SafetyPaperwork
Roofing · United States

JHA for roof leak repair

By Safety PaperworkBuilt 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 roof leak repair 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, falling through a fragile roof or skylight, disturbing asbestos and electric shock from live wiring.

Make this JHA nowWord templatePDF

JHA example: roof leak repair

This is a complete JHA for roof leak repair, 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)
Roof repair and leak repair · Roofing · Example
Document JHA-001 · Rev 1

Job steps, hazards and controls

#Job stepHazardsRisk beforeControlsRisk after
1Check the roof type and condition from the ground, looking for brittle sheets, skylights and asbestos
  • Falling through a fragile roof or skylight
  • Disturbing asbestos
Critical
  • Work from underneath or from an aerial lift so nobody stands on the fragile roof. Elimination
  • Cover every skylight with a fixed, marked cover that can hold at least twice the weight it may carry, or guard it with a guardrail. Engineering (guarding)
  • Use crawl boards or staging to spread the load on fragile or rotten decking, and cover or guard any hole left where decking is removed (29 CFR 1926.501(b)(4)). Engineering
  • Use fall arrest on rated anchors when working near fragile areas. Engineering
  • Treat all roof sheets as fragile until a competent person confirms they are not. Old fiber cement and plastic sheets are fragile. Administrative
  • Put "Fragile roof" signs at every roof access point. Administrative
  • Never walk on sheets between purlins or along skylights. Stay on boards or staging. Administrative
  • Wear a full body harness clipped to a rated anchor. PPE
  • Treat insulation, surfacing and resilient flooring in buildings built before 1981 as asbestos unless testing shows otherwise, and get the owner's asbestos survey before you start. Elimination
  • Seal off the work area and keep everyone else out. Engineering (guarding)
  • If asbestos must be disturbed, keep it wet, use hand tools not power tools, and clean up with a HEPA vacuum. Engineering
  • Follow 29 CFR 1926.1101: competent person, work class, regulated area and exposure monitoring. Administrative
  • Commercial renovation and any demolition need a NESHAP asbestos inspection first, and demolition needs written notice to the state or EPA 10 working days before work starts (40 CFR 61 Subpart M). Administrative
  • Roofing felts, cement shingles and siding, roof coatings and old panel backboards can also contain asbestos. Test them or treat them as asbestos; asbestos roofing is removed intact with hand tools by trained workers (29 CFR 1926.1101(g)(8)). Administrative
  • Stop work straight away if you find suspect asbestos. Do not touch it and tell your supervisor. Administrative
  • Wear a fit-tested NIOSH-approved respirator suited to the work class, and disposable coveralls. PPE
Medium
2Set up a secured ladder and edge protection or a harness and anchor
  • Falling from a ladder
  • Falling from a roof edge
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 not stand on the top three rungs of an extension ladder or the top step of a stepladder. Administrative
  • Check the ladder before each use: feet, rungs, side rails and locks. Administrative
  • Wear non-slip safety boots with clean soles. PPE
  • 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
  • Stop roof work in strong wind or rain, and when the roof is wet, icy or covered in dust or frost. Administrative
  • Wear a harness clipped to a rated anchor when using restraint or fall arrest, and soft-soled non-slip boots. PPE
Medium
3Go into the roof space to find the leak, watching for live cables and weak ceiling joists
  • Electric shock from live wiring
  • Falling through a floor opening or void
  • Heat stress
  • Bites and stings
Critical
  • Isolate the power before any work. Do not work live. Elimination
  • Lock out and tag the disconnecting means with your own personal lock and tag so the circuit cannot be energized (29 CFR 1926.417). Engineering (guarding)
  • Test before you touch: prove dead at the point of work with a tested voltage tester. Engineering
  • Only qualified persons work on or near exposed energized parts. Administrative
  • 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
  • Schedule heavy work for the cooler part of the day. Elimination
  • Provide shade over work and rest areas, and fans or cooling in attics. Engineering
  • Supply cool drinking water close by and drink a cup every 15 to 20 minutes. Administrative
  • Take regular rest breaks in the shade, more often as it gets hotter. Administrative
  • In California, Washington, Oregon and Maryland, follow the state heat illness rule: written plan, shade, water, rest and high-heat procedures. Administrative
  • Check work areas before starting, and get pest control to remove nests. Elimination
  • Look before you reach into dark spaces. Administrative
  • Ask owners to keep pets away from the work area. Administrative
  • Know who has allergies and keep their medication, such as an epinephrine auto-injector, close by. Administrative
Medium
4Replace cracked tiles, sheets or flashings and seal joints
  • Cuts from sharp edges
  • Hazardous chemicals
  • Slips and trips
Medium
  • 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
  • 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
  • Plan walkways and keep them clear of materials, hoses and leads. Elimination
  • Run cords and hoses overhead on hooks or stands, or along walls, not across walkways. Engineering
  • Fill or cover holes, and lay boards or mats on muddy access paths. Engineering
  • Clean up offcuts, packaging and spills as you go, not at the end of the day. Administrative
  • Keep work areas, stairs and access paths well lit. Administrative
Medium
5Use heat for flashings only with a hot work permit and a fire extinguisher at hand
  • Fire from hot works
  • Burns from hot surfaces
Critical
  • 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
  • Keep a fire watch during the work and for at least 60 minutes after you finish (NFPA 51B), longer if the permit says so. Administrative
  • Check for smoldering behind walls, in ceilings and under floors before you leave. Administrative
  • Wear flame-resistant clothing, welding gloves and eye or face protection. PPE
  • Isolate heating systems and let parts cool before you touch them. Elimination
  • Fit guards or insulation on hot pipes and equipment. Engineering
  • Mark hot items with chalk or a "HOT" sign so others know. Administrative
  • Keep a first aid kit and cool running water nearby for burns. Administrative
  • Wear heat-resistant gloves and long sleeves. PPE
Medium
6Clean up debris, check gutters are clear and remove the ladder
  • Poor housekeeping and waste
  • Falling tools and materials
High
  • 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
  • Barricade and sign the drop zone under overhead work so nobody walks beneath. Engineering (guarding)
  • Fit toe boards, kick plates and mesh screens on scaffolds and edges. Engineering
  • Use catch fans, debris netting or covered walkways where people pass below. Engineering
  • Tether hand tools when working at height. Engineering
  • Keep platforms tidy. Do not stack materials near edges or above toe board height. Administrative
  • Lower materials with a hoist, chute or rope. Never throw or drop anything down. Administrative
  • Wear a hard hat anywhere objects could fall. PPE
Medium

PPE

Safety-toe boots (ASTM F2413)Personal fall arrest system (harness)Work glovesSafety glasses (ANSI Z87.1)Sun protection (sunscreen, hat, long sleeves)Hard hat (ANSI Z89.1)Half-face respirator (P100 cartridges)CoverallsCut-resistant glovesChemical-resistant glovesSafety goggles (ANSI Z87.1)Welding glovesFace shield (ANSI Z87.1)

Plant and equipment

Extension ladderHand toolsPropane torch

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 roof leak repair

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 roof leak repair

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

The safe sequence of work

  1. Check the roof type and condition from the ground, looking for brittle sheets, skylights and asbestos
  2. Set up a secured ladder and edge protection or a harness and anchor
  3. Go into the roof space to find the leak, watching for live cables and weak ceiling joists
  4. Replace cracked tiles, sheets or flashings and seal joints
  5. Use heat for flashings only with a hot work permit and a fire extinguisher at hand
  6. Clean up debris, check gutters are clear and remove the ladder

Hazards to watch on roof leak repair

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

Step 3Bites and stingsSnakes, spiders, wasps, ticks and dogs bite or sting workers in attics, crawl spaces and yards.
Step 1Falling through a fragile roof or skylightA worker steps on a skylight, clear sheet or old fiber cement roof and falls through to the floor below.
Step 5Burns from hot surfacesTouching hot pipes, tools, asphalt, solder or freshly welded metal burns the skin.
Step 5Fire from hot worksSparks and heat from welding, grinding or flame torches set fire to timber, insulation, rubbish or fuel nearby.
Step 2Falling from a roof edgeA worker slips or walks off the edge of a roof or gutter line and falls to the ground.
Step 3Heat stressHard work in hot weather or hot attics causes heat exhaustion or heat stroke, which can kill.
Almost certainLikelyPossibleUnlikelyRareHow bad it could be: First aid only to FatalityBA
Highest risk on roof leak repair: 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?
  • Will you use a scaffold or rolling tower?
  • Will you use an aerial lift (scissor lift or boom lift)?
  • Is it a home or child-occupied facility (such as a child care center or preschool) built before 1978, and will you disturb paint?

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 roof leak repair?

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

Usually Safety-toe boots (ASTM F2413), Personal fall arrest system (harness), Work gloves, Safety glasses (ANSI Z87.1), Sun protection (sunscreen, hat, long sleeves), Hard hat (ANSI Z89.1), Half-face respirator (P100 cartridges), Coveralls, Cut-resistant gloves, Chemical-resistant gloves, Safety goggles (ANSI Z87.1), Welding gloves, Face shield (ANSI Z87.1). The site rules may add more, so check with the general contractor.

More roofing JHAs

JHARoof Replacement11 stepsJHARoof Tile Replacement9 stepsJHAMetal Roofing Installation7 stepsJHAGutter Replacement9 stepsJHASkylight Installation6 stepsJHAFlat Roof Membrane Installation6 stepsJHAFascia and Soffit Repair5 steps

Related jobs in other trades

DrywallDrywall InstallationAlso involves electric shock from live wiringElectricalElectrical Panel UpgradeAlso involves disturbing asbestosPaintingLead Paint Removal (RRP)Also involves hazardous chemicalsScaffoldingScaffold ErectionAlso involves falling tools and materialsWelding and fabricationSteel ErectionAlso involves falling tools and materialsLandscapingTree RemovalAlso involves falling tools and materials

Toolbox talks for this job

Toolbox talkLadder SafetyToolbox talkExtension Leads and Power ToolsToolbox talkAsbestos AwarenessToolbox talkHeat Stress

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

Sources