| Step | Potential Hazard | Control |
|---|---|---|
| Assess the roadway and traffic conditions | Motorists entering work zone, limited visibility, crew drifting into travel lanes | Set cones and advance warning signs; use pilot vehicle or flaggers if needed; assign a lookout to monitor traffic |
| Inspect motor grader and support equipment | Hydraulic leaks, damaged blades, malfunctioning controls, tire hazards | Perform full pre start inspection; test brakes, lights, and blade controls; remove unsafe equipment from service |
| Don required PPE | Eye injuries, struck by hazards, noise exposure | Wear full PPE before entering the work area or equipment |
| Establish communication plan | Miscommunication between operator and ground crew leading to struck by incidents | Assign radio channels, establish hand signals, ensure ground crew stays in view of operator |
| Remove large debris from roadway | Strains, slips, contact with vehicles | Clear branches and rocks before grading; keep crew inside safe work zone; maintain constant awareness of traffic |
| Begin grading operation | Struck by equipment, blade contacting hidden objects, rollovers | Operate grader at safe speed; never turn sharply on steep edges; avoid soft shoulders; watch for culverts and drop offs |
| Shape and crown the road | Loss of control, equipment sliding, blade throwing debris | Maintain slow controlled passes; avoid abrupt blade adjustments; direct debris away from crew and traffic |
| Work near roadside edges | Equipment tipping, driving into unstable shoulder or ditch | Stay a safe distance from soft edges; avoid overextending blade; make multiple shallow passes instead of one deep cut |
| Coordinate with water truck or support crew | Crew entering blind spots, struck by hazards | Keep support vehicles in operator’s line of sight; maintain radio contact; never allow crew to walk behind or beside grader without operator confirmation |
| Compact surface (if required) | Struck by roller or compactor, uneven footing | Maintain clear communication with roller operator; keep ground crew away from compaction path |
| Final inspection | Loose material, ridges, traffic hazards, tools left in roadway | Drive graded section to inspect smoothness and safety; remove remaining debris; verify all tools and crew are clear |
| Remove traffic control | Workers exposed to live traffic during takedown | Remove cones and signs only when equipment is clear and safe; use lookout during takedown |
Hard hat
Safety glasses
High visibility vest
Hearing protection
Steel toe boots
Gloves
Long pants and long sleeves
Always have a complete, well-stocked first aid kit available.
JSA Category: Roadway Maintenance 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 roadway and traffic conditions | Motorists entering work zone, limited visibility, crew drifting into travel lanes | Set cones and advance warning signs; use pilot vehicle or flaggers if needed; assign a lookout to monitor traffic |
| Inspect motor grader and support equipment | Hydraulic leaks, damaged blades, malfunctioning controls, tire hazards | Perform full pre start inspection; test brakes, lights, and blade controls; remove unsafe equipment from service |
| Don required PPE | Eye injuries, struck by hazards, noise exposure | Wear full PPE before entering the work area or equipment |
| Establish communication plan | Miscommunication between operator and ground crew leading to struck by incidents | Assign radio channels, establish hand signals, ensure ground crew stays in view of operator |
| Remove large debris from roadway | Strains, slips, contact with vehicles | Clear branches and rocks before grading; keep crew inside safe work zone; maintain constant awareness of traffic |
| Begin grading operation | Struck by equipment, blade contacting hidden objects, rollovers | Operate grader at safe speed; never turn sharply on steep edges; avoid soft shoulders; watch for culverts and drop offs |
| Shape and crown the road | Loss of control, equipment sliding, blade throwing debris | Maintain slow controlled passes; avoid abrupt blade adjustments; direct debris away from crew and traffic |
| Work near roadside edges | Equipment tipping, driving into unstable shoulder or ditch | Stay a safe distance from soft edges; avoid overextending blade; make multiple shallow passes instead of one deep cut |
| Coordinate with water truck or support crew | Crew entering blind spots, struck by hazards | Keep support vehicles in operator’s line of sight; maintain radio contact; never allow crew to walk behind or beside grader without operator confirmation |
| Compact surface (if required) | Struck by roller or compactor, uneven footing | Maintain clear communication with roller operator; keep ground crew away from compaction path |
| Final inspection | Loose material, ridges, traffic hazards, tools left in roadway | Drive graded section to inspect smoothness and safety; remove remaining debris; verify all tools and crew are clear |
| Remove traffic control | Workers exposed to live traffic during takedown | Remove cones and signs only when equipment is clear and safe; use lookout during takedown |
Hard hat
Safety glasses
High visibility vest
Hearing protection
Steel toe boots
Gloves
Long pants and long sleeves