Excavation and earthworks · United States

JHA for auger drilling

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 auger drilling 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, falling through a floor opening or void and public entering the work area.

Make this JHA now Word template PDF

JHA example: auger drilling

This is a complete JHA for auger drilling, 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)

Post hole boring and pier holes · Excavation and earthworks · Example

Document JHA-001 · Rev 1

Job steps, hazards and controls

#	Job step	Hazards	Risk before	Controls	Risk after
1	Get 811 locates and mark every hole	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
2	Set up the auger machine on firm ground with an exclusion zone	Being hit by heavy equipment Contact with overhead power lines	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 Ask the utility to de-energize, move or insulate the lines before work starts. Elimination Use non-conductive (fiberglass) ladders near any power lines. Substitution Mark the safe distance with flags, tape or warning lines and keep all equipment and people outside it. Engineering (guarding) Keep equipment at least 10 feet from lines up to 50 kV once the utility confirms the voltage, more for higher voltages, and 20 feet when the voltage is unknown (29 CFR 1926.1408). Administrative Use a dedicated spotter whenever equipment moves or raises anything near lines. Administrative Treat all lines as energized. If equipment touches a line, the operator stays in the cab and everyone else keeps well away. Administrative	Medium
3	Keep clear of the turning auger, no loose clothing	Injury from power tools Being hit by heavy equipment	Critical	Keep all guards fitted and working. Never tie back or remove a guard. Engineering Clamp or secure the work piece. Do not hold it by hand. Engineering Only trained, competent people use power tools, following the maker's instructions. Administrative Check tools before use. Unplug or remove the battery before changing blades or bits. Administrative No loose clothing, jewelry or long hair near spinning parts. Administrative Wear safety glasses and hearing protection. Do not wear loose gloves on drills or other rotating tools. PPE Being hit by heavy equipment: see step 2 for the full controls Administrative	Medium
4	Cover open holes straight away	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
5	Spread or remove spoil and clean up	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)Hearing protection (earmuffs or plugs)Work glovesHard hat (ANSI Z89.1)Safety glasses (ANSI Z87.1)

Plant and equipment

ExcavatorSkid steerHand tools

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 auger drilling

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 auger drilling

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
Openings, voids and penetrations covered and marked
Overhead lines identified and safe distances marked
811 ticket current and services marked
Exclusion zone and spotter set up for equipment and traffic
Exclusion zone below the work and public kept out
First aid / CPR person, first aid kit and emergency number (911) confirmed
PPE checked and worn: safety-toe boots (ASTM F2413), high-visibility safety apparel, ANSI/ISEA 107 class 2 or 3 (type r near roadways), hearing protection (earmuffs or plugs), work gloves

The safe sequence of work

Get 811 locates and mark every hole
Set up the auger machine on firm ground with an exclusion zone
Keep clear of the turning auger, no loose clothing
Cover open holes straight away
Spread or remove spoil and clean up

Hazards to watch on auger drilling

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

Step 2Contact with overhead power linesA ladder, aerial lift, crane, dump truck or long length of material touches or gets close to an overhead line and electrocutes people.

Step 1Gas and fuel linesDamaging or opening a gas or fuel line causes a leak, fire or explosion.

Step 1Hitting underground servicesDigging, drilling or driving pegs hits a buried power cable, gas pipe or water main, causing electrocution, explosion or flooding.

Step 4Falling through a floor opening or voidA worker steps into an open hole, stairwell, elevator shaft or floor opening and falls to the level below.

Step 2, 3Being hit by heavy equipmentExcavators, loaders, telehandlers and trucks run over or crush workers, especially when backing up or swinging.

Step 3Injury from power toolsDrills, saws, routers and sanders kick back, catch clothing or throw debris, causing cuts, broken bones and eye injuries.

Highest risk on auger drilling: 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 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 auger drilling?

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

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

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Toolbox talks for this job

Toolbox talkOverhead Power Lines Toolbox talkExtension Leads and Power Tools Toolbox talkPPE: Personal Protective Equipment

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