| Step | Potential Hazard | Control |
|---|---|---|
| Inspect area and position vehicles | Struck by traffic, rollaway vehicle, poor lighting | Park vehicles close enough but without contact, set parking brakes, turn off engines, use hazard lights and cones when roadside |
| Inspect battery and cables | Acid leaks, damaged terminals, cracked battery | Look for bulging cases or corrosion, do not jump start leaking or damaged batteries, clean terminals if safe |
| Identify battery polarity and voltage | Incorrect polarity, electrical damage | Verify positive and negative terminals, confirm both vehicles use same voltage system before proceeding |
| Don PPE and prepare cables | Sparks, accidental contact | Wear safety glasses and gloves, ensure cables are not frayed and clamps are fully insulated |
| Connect positive cable to dead battery | Sparks, short circuit | Attach positive clamp to positive terminal on dead battery securely |
| Connect positive cable to live battery | Arc flash, short circuit | Attach other positive clamp to positive terminal on live battery, avoid contact with metal surfaces |
| Connect negative cable to live battery | Shock or spark near battery | Attach negative clamp to negative terminal of live battery |
| Connect final negative cable to ground | Battery explosion risk, arc flash | Attach last clamp to a clean, solid metal frame or engine block away from the dead battery |
| Start live vehicle then dead vehicle | Unexpected movement, engine issues | Ensure both vehicles are in park or neutral, set parking brakes, start live vehicle first then attempt to start dead vehicle |
| Disconnect cables in reverse order | Sparks, accidental contact, cable whipping | Remove ground cable first, then negative from live battery, then positive clamps, keeping clamps separated and away from metal |
| Allow battery to charge if needed | Undercharged battery, vehicle stalling | Let engine run for several minutes before driving, check charging system if battery dies again |
| Clean area and store equipment | Trip hazards, lost tools | Gather cables, ensure vehicles are safely moved, store equipment properly |
Safety glasses
Mechanic gloves
Steel toe boots
High visibility vest when working roadside or near equipment
Hearing protection if working near running engines
Always have a complete, well-stocked first aid kit available.
JSA Category: General Maintenance and Shop Operations
* 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Inspect area and position vehicles | Struck by traffic, rollaway vehicle, poor lighting | Park vehicles close enough but without contact, set parking brakes, turn off engines, use hazard lights and cones when roadside |
| Inspect battery and cables | Acid leaks, damaged terminals, cracked battery | Look for bulging cases or corrosion, do not jump start leaking or damaged batteries, clean terminals if safe |
| Identify battery polarity and voltage | Incorrect polarity, electrical damage | Verify positive and negative terminals, confirm both vehicles use same voltage system before proceeding |
| Don PPE and prepare cables | Sparks, accidental contact | Wear safety glasses and gloves, ensure cables are not frayed and clamps are fully insulated |
| Connect positive cable to dead battery | Sparks, short circuit | Attach positive clamp to positive terminal on dead battery securely |
| Connect positive cable to live battery | Arc flash, short circuit | Attach other positive clamp to positive terminal on live battery, avoid contact with metal surfaces |
| Connect negative cable to live battery | Shock or spark near battery | Attach negative clamp to negative terminal of live battery |
| Connect final negative cable to ground | Battery explosion risk, arc flash | Attach last clamp to a clean, solid metal frame or engine block away from the dead battery |
| Start live vehicle then dead vehicle | Unexpected movement, engine issues | Ensure both vehicles are in park or neutral, set parking brakes, start live vehicle first then attempt to start dead vehicle |
| Disconnect cables in reverse order | Sparks, accidental contact, cable whipping | Remove ground cable first, then negative from live battery, then positive clamps, keeping clamps separated and away from metal |
| Allow battery to charge if needed | Undercharged battery, vehicle stalling | Let engine run for several minutes before driving, check charging system if battery dies again |
| Clean area and store equipment | Trip hazards, lost tools | Gather cables, ensure vehicles are safely moved, store equipment properly |
Safety glasses
Mechanic gloves
Steel toe boots
High visibility vest when working roadside or near equipment
Hearing protection if working near running engines