Concreting · United States

JHA for concrete grinding and polishing

By Safety PaperworkBuilt from OSHA standards and guidance · How we write and check theseUpdated November 9, 2026

OSHA expects employers to find and control hazards on every job, and many general contractors require a written JHA for concrete grinding and polishing before you start.

A JHA breaks the job into steps, lists the hazards in each step and the controls that protect the crew, and the crew signs it. The main hazards are silica dust from concrete, brick, stone and tiles, electric shock from cords and power tools, loud noise and flammable liquids and gases.

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JHA example: concrete grinding and polishing

This is a complete JHA for concrete grinding and polishing, with 5 job steps. Open it in the builder to add your site, crew and signatures, change anything, and download a PDF. Or download the free Word template below and fill it in by hand.

Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)

Concrete grinding and polishing · Concreting · Example

Document JHA-001 · Rev 1

Job steps, hazards and controls

#	Job step	Hazards	Risk before	Controls	Risk after
1	Close off the area and seal doors to stop dust spreading	Working in an occupied home or building Silica dust from concrete, brick, stone and tiles	Critical	Plan noisy, dusty or risky work for when the building is empty. Elimination Close off the work area with barriers, plastic sheeting or locked doors, and put up signs. Engineering (guarding) Keep fire exits and paths clear at all times. Administrative Tell occupants before you turn off power, water or gas, and before noisy or dusty work. Administrative Lock away tools, chemicals and materials each day, out of reach of children. Administrative Clean up dust and debris at the end of each day. Administrative Order materials cut to size, or use low-dust methods such as score and snap or a block splitter. Substitution Cut outdoors or in a separate area, with other people well away and upwind. Engineering (guarding) Silica dust from concrete, brick, stone and tiles: see step 5 for the full controls Administrative	Medium
2	Connect the grinder to an H-class extractor before starting	Silica dust from concrete, brick, stone and tiles Electric shock from cords and power tools	Critical	Use wet cutting or on-tool dust collection with a HEPA vacuum, as set out in Table 1 of 29 CFR 1926.1153. Engineering Clean up with a vacuum or wet methods. Never dry sweep or use compressed air. Administrative Silica dust from concrete, brick, stone and tiles: see step 5 for the full controls Administrative Use battery-powered tools where you can. Substitution Use GFCIs on all 120-volt, 15, 20 and 30 amp temporary receptacles, or a written assured equipment grounding conductor program run by a competent person with recorded tests (29 CFR 1926.404(b)(1)). Engineering Keep cords off the ground and out of water, using stands or hooks. Engineering Check cords, plugs and tools before every use. Tag out and remove anything damaged. Administrative Do not use tools in rain or wet areas unless they are rated for it. Administrative Wear safety boots and dry gloves. PPE	Medium
3	Grind with hearing and breathing protection, rotating operators	Loud noise Hand-arm and whole-body vibration Repetitive work and awkward postures	High	Use quieter tools and methods, such as cut-to-size materials, low-noise machines and battery tools. Substitution Keep noisy plant away from work areas, and use screens or distance between the noise and people. Engineering (guarding) Keep tools maintained and use mufflers on compressors and generators. Engineering Limit time on noisy tools and rotate workers. Administrative If you have to shout to be heard at arm's length, wear hearing protection. Administrative Use low-vibration tools and methods, such as a breaker on an excavator instead of a hand jackhammer. Substitution Keep tools sharp and well maintained, and use anti-vibration handles and seats. Engineering Limit trigger time on high-vibration tools and rotate workers. Administrative Keep hands warm and dry, and take regular breaks. Administrative Report tingling, numbness or white fingers early. Administrative Use tools that cut the effort: powered screwdrivers, long-handled tools and extension poles for overhead work. Substitution Set work up at waist height on benches or trestles where you can. Engineering Use light tools with good grips, and keep blades and bits sharp. Engineering Rotate tasks and take short breaks every hour on repetitive work. Administrative Warm up before heavy physical work and report aches and pains early. Administrative	Medium
4	Apply densifiers or sealers with ventilation	Hazardous chemicals Flammable liquids and gases	High	Choose the least harmful product that does the job, for example water-based instead of solvent-based. Substitution Use chemicals in well-ventilated areas, or use fans and extraction in closed rooms. Engineering Read the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and labels before use, following OSHA Hazard Communication. Administrative Keep chemicals in labeled containers. Never pour them into drink bottles. Administrative Store chemicals away from heat, food and drink, and keep products that react with each other apart. Administrative Have eye wash and a spill kit nearby, and wash hands before eating. Administrative Wear chemical-resistant gloves and safety glasses or goggles as listed on the SDS. PPE Use a respirator with the right cartridge if the SDS calls for one. PPE Use non-flammable or water-based products where you can. Substitution Keep ignition sources away: no smoking, no hot work and no running engines near flammables. Engineering (guarding) Store fuels and solvents in approved, closed containers in a ventilated area away from the work. Engineering Refuel equipment outdoors with the engine off and cool. Administrative Keep only what you need for the day on site. Administrative Store gas cylinders upright, secured and outdoors. Administrative Keep a suitable fire extinguisher where flammables are used or stored. Administrative Wear chemical gloves and safety glasses when pouring or mixing. PPE	Medium
5	Vacuum all dust, never sweep dry, then reopen the area	Silica dust from concrete, brick, stone and tiles Poor housekeeping and waste	Critical	Order materials cut to size, or use low-dust methods such as score and snap or a block splitter. Substitution Cut outdoors or in a separate area, with other people well away and upwind. Engineering (guarding) Use wet cutting or on-tool dust collection with a HEPA vacuum, as set out in Table 1 of 29 CFR 1926.1153. Engineering Clean up with a vacuum or wet methods. Never dry sweep or use compressed air. Administrative Have a written exposure control plan and a competent person for silica (29 CFR 1926.1153). Administrative Workers who must wear a respirator 30 or more days a year get a free medical exam every 3 years (29 CFR 1926.1153(h)). Administrative Wear the respirator Table 1 lists for the task: APF 10 (a fit-tested N95 or half mask) for most tasks, APF 25 (such as a loose-fitting PAPR) for tuckpointing with a handheld grinder for more than 4 hours a shift. PPE Order materials to size and send packaging back where you can. Elimination Put dumpsters and waste chutes close to the work. Engineering Clean as you go, and do a full clean up at the end of each day. Administrative Keep exits, stairs and walkways clear at all times. Administrative Stack materials neatly on level ground, away from edges. Administrative Wear gloves when handling waste. PPE	Medium

PPE

Safety-toe boots (ASTM F2413)Safety glasses (ANSI Z87.1)Hearing protection (earmuffs or plugs)Half-face respirator (P100 cartridges)Knee padsN95 respiratorWork glovesChemical-resistant glovesSafety goggles (ANSI Z87.1)Coveralls

Plant and equipment

Angle grinderHEPA vacuumPortable generator

Emergency

Call 911. Add the nearest hospital, the assembly point and the first aid / cpr person for your site.

Sign-off

Supervisor and every worker sign to confirm they have read and understood this JHA.

Free JHA template for concrete grinding and polishing

Word (.docx) and PDF, Letter landscape, no email needed. Fill in your site details, then print or send it.

Word template (.docx)PDF template

Make yours in 2 minutes

Same document, filled in for your job. Answer a few yes or no questions, the crew signs on the phone, and you send the PDF.

Start this JHA

Pre-start checklist for concrete grinding and polishing

Tick these off before work starts. They come from the hazards, permits and equipment in this job.

JHA read, explained and signed by everyone on the job
Water suppression or on-tool extraction fitted; respirators fit tested
First aid / CPR person, first aid kit and emergency number (911) confirmed
PPE checked and worn: safety-toe boots (ASTM F2413), safety glasses (ANSI Z87.1), hearing protection (earmuffs or plugs), half-face respirator (P100 cartridges)

The safe sequence of work

Close off the area and seal doors to stop dust spreading
Connect the grinder to an H-class extractor before starting
Grind with hearing and breathing protection, rotating operators
Apply densifiers or sealers with ventilation
Vacuum all dust, never sweep dry, then reopen the area

Hazards to watch on concrete grinding and polishing

The hazards most specific to this job, and the step where each one comes up.

Step 4Flammable liquids and gasesGasoline, solvents, thinners and propane catch fire or explode when vapor reaches a spark, flame or hot surface.

Step 2Electric shock from cords and power toolsDamaged cords, plugs or tools, or water near power, give the user an electric shock.

Step 1Working in an occupied home or buildingResidents, staff or children wander into the work area and get hurt, or the work blocks exits or cuts off power or water while people are inside.

Step 3Hand-arm and whole-body vibrationLong periods on jackhammers, grinders, compactors or riding plant cause white finger, numbness and back damage.

Step 3Repetitive work and awkward posturesDoing the same movement for hours, kneeling or working overhead causes long-term damage to joints, muscles and tendons.

Step 4Hazardous chemicalsGlues, sealants, solvents, acids, cleaners and cement burn skin and eyes or cause breathing problems and poisoning.

Highest risk on concrete grinding and polishing: Critical before controls (B), down to Medium after controls (A), on the United States 5 by 5 risk matrix (likely and fatality becomes unlikely and recordable / lost time).

What changes on your site

This example covers the job itself. Your site may add more. Add controls for any of these that apply (the builder asks you these as yes or no questions):

Will anyone work 6 feet or more above a lower level?
Will anyone use a ladder or stepladder?
Will anyone work on a roof?
Is there a skylight, fiberglass panel or other fragile roofing?
Will you use a scaffold or rolling tower?

Why JHAs get rejected

General contractors send documents back for these reasons. This example avoids them, but check yours too.

Generic steps such as "work safely" or "use PPE" with no task-specific hazards or controls.
No OSHA standards referenced for the hazards that have them, such as fall protection, ladders, scaffolds or silica.
No competent person named for fall protection, excavation, scaffolds or silica where those hazards exist.
Equipment listed without inspection requirements, and no training listed for the people using it.
Respirators listed with no respiratory protection program, medical clearance or fit test.
Controls rely only on PPE when engineering controls such as guardrails, wet cutting or extraction are feasible.
No crew sign-off, or no date and revision when the job has changed.

Questions

Do I need a JHA for concrete grinding and polishing?

OSHA expects employers to find and control hazards on every job, and many general contractors require a written JHA for concrete grinding and polishing before you start.

Who signs the JHA?

The supervisor or competent person who prepared it signs, and every crew member signs to show they were trained on the hazards and controls before the job starts. Many general contractors also sign to accept it.

How long do I keep it?

Keep this JHA on site during the job, and keep it with the training and inspection records for at least 1 year after the job (longer if your state plan or general contractor requires it). OSHA does not set a retention period for JHAs themselves.

What PPE is needed for concrete grinding and polishing?

Usually Safety-toe boots (ASTM F2413), Safety glasses (ANSI Z87.1), Hearing protection (earmuffs or plugs), Half-face respirator (P100 cartridges), Knee pads, N95 respirator, Work gloves, Chemical-resistant gloves, Safety goggles (ANSI Z87.1), Coveralls. The site rules may add more, so check with the general contractor.

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Blank JHA template: free JHA templates. Also for other countries: Australia (SWMS) · United Kingdom (RAMS) · Canada (FLHA)