There are many ways to perform a pre-job safety brief. The best method is a Standard Operation Procedure (SOP). This method creates a formal documented way to performing the job, the PPE required, and steps necessary to perform that work. An SOP works best with a routine job where the safest method has been previous established. Certainly, though, revisions and improvements must always be encouraged.
A Job Safety Analysis (JSA) is usually a check sheet format that has those performing the work check yes or no to is the hazards are present. It would also create an opportunity to see if other permits such as Hot Work, Confined Space, Line Break, Trenching, etc would be necessary. It is somewhat of an intermediate between the THA and SOP. 
The goal of a THA is to create a working set of steps that helps in identifying the hazards (think “what if”), and evaluating ways that would make the work safer through an organized task focused approach. The process works best in team as an individual might miss some key steps in the process. The team approach allows more than one set of view points to think through the process and have time to evaluate the potential hazards and steps necessary to limit risk.
As a disclaimer, most THA templates offer guidance through the use of check boxes to ask the used to consider a wide range of potential hazards and PPE that might be necessary. The example above is one in regards to breaking a job into detailed sub-tasks so that they can be evaluated.
Mark A French, Ph.D, CSP, EMT 