| Step | Potential Hazard | Control |
|---|---|---|
| Assess work area | Traffic exposure, roadside obstacles, overhead lines, uneven shoulders | Conduct site walk through; identify slopes, culverts, rocks, signs, and low branches; establish MUTCD compliant traffic control |
| Inspect side-arm flail mower | Hydraulic leaks, damaged hoses, worn flail knives, faulty guards, PTO issues | Perform pre operation inspection; check pivot pins, cylinder seals, belts, knife condition, and blade guards; ensure PTO shields are in place |
| Don required PPE | Flying debris, noise, vegetation hazards | Wear safety glasses or face shield, hearing protection, gloves, steel toe boots, and high visibility vest |
| Mount and secure equipment | Pinch points, unexpected boom movement | Ensure arm is fully stowed and locked during travel; verify ROPS is up and seatbelt is functional |
| Position tractor for mowing | Soft shoulders, equipment drift into roadway, blind spots | Keep tractor as far from shoulder edge as possible; activate beacons; engage hazard lights; use lookout if necessary |
| Plan mowing direction | Rollover risk, boom overextension | Avoid mowing across steep slopes; operate up and down slopes when possible; follow manufacturer angle and reach limits |
| Start mowing operation | Flying debris, sudden head movement, striking hidden objects | Start flail head at low RPM; increase gradually; move tractor slowly; angle head to direct debris away from traffic |
| Maintain safe distance from traffic | Debris striking vehicles, sideswipe hazards | Keep flail discharge facing away from roadway; adjust work zone as necessary with cones; maintain operator awareness |
| Avoid overhead utilities | Electrocution, contact with lines | Know height and extension range of the boom; maintain safe clearance; stop operations if unsure about utility locations |
| Watch for hidden objects in vegetation | Rocks, posts, metal, or debris ejected by flails | Scan vegetation ahead; slow down in dense areas; stop immediately if flail head hits a solid obstruction |
| Maintain operator stability | Tractor tipping, operator thrown | Always wear seatbelt; keep tractor on firm ground; avoid sudden turns or changes in direction |
| Communicate with ground crew | Workers entering swing radius or discharge zone | Keep ground crew away from flail head and boom swing; maintain radio communication; use hand signals if radios fail |
| Clear blockages safely | Contact with knives, entanglement | Shut off PTO and engine; wait for complete stop; use tools rather than hands; stand clear of sharp knives |
| Transport between sites | Boom movement, striking signs or trees | Fully retract boom; secure mower head; drive at safe speed; check for proper clearance |
| Shutdown and secure equipment | Hot surfaces, hydraulic drift | Lower boom; disengage PTO; park on level ground; allow head to cool; inspect knives for damage |
| Final site cleanup | Debris left in roadway, visibility hazards | Remove loose debris from travel lanes; inspect ditch lines for blockages caused by mowing |
| Remove traffic control | Exposure to active traffic | Remove signage and cones in reverse order; maintain lookout; keep PPE on until safely clear |
Hard hat
Safety glasses or face shield
High visibility vest or jacket (Class 3 recommended)
Steel toe boots
Cut resistant gloves
Long pants and long sleeves
Hearing protection
Respirator if dust, pollen, or mold is significant
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 work area | Traffic exposure, roadside obstacles, overhead lines, uneven shoulders | Conduct site walk through; identify slopes, culverts, rocks, signs, and low branches; establish MUTCD compliant traffic control |
| Inspect side-arm flail mower | Hydraulic leaks, damaged hoses, worn flail knives, faulty guards, PTO issues | Perform pre operation inspection; check pivot pins, cylinder seals, belts, knife condition, and blade guards; ensure PTO shields are in place |
| Don required PPE | Flying debris, noise, vegetation hazards | Wear safety glasses or face shield, hearing protection, gloves, steel toe boots, and high visibility vest |
| Mount and secure equipment | Pinch points, unexpected boom movement | Ensure arm is fully stowed and locked during travel; verify ROPS is up and seatbelt is functional |
| Position tractor for mowing | Soft shoulders, equipment drift into roadway, blind spots | Keep tractor as far from shoulder edge as possible; activate beacons; engage hazard lights; use lookout if necessary |
| Plan mowing direction | Rollover risk, boom overextension | Avoid mowing across steep slopes; operate up and down slopes when possible; follow manufacturer angle and reach limits |
| Start mowing operation | Flying debris, sudden head movement, striking hidden objects | Start flail head at low RPM; increase gradually; move tractor slowly; angle head to direct debris away from traffic |
| Maintain safe distance from traffic | Debris striking vehicles, sideswipe hazards | Keep flail discharge facing away from roadway; adjust work zone as necessary with cones; maintain operator awareness |
| Avoid overhead utilities | Electrocution, contact with lines | Know height and extension range of the boom; maintain safe clearance; stop operations if unsure about utility locations |
| Watch for hidden objects in vegetation | Rocks, posts, metal, or debris ejected by flails | Scan vegetation ahead; slow down in dense areas; stop immediately if flail head hits a solid obstruction |
| Maintain operator stability | Tractor tipping, operator thrown | Always wear seatbelt; keep tractor on firm ground; avoid sudden turns or changes in direction |
| Communicate with ground crew | Workers entering swing radius or discharge zone | Keep ground crew away from flail head and boom swing; maintain radio communication; use hand signals if radios fail |
| Clear blockages safely | Contact with knives, entanglement | Shut off PTO and engine; wait for complete stop; use tools rather than hands; stand clear of sharp knives |
| Transport between sites | Boom movement, striking signs or trees | Fully retract boom; secure mower head; drive at safe speed; check for proper clearance |
| Shutdown and secure equipment | Hot surfaces, hydraulic drift | Lower boom; disengage PTO; park on level ground; allow head to cool; inspect knives for damage |
| Final site cleanup | Debris left in roadway, visibility hazards | Remove loose debris from travel lanes; inspect ditch lines for blockages caused by mowing |
| Remove traffic control | Exposure to active traffic | Remove signage and cones in reverse order; maintain lookout; keep PPE on until safely clear |
Hard hat
Safety glasses or face shield
High visibility vest or jacket (Class 3 recommended)
Steel toe boots
Cut resistant gloves
Long pants and long sleeves
Hearing protection
Respirator if dust, pollen, or mold is significant