• JSA template — Australia · filled example

Australian JSA template for Job Safety Analysis

A JSA template for Australian jobs, with a free filled example. Fill in the Job Safety Analysis with steps, hazards, controls and a 5×5 risk score, then download the PDF. $20/month for unlimited documents, no card to sign up. A JSA is not a legal substitute for a SWMS on high-risk construction work.

Generate my JSA →See live demo

What's in this JSA template

This Australian Job Safety Analysis template is the form principals, builders and HSR teams actually ask for — not a blank Word doc. You describe the job; the generator drafts a site-ready JSA you can edit before anyone signs on.

Job steps in the sequence the crew will actually work
Hazards identified per step
Controls using the hierarchy of controls
5×5 risk matrix — initial and residual (likelihood × consequence)
Responsible person per step
Worker sign-on register
Company branding on every page of the PDF

JSA example: kitchen joinery, Penrith NSW

Searching for a JSA example, JSA form or JSA form template? Here is a filled Job Safety Analysis for a ground-floor cabinet install — a typical Australian trade job where a JSA is the right document, not a SWMS.

Job / task: Install kitchen joinery — ground-floor new dwelling
Site: Residential construction, Penrith NSW 2750
Document: JSA-EX-001 · example only
PPE: Hi-vis, steel-caps, glasses, cut-resistant gloves, hearing protection, P2 when cutting

This is a filled JSA example for a job that is not high-risk construction work. Rooftop solar, roofing, or any work with a risk of a fall greater than 2 metres still needs a SWMS. A JSA is not a legal substitute.

Step	Hazards	Controls	5×5 risk
1. Site set-up, inspect the kitchen and confirm services Responsible: Leading hand	Slips on offcuts, dust or wet floors Other trades working in the same room Unknown power or water points behind walls	Sign in with the builder and walk the area before tools come off the ute Keep access paths clear; dry any spills Check as-builts / mark known services; do not drill until confirmed	InitialL3×C3 = 9 Medium ResidualL2×C2 = 4 Low
2. Unload cabinets from the vehicle and move them into the kitchen Responsible: All workers	Manual handling of 20–40 kg carcasses and awkward tall units Struck by reversing vehicle in the driveway Pinch points on doors, carcasses and trolley handles	Park off the street; use a trolley and a two-person lift for tall or heavy units Spotter when reversing; no pedestrians in the unload zone Clear the path from driveway to kitchen before the first lift	InitialL4×C3 = 12 High ResidualL2×C3 = 6 Medium
3. Cut and scribe carcasses, panels and filler strips Responsible: Cabinet installer	Cuts from track saw, jigsaw or router MDF / timber dust Noise and flying chips	Cut outdoors or with on-tool extraction; wear a P2 respirator Safety glasses and hearing protection; sharp blades, guards on No gloves on rotating bits; clamp work; keep bystanders back	InitialL4×C3 = 12 High ResidualL2×C3 = 6 Medium
4. Install wall and base cabinets, level and fix Responsible: Leading hand	Overhead manual handling of wall units Cabinet falling before it is fixed Drilling into electrical or plumbing services	Two-person lift for wall units; temporary props until fixed to studs Stud finder and as-built check before drilling; isolate if a live service is suspected Use a platform under 2 m — not a makeshift stool	InitialL3×C4 = 12 High ResidualL2×C3 = 6 Medium
5. Fit doors, drawers and handles; clean up and pack the vehicle Responsible: All workers	Cuts from raw board edges and leftover fasteners Trips on offcuts, offcuts bins and leads during pack-up	Cut-resistant gloves when handling raw edges Tidy as you go; bin offcuts; coil leads Final walk-through with the builder before leaving site	InitialL3×C2 = 6 Medium ResidualL1×C2 = 2 Low

5×5 line: likelihood (1–5) × consequence (1–5). Bands match the PDF: Low 1–4, Medium 5–9, High 10–15, Critical 16–25. Treat this as an example layout — make the live document site-specific and consult the crew before work starts. A second filled sample (interior painting, Hawthorn VIC) is on the JSA example guide. Generate your own JSA ($20/month, no card to sign up).

When a JSA is enough — and when you still need a SWMS

Use a SWMS template when the job involves any of the 18 categories of High-Risk Construction Work in regulation 291 of the model WHS Regulations — including a risk of a fall greater than 2 metres, work near energised electrical services, or rooftop solar and roofing at heights. A JSA is not a legal substitute for a SWMS on HRCW.

Use this JSA template for work that is not HRCW but still needs a written risk assessment: ground-floor fit-outs, joinery, low-risk maintenance, warehouse tasks and similar jobs. Many principals also want a JSA on the gate even when a SWMS is already required — that is extra paperwork, not a replacement.

Full side-by-side: SWMS vs JSA. The same generator writes both. Trade-specific JSAs (painting, plastering, flooring, tiling, joinery, cleaning, landscaping, warehouse, isolated electrical, maintenance) are on the JSA hub— each with its own example, including a painting JSA and a joinery JSA that is a different job from this Penrith kitchen. WA searchers looking for a JSEA: JSEA template. Choosing software rather than a form? See what to look for in a JSA app.

Built for NSW, VIC, QLD, WA and the rest of Australia

The JSA layout is the same everywhere, but the laws it cites change with the state. Here is what applies in the four states we get asked about most.

JSA template NSW

NSW work is covered by the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) and the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW), which replaced the 2017 Regulation from 22 August 2025. The regulator is SafeWork NSW. A JSA is not a document named in the regulation, but it is a common way to record how you have identified hazards and controlled risks; high-risk construction work still needs a SWMS. Pick NSW in the generator and the citations follow.

JSA template Victoria

Victoria has not adopted the model WHS laws. Duties sit in the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the OHS Regulations 2017, and the regulator is WorkSafe Victoria. Victorian JSAs should cite the OHS Act and Regulations, not the WHS Act. SWMS duties for high-risk construction work are in Part 5.1 of the OHS Regulations 2017, and Victoria lists 19 categories rather than the model 18.

JSA template QLD

Queensland uses the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011; the regulator is Workplace Health and Safety Queensland. Construction work with a risk of a fall of more than 2 metres is high-risk construction work and needs a SWMS, not just a JSA.

JSA template WA (JSEA)

WA moved to the WHS framework in 2022 (Work Health and Safety Act 2020 and Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022); the regulator is WorkSafe WA. Many WA sites ask for a JSEA (Job Safety and Environmental Analysis) — see the JSEA template. A JSEA isn't a substitute for a SWMS on high-risk construction work.

SA, TAS, ACT and NT also use the model WHS laws — see SWMS requirements by state.

Frequently asked questions

What is a JSA?

A Job Safety Analysis (JSA) breaks a job into steps, identifies the hazards in each step and lists the controls that will keep workers safe. It's a flexible risk-assessment tool used across construction, maintenance, manufacturing and trades.

What is the difference between a JSA and a SWMS?

A SWMS is legally required under the WHS Regulations for the 18 categories of High-Risk Construction Work. A JSA is a more general risk-assessment tool you can apply to any task — many businesses use a JSA whenever a SWMS isn't strictly required but a written assessment is still good practice.

Is the JSA template free?

The filled example and the structure on this page are free to use as a guide. Creating an account and generating and editing your own JSA draft are free and need no card. Downloading the PDF requires a subscription: $20 per month or $200 per year.

Can I include site-specific risks?

Yes. The AI uses your job description, location and state to draft realistic, site-specific hazards. You can edit any step, hazard, control or risk score before downloading the PDF.

Does the JSA include a risk matrix?

Yes — every step gets a 5×5 likelihood × consequence risk score before and after controls, colour-coded for quick review.

Can I download a free JSA template or example?

The filled example on this page is free to read and copy the layout from. Sign up free to generate a Job Safety Analysis from this Australian JSA template and edit the steps; downloading the PDF requires a subscription. The filled example on this page shows the form layout — steps, hazards, controls and 5×5 risk scores — before you create an account.

Is a JSA a legal requirement in Australia?

No Australian WHS or OHS law names a JSA as a required document. The law requires you to identify hazards and control risks, and a JSA is a common way to show you have done that. A SWMS is legally required for high-risk construction work. Many principal contractors also ask for a JSA as a site entry condition.

Which state should I pick for my JSA?

Pick the state where the work is done. Victoria uses the OHS Act 2004 and OHS Regulations 2017; every other state and territory uses its own WHS Act and Regulations, so the citations change with the state.

Check the official guidance

A JSA records the job steps, their hazards and the controls to use. Prepare it before the work starts, consult the workers doing the job, and review it when the job or controls change. For high-risk construction work you also need a SWMS. An AI draft or example needs review before use.

Model WHS guidance and Victorian requirements differ. Check the rules that apply to your workplace.

Generate a JSA from this template

Free account, no card to sign up. Edit every step, then download the PDF.

Create a free account →