| Step | Potential Hazard | Control |
|---|---|---|
| Assess the work area | Uneven terrain, soft shoulders, overhead lines, traffic exposure | Walk the site; identify hazards; mark out work zone; use cones or signage if near a roadway; assign lookout |
| Inspect grader | Hydraulic leaks, worn tires, faulty controls, damaged blade, missing mirrors | Conduct full pre start inspection; test steering, brakes, articulation, blade lifts, circle turn, lights, and alarms; remove unsafe equipment from service |
| Don required PPE | Eye injuries, struck by hazards, hearing damage | Wear all required PPE before operating or entering work zone |
| Mount and dismount safely | Slips, falls, catching clothing | Use three points of contact; ensure steps and handholds are clear of mud or ice; never jump from machine |
| Start grader and check functions | Unexpected blade movement, backup hazards | Start on level ground; test blade lift, articulation, steering, and brakes; ensure backup alarm and beacons function |
| Position grader for work | Blind spots, contact with traffic, unstable ground | Use spotter when working near traffic or tight spaces; maintain safe distance from edges, drop offs, and soft shoulders |
| Begin grading operation | Struck by moving blade, flying debris, machine tipping | Use slow controlled passes; adjust blade gradually; keep ground crew outside blade path and swing radius; avoid overextending blade |
| Work near drop offs or ditches | Grader sliding, rollovers, collapse of shoulder | Maintain safe offset from edges; take shallow cuts; avoid operating perpendicular to slopes; never place all wheels on unstable edges |
| Maintain communication with ground crew | Crew entering danger zones or blade path | Use radios or hand signals; assign lookout; stop if crew enters unsafe proximity to grader |
| Push or windrow material | Material striking crew, reducing visibility, burying hazards | Direct windrow away from workers; maintain awareness of hidden obstacles; keep cab windows clean for visibility |
| Work on slopes | Machine instability, tipping, sliding | Operate up and down slopes when possible; reduce speed; avoid turning on steep grades |
| Shutdown procedure | Unintentional movement, hot surfaces | Park on level ground; lower blade completely; apply parking brake; shut off engine; remove key |
| Conduct post operation inspection | Leaks, blade wear, unnoticed damage | Walk around machine; inspect blade, circle, tires, and hydraulic lines; report or repair deficiencies |
| Remove traffic control | Exposure to traffic during takedown | Remove cones and signage in reverse order; maintain lookout; wear PPE until area is fully cleared |
Hard hat
Safety glasses
High visibility vest
Steel toe boots
Cut resistant gloves
Hearing protection
Long pants and long sleeves
Always have a complete, well-stocked first aid kit available.
JSA Category: Heavy Equipment 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Assess the work area | Uneven terrain, soft shoulders, overhead lines, traffic exposure | Walk the site; identify hazards; mark out work zone; use cones or signage if near a roadway; assign lookout |
| Inspect grader | Hydraulic leaks, worn tires, faulty controls, damaged blade, missing mirrors | Conduct full pre start inspection; test steering, brakes, articulation, blade lifts, circle turn, lights, and alarms; remove unsafe equipment from service |
| Don required PPE | Eye injuries, struck by hazards, hearing damage | Wear all required PPE before operating or entering work zone |
| Mount and dismount safely | Slips, falls, catching clothing | Use three points of contact; ensure steps and handholds are clear of mud or ice; never jump from machine |
| Start grader and check functions | Unexpected blade movement, backup hazards | Start on level ground; test blade lift, articulation, steering, and brakes; ensure backup alarm and beacons function |
| Position grader for work | Blind spots, contact with traffic, unstable ground | Use spotter when working near traffic or tight spaces; maintain safe distance from edges, drop offs, and soft shoulders |
| Begin grading operation | Struck by moving blade, flying debris, machine tipping | Use slow controlled passes; adjust blade gradually; keep ground crew outside blade path and swing radius; avoid overextending blade |
| Work near drop offs or ditches | Grader sliding, rollovers, collapse of shoulder | Maintain safe offset from edges; take shallow cuts; avoid operating perpendicular to slopes; never place all wheels on unstable edges |
| Maintain communication with ground crew | Crew entering danger zones or blade path | Use radios or hand signals; assign lookout; stop if crew enters unsafe proximity to grader |
| Push or windrow material | Material striking crew, reducing visibility, burying hazards | Direct windrow away from workers; maintain awareness of hidden obstacles; keep cab windows clean for visibility |
| Work on slopes | Machine instability, tipping, sliding | Operate up and down slopes when possible; reduce speed; avoid turning on steep grades |
| Shutdown procedure | Unintentional movement, hot surfaces | Park on level ground; lower blade completely; apply parking brake; shut off engine; remove key |
| Conduct post operation inspection | Leaks, blade wear, unnoticed damage | Walk around machine; inspect blade, circle, tires, and hydraulic lines; report or repair deficiencies |
| Remove traffic control | Exposure to traffic during takedown | Remove cones and signage in reverse order; maintain lookout; wear PPE until area is fully cleared |
Hard hat
Safety glasses
High visibility vest
Steel toe boots
Cut resistant gloves
Hearing protection
Long pants and long sleeves