| Step | Potential Hazard | Control |
|---|---|---|
| Assess the embankment | Loose soil, hidden holes, unstable ground, traffic hazard, crew walking into unsafe areas | Walk the slope before starting, identify slick or unstable sections, mark off drop offs, use cones if near a roadway, assign a lookout to maintain crew positioning |
| Choose appropriate equipment | Roll over hazard, equipment sliding down slope, operator losing control | Select walk behind mowers, trimmers, or specialty slope mowers as appropriate; avoid riding mowers on steep slopes; follow manufacturer slope limits |
| Inspect equipment | Dull blades, damaged guards, drive system malfunction, fuel leaks | Perform full equipment inspection, verify guards and shields, check brakes and drive controls, remove unsafe equipment from service |
| Don required PPE | Eye injury, hearing damage, foot injury | Ensure PPE is fully worn before beginning work |
| Identify mowing direction | Slips, falls, mower tipping | Mow across slopes with walk behind equipment, avoid mowing straight up or down steep grades, maintain solid footing and slow speed |
| Begin mowing operations | Loss of balance, equipment pull, flying debris | Keep both hands on equipment, maintain wide stance, direct discharge away from crew and traffic, take slow controlled passes |
| Watch for crew and bystanders | Crew wandering into hazard zone, debris striking others | Assign a spotter if multiple workers are near the slope, maintain constant verbal communication, stop if anyone enters the discharge or path of travel |
| Clear debris or obstacles | Cuts, slips, being struck by equipment | Shut equipment off before clearing obstructions, remove obstacles by hand only after blades fully stop, maintain stable footing when bending or lifting |
| Working near water or drainage channels | Slipping into water, unstable bank edges | Stay back from the edge, use trimmers instead of mowers near drop offs, identify soft or undermined soil before approaching |
| Reposition or transport equipment | Mower rollaway, slipping while moving equipment | Shut equipment off before moving to new location, use proper lifting techniques, keep equipment on stable ground whenever possible |
| Final cleanup and inspection | Cuts, burns from hot engine, lifting strains | Let equipment cool before maintenance, wear gloves while cleaning, remove clippings or debris safely, inspect slope again for hazards before leaving site |
Hard hat
Safety glasses
Hearing protection
High visibility vest
Cut resistant gloves
Steel toe boots with good traction
Long pants and long sleeves
Always have a complete, well-stocked first aid kit available.
JSA Category: Chainsaw, Forestry, and Vegetation Management
* The steps, hazards, and controls displayed above may be incomplete or not suit your department's needs. All job safety analyses should be a completed with frontline worker input to ensure that each potential hazard is identified and mitigated.
Please read about The Essentials Elements of a Solid Job Safety Anaylsis here.
Thank you to our primary sponsor, Roadwurx, which is a simple asset management platform for small public works and road departments.
| Step | Potential Hazard | Control |
|---|---|---|
| Assess the embankment | Loose soil, hidden holes, unstable ground, traffic hazard, crew walking into unsafe areas | Walk the slope before starting, identify slick or unstable sections, mark off drop offs, use cones if near a roadway, assign a lookout to maintain crew positioning |
| Choose appropriate equipment | Roll over hazard, equipment sliding down slope, operator losing control | Select walk behind mowers, trimmers, or specialty slope mowers as appropriate; avoid riding mowers on steep slopes; follow manufacturer slope limits |
| Inspect equipment | Dull blades, damaged guards, drive system malfunction, fuel leaks | Perform full equipment inspection, verify guards and shields, check brakes and drive controls, remove unsafe equipment from service |
| Don required PPE | Eye injury, hearing damage, foot injury | Ensure PPE is fully worn before beginning work |
| Identify mowing direction | Slips, falls, mower tipping | Mow across slopes with walk behind equipment, avoid mowing straight up or down steep grades, maintain solid footing and slow speed |
| Begin mowing operations | Loss of balance, equipment pull, flying debris | Keep both hands on equipment, maintain wide stance, direct discharge away from crew and traffic, take slow controlled passes |
| Watch for crew and bystanders | Crew wandering into hazard zone, debris striking others | Assign a spotter if multiple workers are near the slope, maintain constant verbal communication, stop if anyone enters the discharge or path of travel |
| Clear debris or obstacles | Cuts, slips, being struck by equipment | Shut equipment off before clearing obstructions, remove obstacles by hand only after blades fully stop, maintain stable footing when bending or lifting |
| Working near water or drainage channels | Slipping into water, unstable bank edges | Stay back from the edge, use trimmers instead of mowers near drop offs, identify soft or undermined soil before approaching |
| Reposition or transport equipment | Mower rollaway, slipping while moving equipment | Shut equipment off before moving to new location, use proper lifting techniques, keep equipment on stable ground whenever possible |
| Final cleanup and inspection | Cuts, burns from hot engine, lifting strains | Let equipment cool before maintenance, wear gloves while cleaning, remove clippings or debris safely, inspect slope again for hazards before leaving site |
Hard hat
Safety glasses
Hearing protection
High visibility vest
Cut resistant gloves
Steel toe boots with good traction
Long pants and long sleeves