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Concreting · United States

JHA for concrete footings

By SiteSortedBuilt from OSHA standards and guidance · How we write and check theseUpdated

OSHA expects employers to find and control hazards on every job, and many general contractors require a written JHA for concrete footings 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 hitting underground services, being hit by heavy equipment, trench or excavation collapse and falling through a floor opening or void.

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JHA example: concrete footings

This is a complete JHA for concrete footings, with 6 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)
Footings: dig, rebar and pour · Concreting · Example
Document JHA-001 · Rev 1

Job steps, hazards and controls

#Job stepHazardsRisk beforeControlsRisk after
1Locate underground services before excavating
  • Hitting underground services
  • Gas and fuel lines
Critical
  • Keep machine buckets well clear of marked services and use a spotter. Engineering (guarding)
  • Scan the area with a cable locator before digging and mark services on the ground. Engineering
  • Hand dig or vacuum excavate to expose services before using a machine near them. Engineering
  • Call 811 before you dig and wait until all utilities have marked their lines. Administrative
  • Keep plans or locate tickets on site and check them again if the work area grows. Administrative
  • Support or protect exposed utilities so they cannot sag or break while the excavation is open (29 CFR 1926.651(b)(4)). Administrative
  • If you hit a service, stop, get everyone clear, and call the owner and emergency services. Administrative
  • Wear safety boots, gloves and hi-vis when digging. PPE
  • Isolate and purge the line before work, with the owner's approval. Elimination
  • Lock off and tag the isolation valve. Engineering (guarding)
  • Check for leaks with a gas detector before and during work, and ventilate the area. Engineering
  • Only licensed gas fitters work on gas lines. Administrative
  • Remove ignition sources: no smoking, no hot work and no sparking tools near the line. Administrative
  • Know where the shut-off valve is and what to do if a leak happens. Administrative
  • Wear safety glasses and gloves, and keep a fire extinguisher close by. PPE
Medium
2Dig footings, keeping people out of the excavator swing
  • Being hit by heavy equipment
  • Trench or excavation collapse
Critical
  • Separate people and equipment with barriers, exclusion zones and marked walkways. Engineering (guarding)
  • Use equipment with working backup alarms, cameras and lights. Engineering
  • Have a site traffic plan showing equipment routes, loading areas and pedestrian paths. Administrative
  • Use a spotter when backing up or working near people. Administrative
  • Make eye contact with the operator before going near. Stay out of the swing radius. Administrative
  • Operators are trained and authorized for each machine. Forklift and telehandler operators are trained, evaluated and certified by the employer (29 CFR 1910.178(l), via 1926.602(d)). Administrative
  • Do a pre-start check on each machine every day and record it. Administrative
  • Wear hi-vis clothing and a hard hat. PPE
  • Use methods that keep people out of the trench, such as directional boring or working from the surface. Elimination
  • Barricade or cover the excavation so people and equipment cannot fall in. Use guardrails on walkways that cross it (29 CFR 1926.651(l)). Engineering (guarding)
  • Use a protective system (sloping, shoring or a trench box) in any trench 5 feet or deeper, or shallower if the competent person sees signs of a possible cave-in (29 CFR 1926.652). Engineering
  • Protective systems for trenches over 20 feet deep are designed by a registered professional engineer (29 CFR 1926.652(b), (c)). Engineering
  • Keep spoil, materials and equipment at least 2 feet back from the edge. Engineering
  • Provide a ladder, stairway or ramp within 25 feet of workers in trenches 4 feet or deeper. Engineering
  • Competent person inspects the trench daily, after rain and as conditions change, and tests the air before entry in trenches over 4 feet deep where a hazardous atmosphere could exist (29 CFR 1926.651(g), (k)). Administrative
  • Nobody works in a trench where water is collecting unless the competent person has controls in place, such as pumping or special support (29 CFR 1926.651(h)). Administrative
  • Nobody stands under a loaded bucket or near a truck being loaded (29 CFR 1926.651(e)). Administrative
  • Never work alone in a trench. Watch for water, cracks and bulging walls, and get out if you see them. Administrative
  • Wear a hard hat, hi-vis and safety boots. PPE
Medium
3Cover or barricade open footings
  • Falling through a floor opening or void
  • Public entering the work area
Critical
  • Cover every hole with a secured cover marked "HOLE" or "COVER" that can hold twice the weight it may carry. Engineering (guarding)
  • Put guardrails with toe boards around stairwells, elevator shafts, floor holes and open edges. Engineering (guarding)
  • Install stairs early and fit temporary handrails as soon as they go in. Engineering
  • Never remove a cover or guardrail without approval. Put it back straight away. Administrative
  • Inspect covers and barriers daily and after other trades have been through. Administrative
  • Keep lighting good enough to see openings, especially on lower floors and in the evening. Administrative
  • Use a harness clipped to a rated anchor when working right next to an open void. PPE
  • Fence off the site with secure temporary fencing and lock the gates when you leave. Engineering (guarding)
  • Give pedestrians a safe, marked path around the work, with ramps for strollers and wheelchairs. Engineering (guarding)
  • Use hoarding, covered walkways or catch fans where work is above public areas. Engineering
  • Put signs at each entry: site name, contact number and "No unauthorized entry". Administrative
  • Make the site safe at the end of each day: cover holes, lower plant, remove ladders and lock tools away. Administrative
  • Use a spotter when moving plant or materials across public paths. Administrative
Medium
4Cut and tie rebar, capping bars that stick up
  • Impalement on rebar
  • Angle grinder injuries
  • Lifting and carrying heavy loads
High
  • Guard all protruding rebar to remove the impalement risk (29 CFR 1926.701(b)). Engineering
  • Bend bars over where the design allows. Engineering
  • Use guardrails or covers near vertical rebar so nobody can fall onto it. Engineering
  • Keep walkways clear of exposed bars and mark the hazard. Administrative
  • Wear gloves, safety glasses and safety boots when handling bar. PPE
  • Use a guarded saw or a different tool where you can. Substitution
  • Keep the guard on and use the side handle. Never remove the guard. Engineering
  • Use the right disc for the job, rated for the grinder's speed. Check it for cracks first. Administrative
  • Only trained people change discs, with the grinder unplugged or the battery out. Administrative
  • Keep both hands on the grinder and let the disc stop before putting it down. Administrative
  • Plan to avoid carrying: have materials delivered, and old items picked up, as close as possible to where they are used. Elimination
  • Use lighter or smaller loads: order smaller bags and shorter lengths, and drain or break down old items before moving them. Substitution
  • Use trolleys, pallet jacks, hoists, vacuum lifters or plant instead of carrying by hand. Engineering
  • Use a two-person lift for anything heavy, long or awkward. Plan the route first and clear it. Administrative
  • Keep the load close, back straight and no twisting. Turn with your feet. Administrative
Medium
5Pour and vibrate concrete
  • Wet concrete and cement burns
  • Hand-arm and whole-body vibration
  • Loud noise
High
  • Use long-handled tools and pumps to cut down contact. Engineering
  • Wash concrete off skin straight away with clean water. Administrative
  • Have clean water and eye wash at the pour. Administrative
  • Wear waterproof gloves, long sleeves and rubber boots with pants worn over the top. PPE
  • Wear safety glasses or goggles to stop splashes. PPE
  • 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 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
Medium
6Clean up tools and waste
  • Poor housekeeping and waste
Medium
  • 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
Low

PPE

Safety-toe boots (ASTM F2413)High-visibility safety apparel, ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 2 or 3 (Type R near roadways)Hard hat (ANSI Z89.1)Chemical-resistant glovesSafety glasses (ANSI Z87.1)Work glovesFace shield (ANSI Z87.1)Hearing protection (earmuffs or plugs)Cut-resistant glovesSafety goggles (ANSI Z87.1)Knee pads

Plant and equipment

ExcavatorConcrete pump truckHand toolsAngle grinder

Permits and plans

811 locate ticket / excavation permit

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 footings

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 footings

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

The safe sequence of work

  1. Locate underground services before excavating
  2. Dig footings, keeping people out of the excavator swing
  3. Cover or barricade open footings
  4. Cut and tie rebar, capping bars that stick up
  5. Pour and vibrate concrete
  6. Clean up tools and waste

Hazards to watch on concrete footings

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

Step 4Impalement on rebarA worker falls or trips onto exposed rebar and is impaled or badly cut.
Step 2Trench or excavation collapseThe trench walls cave in and bury or crush a worker. Trenches 5 feet or deeper need a protective system, and shallower ones do too if there are signs of a possible cave-in.
Step 4Angle grinder injuriesThe disc shatters, binds or kicks back, causing deep cuts to legs and hands or eye injuries.
Step 5Wet concrete and cement burnsWet concrete, mortar and cement burn skin and eyes. Burns can be deep and are often not felt until later.
Step 1Gas and fuel linesDamaging or opening a gas or fuel line causes a leak, fire or explosion.
Step 5Hand-arm and whole-body vibrationLong periods on jackhammers, grinders, compactors or riding plant cause white finger, numbness and back damage.
Almost certainLikelyPossibleUnlikelyRareHow bad it could be: First aid only to FatalityBA
Highest risk on concrete footings: Critical before controls (B), down to Medium after controls (A), on the United States 5 by 5 risk matrix (possible and fatality becomes unlikely and serious injury).

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 footings?

OSHA expects employers to find and control hazards on every job, and many general contractors require a written JHA for concrete footings 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 footings?

Usually Safety-toe boots (ASTM F2413), High-visibility safety apparel, ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 2 or 3 (Type R near roadways), Hard hat (ANSI Z89.1), Chemical-resistant gloves, Safety glasses (ANSI Z87.1), Work gloves, Face shield (ANSI Z87.1), Hearing protection (earmuffs or plugs), Cut-resistant gloves, Safety goggles (ANSI Z87.1), Knee pads. The site rules may add more, so check with the general contractor.

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Toolbox talks for this job

Toolbox talkOverhead Power LinesToolbox talkHearing Protection and NoiseToolbox talkHand-Arm VibrationToolbox talkPPE: Personal Protective Equipment

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

Sources