General contracting · United States

JHA for garage construction

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 garage construction 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 falling from a roof edge, hitting underground services, fire from hot works and strong wind and storms.

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JHA example: garage construction

This is a complete JHA for garage construction, 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)

Shed and garage construction · General contracting · Example

Document JHA-001 · Rev 1

Job steps, hazards and controls

#	Job step	Hazards	Risk before	Controls	Risk after
1	Get 811 locates and pour the slab or footings	Hitting underground services Wet concrete and cement burns	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 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	Medium
2	Stand the frame and brace it straight away	Structural collapse during alterations Strong wind and storms Lifting and carrying heavy loads	High	Get an engineer to check before removing any wall, beam, post or bracing that may be load-bearing. Elimination Keep everyone clear of the area under and next to the work. Engineering (guarding) Install temporary props, needles or shoring as designed before removing any support. Engineering Follow the engineer's sequence. Do not change it without approval. Administrative Check props daily. Do not remove them until the permanent support is in and approved. Administrative Check the forecast each morning and plan work at height and lifting around the weather. Elimination Tie down or weigh down loose sheets, panels, boards and rubbish at the end of each shift. Engineering Set wind limits for roof work, platforms and cranes, using the manufacturer's limits, and stop when they are reached. Administrative Stop work and get down in lightning. Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back up. Administrative Check scaffold, fencing and edge protection after strong wind before anyone uses them. 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
3	Fix wall and roof sheets, working from a secured ladder or scaffold	Falling from a ladder Falling from a roof edge Cuts from sharp edges	Critical	Use a platform ladder, mobile scaffold or aerial lift for longer jobs instead of a straight ladder. Substitution Use Type I, IA or IAA ladders in good condition. Tag and remove any damaged ladder. Engineering Set extension ladders at a 4 to 1 angle on firm, level ground, secured, and reaching 3 feet above the landing. Engineering Use ladders only for short, light work. Do not carry heavy or awkward loads up a ladder. Administrative Keep three points of contact and your belt buckle between the stiles. Do not overreach. Administrative Do what you can from the ground or from a scaffold at the gutter line, for example pre-assemble parts on the ground. Elimination Install edge protection or guardrails on all open roof edges before work starts. Engineering (guarding) Use a perimeter scaffold with handrails and toe boards along the eaves where practical. Engineering Where guardrails cannot be fitted, use fall restraint on certified roof anchors so workers cannot reach the edge. Engineering Low-slope roofs: guardrails, safety nets, personal fall arrest, or a warning line combined with one of these or with a safety monitor (a safety monitor alone only on roofs 50 feet wide or less). Steep roofs: guardrails with toe boards, safety nets or personal fall arrest (29 CFR 1926.501(b)(10), (11)). Administrative Use one safe, controlled access point and keep others off the roof. Administrative Deburr or cover sharp edges, and fit edge protectors on exposed sheet metal. Engineering Use knives with retractable or self-retracting blades. Engineering Cut away from your body and keep your other hand clear. Administrative Put used blades in a blade bin or sharps container. Administrative Use two people to handle large sheets of metal or glass. Administrative	Medium
4	Cut sheets with shears or nibblers rather than a grinder	Angle grinder injuries Fire from hot works Loud noise	Critical	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 Use cold work methods where you can, such as bolting, press fittings or cutting with a saw instead of a torch. Elimination Move anything that can burn at least 35 feet away, or cover it with fire blankets. Engineering (guarding) Use fire-resistant screens to stop sparks reaching people or gaps in walls and floors. Engineering Get a hot work permit before starting. Administrative Keep a charged fire extinguisher and fire blanket at the work spot. 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
5	Fit doors, flashings 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)Cut-resistant glovesSafety glasses (ANSI Z87.1)Hearing protection (earmuffs or plugs)Personal fall arrest system (harness)Sun protection (sunscreen, hat, long sleeves)Chemical-resistant glovesSafety goggles (ANSI Z87.1)Knee padsHard hat (ANSI Z89.1)Work glovesFace shield (ANSI Z87.1)Welding glovesCoveralls

Plant and equipment

Cement mixerPower drillAngle grinderExtension ladderHand tools

Permits and plans

Written fall protection plan (only where guardrails, nets or personal fall arrest are not feasible, 1926.502(k))Hot work permit (fire watch at least 60 minutes after, NFPA 51B)

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 garage construction

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 garage construction

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
Guardrails, nets or fall arrest in place before anyone works at 6 ft or more
Ladder inspected, secured and extending 3 ft above the landing
811 ticket current and services marked
Hot work permit issued, extinguisher at hand, fire watch arranged
Wind and weather checked; stop work limits agreed
First aid / CPR person, first aid kit and emergency number (911) confirmed
PPE checked and worn: safety-toe boots (ASTM F2413), cut-resistant gloves, safety glasses (ANSI Z87.1), hearing protection (earmuffs or plugs)

The safe sequence of work

Get 811 locates and pour the slab or footings
Stand the frame and brace it straight away
Fix wall and roof sheets, working from a secured ladder or scaffold
Cut sheets with shears or nibblers rather than a grinder
Fit doors, flashings and clean up

Hazards to watch on garage construction

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

Step 4Angle grinder injuriesThe disc shatters, binds or kicks back, causing deep cuts to legs and hands or eye injuries.

Step 1Wet concrete and cement burnsWet concrete, mortar and cement burn skin and eyes. Burns can be deep and are often not felt until later.

Step 4Fire from hot worksSparks and heat from welding, grinding or flame torches set fire to timber, insulation, rubbish or fuel nearby.

Step 2Strong wind and stormsWind blows sheets, panels and people off roofs and scaffolds, and storms and lightning make work at height and lifting unsafe.

Step 3Falling from a roof edgeA worker slips or walks off the edge of a roof or gutter line and falls to the ground.

Step 2Structural collapse during alterationsRemoving a wall, beam, post or bracing makes part of the building fall on workers.

Highest risk on garage construction: 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 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 work on a roof?
Is there a skylight, fiberglass panel or other fragile roofing?
Will you use a scaffold or rolling tower?
Will you use an aerial lift (scissor lift or boom lift)?

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 garage construction?

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

Usually Safety-toe boots (ASTM F2413), Cut-resistant gloves, Safety glasses (ANSI Z87.1), Hearing protection (earmuffs or plugs), Personal fall arrest system (harness), Sun protection (sunscreen, hat, long sleeves), Chemical-resistant gloves, Safety goggles (ANSI Z87.1), Knee pads, Hard hat (ANSI Z89.1), Work gloves, Face shield (ANSI Z87.1), Welding gloves, Coveralls. The site rules may add more, so check with the general contractor.

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Related jobs in other trades

RoofingRoof ReplacementAlso involves strong wind and storms Excavation and earthworksTrenching and ExcavationAlso involves hitting underground services Welding and fabricationSteel ErectionAlso involves structural collapse during alterations ScaffoldingScaffold ErectionAlso involves strong wind and storms ElectricalElectrical Panel UpgradeAlso involves cuts from sharp edges ConcretingConcrete Slab PourAlso involves wet concrete and cement burns

Toolbox talks for this job

Toolbox talkLadder Safety Toolbox talkHearing Protection and Noise Toolbox talkHot Works Safety Toolbox talkAngle Grinder Safety

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