# Free preliminary hazard analysis template

> Screen a maintenance task or change for credible hazards before detailed design or execution. The worksheet connects each scenario to causes, consequences, initial risk, controls, residual risk, an accountable owner, and a corrective work-order reference.

Canonical URL: https://maintenease.com/templates/preliminary-hazard-analysis-template

## Included fields

- **System, asset, or task** — The equipment, change, activity, or boundary being screened.
- **Hazard scenario** — A credible source, initiating event, and unwanted outcome written without assuming a control works.
- **Causes and consequences** — What could initiate the scenario and what could happen to people, equipment, operations, or the environment.
- **Initial risk** — Severity and likelihood before crediting new recommendations.
- **Controls and recommendations** — Existing safeguards plus actions that eliminate, reduce, detect, or respond to the hazard.
- **Residual risk and owner** — Risk remaining after controls, the accountable role, due date, and linked work order.

## How to use it

1. **Define the boundary** — Name the equipment, task, lifecycle phase, operating state, and interfaces included in the review so the team analyzes the same scope.
2. **Describe credible scenarios** — Pair a hazard source with an initiating event and consequence. Consider normal work, startup, shutdown, maintenance, abnormal conditions, and foreseeable misuse.
3. **Rate risk consistently** — Use your organization’s approved severity and likelihood matrix. Record the initial rating before recommendations and the residual rating only after a control owner accepts the action.
4. **Turn recommendations into controlled work** — Give every action an owner, due date, status, and work-order or project reference. Escalate any risk that exceeds the organization’s acceptance criteria.

## FAQ

### What is a preliminary hazard analysis?

A preliminary hazard analysis is an early, structured screen that identifies credible hazards, causes, consequences, risk levels, and recommended controls before more detailed design or task analysis.

### When should a maintenance team use a PHA?

Use a PHA for new equipment, process changes, unfamiliar maintenance tasks, major modifications, or early project decisions. It does not replace required job hazard analysis, LOTO, engineering review, or regulatory processes.

### How should PHA recommendations be tracked?

Assign an accountable owner, due date, status, and verification method. Link implementation work to a corrective work order or project action, then document the accepted residual risk.

## Direct downloads

- [Spreadsheet (CSV)](https://maintenease.com/templates/downloads/preliminary-hazard-analysis-template.csv)