FLHA vs. JHA: what is the difference?
Field-level hazard assessments and job hazard analyses both identify work hazards and protective controls. Terminology and formal requirements vary among employers, industries and jurisdictions.
FLHA: focus on the conditions in front of the worker
An FLHA commonly emphasizes the specific work being started at a particular location and moment, including changing conditions and the people present.
JHA: focus on task steps and hazards
A job hazard analysis commonly divides a job into steps, identifies hazards associated with each step, and identifies safeguards. JHA can refer to a reusable task analysis or a job-specific assessment, depending on an organization’s process.
Can they be used together?
Yes. A task-level JHA can inform a site-specific FLHA, but a prewritten analysis should not substitute for verifying actual site conditions, equipment and hazards.
Which one should your company use?
Follow your employer’s safety management system, client requirements and applicable law. The name alone does not establish whether the assessment meets the necessary standards.