| Step | Potential Hazard | Control |
|---|---|---|
| Assess work area | Traffic exposure, unstable banks, uneven ground, flowing water | Conduct site walk; establish MUTCD compliant traffic control if roadside; identify safest access path; evaluate water flow hazards |
| Inspect tools, equipment, and materials | Damaged tools, malfunctioning mixers, defective PPE | Perform pre operation inspection; check all concrete tools, mixer components, and lifting equipment |
| Don required PPE | Flying debris, concrete splatter, sharp edges | Wear gloves, safety glasses, long sleeves, high visibility vest, and steel toe boots |
| Establish safe work zone | Crew entering unstable areas, equipment swing hazards | Set exclusion zones; assign lookout for traffic and equipment; keep unnecessary personnel out of area |
| Remove damaged concrete or stone | Flying chips, dust inhalation, tool kickback | Use hammers or saws carefully; wear respirator when cutting; stand clear of workers chiseling or grinding |
| Excavate around headwall (if required) | Cave in risk, falling material, equipment tipping | Slope or bench soil; keep crew out of excavation; maintain safe distance from edges; use spotter for equipment |
| Stabilize exposed soil | Soil sloughing, collapse | Install temporary shoring or compact soil as needed; avoid standing beneath unstable banks |
| Prepare surface for repair | Sharp edges, dust | Smooth damaged areas with grinder or chisel; use eye and respiratory protection; clean surface with brush or blower |
| Mix concrete or mortar | Cement burns, dust exposure, splash hazards | Wear gloves and respirator; avoid direct contact with wet cement; add water carefully to avoid splashing |
| Place and finish materials | Heavy lifting, pinch points, concrete burns | Use team lifts for heavy bags; keep hands clear when placing stone; trowel carefully to avoid splatter |
| Install formwork (if needed) | Pinch points, falling forms, improper bracing | Secure forms properly; use level ground when placing braces; avoid standing under suspended materials |
| Handle riprap or stone facing | Rolling rocks, crushed fingers, unstable footing | Use machinery for large stones; use team lift for smaller stones; ensure stones are stable before stepping away |
| Monitor water flow | Sudden rise in flow, materials washed away | If water is present, divert using sandbags or temporary pipes; never stand directly in front of culvert outlet |
| Cure and protect repair area | Unauthorized access, premature damage | Set barriers to prevent disturbance; cover concrete if needed; keep public and crew off curing surfaces |
| Clean tools and equipment | Cement burns, slips from wet concrete | Rinse tools in designated area; avoid washing concrete into waterways; dispose of material responsibly |
| Final inspection | Uneven surfaces, missed defects | Check alignment, finish, and stability; ensure area drains properly and that materials are secure |
| Restore site | Loose debris, tripping hazards | Remove leftover stone, wood, tools, and barriers; smooth disturbed soil; restore vegetation if required |
| Remove traffic control | Exposure to moving vehicles | Remove cones and signage in reverse order; maintain lookout; keep PPE on until clear |
Hard hat
Safety glasses or face shield
High visibility vest or jacket (Class 3 if roadside)
Steel toe boots
Cut resistant gloves
Long pants and long sleeves
Hearing protection when using power tools
Respirator if cutting or mixing concrete or mortar
Always have a complete, well-stocked first aid kit available.
JSA Category: Stormwater, Drainage, and Waterways
* 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, unstable banks, uneven ground, flowing water | Conduct site walk; establish MUTCD compliant traffic control if roadside; identify safest access path; evaluate water flow hazards |
| Inspect tools, equipment, and materials | Damaged tools, malfunctioning mixers, defective PPE | Perform pre operation inspection; check all concrete tools, mixer components, and lifting equipment |
| Don required PPE | Flying debris, concrete splatter, sharp edges | Wear gloves, safety glasses, long sleeves, high visibility vest, and steel toe boots |
| Establish safe work zone | Crew entering unstable areas, equipment swing hazards | Set exclusion zones; assign lookout for traffic and equipment; keep unnecessary personnel out of area |
| Remove damaged concrete or stone | Flying chips, dust inhalation, tool kickback | Use hammers or saws carefully; wear respirator when cutting; stand clear of workers chiseling or grinding |
| Excavate around headwall (if required) | Cave in risk, falling material, equipment tipping | Slope or bench soil; keep crew out of excavation; maintain safe distance from edges; use spotter for equipment |
| Stabilize exposed soil | Soil sloughing, collapse | Install temporary shoring or compact soil as needed; avoid standing beneath unstable banks |
| Prepare surface for repair | Sharp edges, dust | Smooth damaged areas with grinder or chisel; use eye and respiratory protection; clean surface with brush or blower |
| Mix concrete or mortar | Cement burns, dust exposure, splash hazards | Wear gloves and respirator; avoid direct contact with wet cement; add water carefully to avoid splashing |
| Place and finish materials | Heavy lifting, pinch points, concrete burns | Use team lifts for heavy bags; keep hands clear when placing stone; trowel carefully to avoid splatter |
| Install formwork (if needed) | Pinch points, falling forms, improper bracing | Secure forms properly; use level ground when placing braces; avoid standing under suspended materials |
| Handle riprap or stone facing | Rolling rocks, crushed fingers, unstable footing | Use machinery for large stones; use team lift for smaller stones; ensure stones are stable before stepping away |
| Monitor water flow | Sudden rise in flow, materials washed away | If water is present, divert using sandbags or temporary pipes; never stand directly in front of culvert outlet |
| Cure and protect repair area | Unauthorized access, premature damage | Set barriers to prevent disturbance; cover concrete if needed; keep public and crew off curing surfaces |
| Clean tools and equipment | Cement burns, slips from wet concrete | Rinse tools in designated area; avoid washing concrete into waterways; dispose of material responsibly |
| Final inspection | Uneven surfaces, missed defects | Check alignment, finish, and stability; ensure area drains properly and that materials are secure |
| Restore site | Loose debris, tripping hazards | Remove leftover stone, wood, tools, and barriers; smooth disturbed soil; restore vegetation if required |
| Remove traffic control | Exposure to moving vehicles | Remove cones and signage in reverse order; maintain lookout; keep PPE on until clear |
Hard hat
Safety glasses or face shield
High visibility vest or jacket (Class 3 if roadside)
Steel toe boots
Cut resistant gloves
Long pants and long sleeves
Hearing protection when using power tools
Respirator if cutting or mixing concrete or mortar