ve put your preventative measures through careful revision, you have a JHA checklist that’s ready to use in the field!
You can use Jobber to create an easily editable version of your JHA checklist. With a checklist that you can access from your phone or tablet, you equip your whole team to make every job a safe job.
Checkboxes make it easy for your employees to check off inspection steps, and text fields let them add detailed notes and findings on the job.
When your crew is out in the field, they’ll have detailed safety checklists on mobile devices—and no reason to miss a single threat to anyone’s well-being.
5. Stay informed on state and local safety regulations
Safety regulations are already a moving target, but if the NOSHA Act replaces OSHA, things could get tricky. Instead of one federal rulebook, every state may set its own workplace safety standards. That means what’s required in New York could be different from requirements in Massachusetts.
OSHA’s blanket rules might not cover you much longer. You’ll need to stay ahead of state-specific regulations to protect your workers, avoid fines, and keep your business running smoothly. Here’s how to do it:
- Find out where your state stands now and track any upcoming changes.
- Make it a habit to check your state’s labor department website or relevant regulatory agencies for updates.
- Join local trade groups or industry associations—like the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) or Associated General Contractors (AGC)—to learn about real-time updates on regulations.
- Sign up for regulatory alerts from state agencies that offer email notifications on workplace safety rule changes.
- Chat with a local workplace safety consultant or attorney who’s familiar with labor laws to keep you on the right side of compliance.
Safety equipment essentials
Having the right safety equipment protects your team and your business. It can prevent injuries, reduce liability, and show customers that you take safety seriously.
Here are some of the must-have safety items for most home services. While some equipment is universal, you should tailor your safety gear to your specific jobs.
| PPE | Tools and Maintenance | Emergency Supplies |
|---|---|---|
| • Safety glasses or goggles • Work gloves • Hard hats • Steel-toed or safety boots • High-visibility vests or clothing • Respirators or dust masks • Hearing protection (earplugs or earmuffs) • Face shields • Knee pads • Cut-resistant sleeves or aprons • Chemical-resistant gloves • Disposable coveralls | • Tool belts or bags for proper storage • Ladder stabilizers • Non-slip mats • Ergonomic tool designs to reduce strain • Safety guards for power tools • Properly rated extension cords • Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) • Lock-out/tag-out devices • Tool tethers for working at heights • Voltage testers • Safety cones or barriers | • First aid kits • Fire extinguishers • Eyewash stations or portable eyewash bottles • Emergency blankets • Flashlights • Emergency contact information cards • Chemical spill kits • Burn kits • Automated External Defibrillator (AED) • Emergency evacuation plans • Weather radio for outdoor work |
Remember to regularly inspect your safety equipment and replace worn or damaged items as soon as possible. And, of course, train your employees on proper use and maintenance to invest in their well-being.
You look them in the eye and say, look at all this. We have professional equipment, we have safety things, we have all these things in place so you can succeed here. I love that. We’re not going to just throw you to the wolves.
Training and communication
By making sure that every employee knows how to use tools and perform work safely, they’re less of a risk to themselves and everyone around them.
In construction, for instance, where hazards are everywhere (unstable scaffolding, heavy machinery, etc.) proper training and communication keep your crew from landing in the ER.
Make training part of the job:
- Start strong with onboarding: Before anyone steps foot on a job site, they should know the basics. Take new hires through your construction job hazard analysis checklist and go over common dangers on site.
- Reinforce with ongoing training: Hazards evolve and so should training. Hold monthly toolbox talks and make hands-on practice a regular thing. You could even bring in safety experts when necessary.
- Learn from mistakes and close calls: If a ladder almost tipped over or a worker was hit by some debris, use it as a learning opportunity. Address it in a team meeting and adjust your checklist if needed.
We do a lot of safety training. Our Wednesday morning meetings are traditionally safety-based meetings, but at least once a month we try to throw in something that is communication-based. Our communication exercise is my favorite.
Even the most experienced crew can’t avoid hazards they don’t know about. Use good communication to prevent job sites from turning into chaos:
- Start each day with a safety briefing: Five minutes in the morning can prevent months of lost work due to an injury. Cover the day’s tasks, potential risks, and any site-specific changes.
- Use visual reminders: Post hazard warnings and emergency procedures in visible areas. Bright signage near high-risk zones will reinforce what workers should already know.
- Go digital for real-time updates: Everyone has their phone on them. Use digital tools to share your checklist, send out alerts about new hazards, and track compliance.
Start your job hazard analysis checklist today
If you’re committed to health and safety, creating job safety analysis checklists will save you a lot of stress and time.
From the field, truck, or office, Jobber’s job forms features let you:
- Quickly add new job site details to your checklists
- Create special instructions for highly customized jobs
- Record details from your service calls
- Ensure consistency and accountability in the field
Safety can (and should) be easy to integrate into the people-first experience you create for your team. When everyone is healthier and happier about going to work, it lifts up your entire business.
Want to go even deeper on this topic? Learn how to master operational efficiency on the Masters of Home Service podcast.