Common JSA Mistakes NZ Businesses Should Avoid

19 Jan What Are Common JSA Mistakes?

Posted at 09:49h in Articles by Rachel Bell

A Job Safety Analysis (JSA) is a core part of effective workplace health and safety. When done well, it helps identify hazards, assess risks, and clearly define how work should be carried out safely.

However, many businesses unknowingly make common JSA mistakes that reduce the value of the document – or worse, create a false sense of safety.

From copy-and-paste JSAs to outdated controls and missing steps, these mistakes often mean the JSA doesn’t reflect how work actually happens on site. This is especially common in small businesses where time and resources are limited.

Below, we break down the most common JSA mistakes we see in New Zealand workplaces and share practical ways to fix them, so your JSAs genuinely support safer work.

1. Copy-and-paste JSAs that don’t reflect the job

Using a previous JSA as a starting point isn’t the problem – using it without tailoring it to the exact task and conditions is.

Common issues include:

Different equipment being used;
Changes in the environment;
Steps missing because the job has evolved; and
Hazards assumed rather than assessed.

Fix it: Start with a template, but update each section carefully. Make sure it matches the actual task, people, and conditions on the day.

Note – our JSA module has the ability to copy JSAs as a starting point, and then it is highly recommended that you tweak the JSA to suit the new job.

2. Not involving workers in the Job Safety Analysis

JSAs created solely by management or the health and safety officer often miss real-life steps, shortcuts, and pain points.

Workers know:

Where people take risks;
What equipment is actually used;
What near misses have happened; and
Which hazards are real vs theoretical.

Fix it: Make JSA development a team activity. Discuss it in a toolbox talk. The people doing the job should be leading the discussion.

3. Focusing on hazards, not risks

Many JSAs list hazards but forget to describe the risk – the likelihood and consequence of something going wrong. Without assessing the risk, controls can be too weak, too broad, or unnecessarily restrictive.

Fix it: For each hazard, ask “What could go wrong, how likely is it, and how bad would it be?”

This step will help you determine stronger, more practical controls.

4. Jumping to PPE instead of stronger controls

A common shortcut is to write “wear PPE” as the control for every hazard. But PPE is the least effective control and shouldn’t be the first answer.

Fix it: Use the hierarchy of controls:

Eliminate;
Substitute;
Engineering controls;
Administrative controls; and
PPE (the last resort).

Design the job to be safer – not just protected.

5. Missing steps in the JSA

If the steps of the job are incomplete, the whole document fails. Common missing areas include:

Setup and preparation;
Moving between locations;
Breakdowns or unexpected events; and
Pack-down and clean-up.

Fix it: Walk through the job physically or mentally with the team. Capture every stage, not just “the main part.”

6. Not reviewing and updating JSAs

Worksites change, equipment gets replaced, and new hazards emerge. But many JSAs remain unchanged for years, even though the job doesn’t look the same anymore.

Fix it: Review JSAs:

When equipment changes;
When a near miss or incident occurs;
When a new worker joins the team; and
Annually as part of your system check.

A JSA should be a living, breathing document.

7. Storing JSAs where no one can access them

A JSA isn’t helpful if it’s in a folder on someone’s laptop or buried in paperwork. Workers need to see and use the document before they start the job.

Fix it: Make JSAs:

Digital and mobile-friendly, or
Printed and available at the job site.

Note – Hasmate’s online JSA module helps keep them organised, and accessible.

8. Overcomplicating the document

A JSA should be easy to understand. If the form is too long, too technical, or filled with jargon, workers simply won’t use it.

Fix it: Keep it:

Clear;
Concise;
Practical; and
Written in plain language.

If workers feel ownership of the document, they’re more likely to follow it.

It’s time to update your JSA

A well-prepared JSA strengthens communication, reduces risk, and sets clear expectations for everyone involved in a task. Avoiding these common mistakes helps ensure your JSAs support – not hinder – your health and safety practices.

If your business needs help improving JSAs or streamlining your health and safety system, Hasmate provides the tools and support to make it simple.