What is the purpose of a Job Safety Analysis (JSA)?

A Job Safety Analysis (JSA) is a fundamental process used in the construction industry to identify and mitigate hazards before beginning any work. The primary aim is to analyze specific tasks to ensure that potential risks are recognized and addressed in advance, thereby fostering a safer work environment. By breaking down each task, workers and supervisors can pinpoint specific hazards associated with each step and implement strategies to minimize or eliminate those risks. This proactive approach not only enhances workplace safety but also helps in ensuring compliance with OSHA standards.

The other options, while related to safety, do not align with the core purpose of a JSA. Assessing employee performance during safety training focuses on evaluating how well workers understand and apply safety concepts, which is not the main objective of a JSA. Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of safety equipment deals with financial aspects of safety measures rather than hazard identification and mitigation. Providing an overview of safety regulations may inform workers about the legal requirements in the industry, but it does not involve the detailed analysis of specific tasks that a JSA requires. Each of these elements plays a role in an overall safety program, but at its core, a JSA is specifically designed to identify hazards before work begins.