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Roofing · United States

JHA for roof tile replacement

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 roof tile replacement 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 from height, silica dust from concrete, brick, stone and tiles and scaffold collapse or fall from scaffold.

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JHA example: roof tile replacement

This is a complete JHA for roof tile replacement, with 9 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)
Replace roof tiles · Roofing · Example
Document JHA-001 · Rev 1

Job steps, hazards and controls

#Job stepHazardsRisk beforeControlsRisk after
1Check the weather, look for overhead power lines and barricade the area below the work
  • Strong wind and storms
  • Contact with overhead power lines
  • Public entering the work area
  • Falling tools and materials
High
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Falling tools and materials: see step 5 for the full controls Administrative
Medium
2Set up scaffold or roof edge protection and a secured ladder for roof access
  • Falling from a roof edge
  • Falling from a ladder
  • Scaffold collapse or fall from scaffold
Critical
  • 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
  • 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
  • Scaffold is built, moved and taken down under the supervision of a competent person. Engineering
  • Fit guardrails, mid rails and toe boards on every platform more than 10 feet above a lower level, or use personal fall arrest (29 CFR 1926.451(g)(1)). Engineering
  • Use mobile scaffolds only on firm, level ground with casters locked, and guy, tie, brace or fit outriggers once the height is more than 4 times the base width (29 CFR 1926.451(c)(1)). Never move one with anyone on it. Engineering
  • Every worker on the scaffold is trained by a qualified person (29 CFR 1926.454). Administrative
  • A competent person inspects the scaffold before each shift and after anything that could affect it (29 CFR 1926.451(f)(3)). Administrative
  • Do not overload platforms. Know the rated load (light, medium or heavy duty) and stack materials over the legs, not mid-span (29 CFR 1926.451(f)(1)). Administrative
Medium
3Check for brittle or cracked tiles, skylights and roof sheets from the access point, and plan a walking route
  • Falling through a fragile roof or skylight
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
Medium
4Walk on the tile laps only, clipped to an anchor where there is no edge protection
  • Falling from height
  • Falling through a fragile roof or skylight
  • Slips and trips
Critical
  • Do the work from the ground where you can, for example pre-assemble on the ground or use extension poles. Elimination
  • Install guardrails or edge protection on all open edges before work starts. Engineering (guarding)
  • Use a scaffold, mobile work platform or aerial lift instead of working off a ladder. Engineering
  • Where edge protection is not practical, use a fall restraint or fall arrest system on a rated anchor point. Engineering
  • Provide fall protection at 6 feet or more and train workers to recognize fall hazards (29 CFR 1926.503). Administrative
  • Have a rescue plan so a worker hanging in a harness can be brought down within minutes. Administrative
  • Falling through a fragile roof or skylight: see step 3 for the full controls 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
5Lift out broken tiles and stack them or lower them down; never throw them off the roof
  • Lifting and carrying heavy loads
  • Falling tools and materials
  • Cuts from sharp edges
High
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
6Cut tiles with a grinder fitted with water or dust extraction, wearing a dust mask and glasses
  • Angle grinder injuries
  • Silica dust from concrete, brick, stone and tiles
  • Loud noise
  • Eye injuries
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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Use tool guards and screens to stop flying particles. Engineering
  • Use dust extraction and water to keep dust out of the air. Engineering
  • Keep others out of the area when cutting, grinding or chipping. Administrative
  • Keep an eye wash station or eye wash bottles on site. Administrative
Medium
7Fit new tiles, then re-bed and re-point ridge capping, taking breaks in heat and sun
  • Lifting and carrying heavy loads
  • Wet concrete and cement burns
  • Heat stress
  • Sun exposure (UV)
High
  • Rotate tasks and take breaks on long lifting jobs. Administrative
  • Wear gloves for grip and safety boots to protect your feet. PPE
  • Lifting and carrying heavy loads: see step 5 for the full controls Administrative
  • 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
  • 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
  • Plan outdoor work for early morning or late afternoon when UV is lower. Elimination
  • Put shade covers over fixed work areas. Engineering
  • Check the UV index each day. Use sun protection when it is 3 or higher. Administrative
  • Check your skin regularly and see a doctor about any new or changing spots. Administrative
Medium
8Check the roof for tiles cracked during the work, then clear offcuts and loose tiles from the roof and gutters
  • Falling through a fragile roof or skylight
  • Poor housekeeping and waste
  • Falling tools and materials
Critical
  • Falling through a fragile roof or skylight: see step 3 for the full controls Administrative
  • 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
  • Lower materials with a hoist, chute or rope. Never throw or drop anything down. Administrative
  • Wear a hard hat anywhere objects could fall. PPE
  • Falling tools and materials: see step 5 for the full controls Administrative
Medium
9Take down access equipment last and leave the area below clean for the client
  • Falling from a ladder
  • Poor housekeeping and waste
High
  • 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
  • Falling from a ladder: see step 2 for the full controls Administrative
  • Wear gloves when handling waste. PPE
  • Poor housekeeping and waste: see step 8 for the full controls Administrative
Medium

PPE

Safety-toe boots (ASTM F2413)Personal fall arrest system (harness)Work glovesSafety glasses (ANSI Z87.1)Sun protection (sunscreen, hat, long sleeves)N95 respiratorHard hat (ANSI Z89.1)High-visibility safety apparel, ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 2 or 3 (Type R near roadways)Cut-resistant glovesFace shield (ANSI Z87.1)Hearing protection (earmuffs or plugs)Half-face respirator (P100 cartridges)Safety goggles (ANSI Z87.1)Chemical-resistant glovesKnee pads

Plant and equipment

Extension ladderSupported scaffold: Erected under a competent person (29 CFR 1926.451)Hand toolsAngle grinder

Permits and plans

Written fall protection plan (only where guardrails, nets or personal fall arrest are not feasible, 1926.502(k))

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 tile replacement

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 tile replacement

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 weather, look for overhead power lines and barricade the area below the work
  2. Set up scaffold or roof edge protection and a secured ladder for roof access
  3. Check for brittle or cracked tiles, skylights and roof sheets from the access point, and plan a walking route
  4. Walk on the tile laps only, clipped to an anchor where there is no edge protection
  5. Lift out broken tiles and stack them or lower them down; never throw them off the roof
  6. Cut tiles with a grinder fitted with water or dust extraction, wearing a dust mask and glasses
  7. Fit new tiles, then re-bed and re-point ridge capping, taking breaks in heat and sun
  8. Check the roof for tiles cracked during the work, then clear offcuts and loose tiles from the roof and gutters
  9. Take down access equipment last and leave the area below clean for the client

Hazards to watch on roof tile replacement

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

Step 3, 4, 8Falling 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 6Angle grinder injuriesThe disc shatters, binds or kicks back, causing deep cuts to legs and hands or eye injuries.
Step 2Scaffold collapse or fall from scaffoldA scaffold that is badly built, overloaded or altered collapses or tips, or a worker falls from an unguarded platform.
Step 7Sun exposure (UV)Long hours in the sun cause sunburn, eye damage and skin cancer.
Step 1Contact 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 7Wet concrete and cement burnsWet concrete, mortar and cement burn skin and eyes. Burns can be deep and are often not felt until later.
Almost certainLikelyPossibleUnlikelyRareHow bad it could be: First aid only to FatalityBA
Highest risk on roof tile replacement: 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 you use an aerial lift (scissor lift or boom lift)?
  • Was the building built before 1981?
  • Is it a home or child-occupied facility (such as a child care center or preschool) built before 1978, and will you disturb paint?
  • Will you use chemicals, solvents, glues, paints or fuels?
  • Will people be living or working in the building while you work?

Licences and legal requirements in United States

Equipment on this job that needs a licence, ticket or training:

  • Supported scaffold: Erected under a competent person (29 CFR 1926.451)

OSHA requires employers to find and fix hazards and to train workers on them. A JHA breaks the job into steps, lists the hazards in each step and the controls that protect the crew. General contractors often require one before you start.

Rules that apply: 29 CFR 1926.1408 and 1926.416; 29 CFR 1926.501(c); 29 CFR 1926 Subpart M; 29 CFR 1926 Subpart X; 29 CFR 1926 Subpart L; 29 CFR 1926.1153; 29 CFR 1926.52; OSH Act Section 5(a)(1) General Duty Clause; state heat rules where they apply (Cal/OSHA T8 3395, WA WAC 296-62-095, OR OAR 437-002-0156, MD COMAR 09.12.32).

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 tile replacement?

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

Usually Safety-toe boots (ASTM F2413), Personal fall arrest system (harness), Work gloves, Safety glasses (ANSI Z87.1), Sun protection (sunscreen, hat, long sleeves), N95 respirator, Hard hat (ANSI Z89.1), High-visibility safety apparel, ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 2 or 3 (Type R near roadways), Cut-resistant gloves, Face shield (ANSI Z87.1), Hearing protection (earmuffs or plugs), Half-face respirator (P100 cartridges), Safety goggles (ANSI Z87.1), Chemical-resistant gloves, Knee pads. 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)

Sources