There are several differences, including the fact that the PPE hazard assessment is required by OSHA regulations, whereas the JHA is not required. In terms of the actual differences between the two processes, a PPE hazard assessment is narrowly focused on hazards that could necessitate the use of PPE. A PPE assessment generally involves a walkthrough of an area. A JHA on the other hand, looks at a hierarchy of controls, with PPE being a last resort. Additionally, a JHA involves breaking down individual “jobs” into their smaller steps to determine the hazards of each step. A PPE assessment looks at the job more broadly, in many cases looking at the general area.
This is not to say that a PPE hazard assessment cannot be incorporated into a JHA process; many employers do this.