| Step | Potential Hazard | Control |
|---|---|---|
| Assess work area | Traffic exposure, soft shoulders, blind curves, overhead lines | Conduct site assessment; set up MUTCD compliant work zone; use lookout; mark utilities; identify steep or unstable slopes |
| Inspect equipment (excavator, backhoe, grader, or ditching machine) | Hydraulic leaks, worn cutting edges, faulty alarms, malfunctioning attachments | Perform pre operation inspection; verify backup alarms, tracks or tires, buckets, and hydraulic hoses |
| Don required PPE | Struck by hazards, debris, noise | Wear safety glasses, hard hat, high visibility vest, gloves, and steel toe boots |
| Position equipment safely | Soft shoulders, equipment tipping, backing hazards | Use spotter; avoid operating close to shoulder edge; activate beacons; ensure stable footing for equipment |
| Establish exclusion zone | Ground crew entering swing radius, traffic encroachment | Use cones or barricades; mark excavator swing radius; keep pedestrians and workers out of danger zones |
| Remove brush or obstacles from ditch line | Contact with sharp objects, slips, uneven ground | Use hand tools carefully; maintain safe footing; avoid tossing debris into road; watch for hidden hazards |
| Begin excavation or ditch shaping | Falling material, trench collapse, struck by bucket | Keep crew out of excavation zone; scoop material in controlled passes; avoid overreaching with boom; bench slopes when needed |
| Manage spoil placement | Spoil rolling into roadway, equipment striking piles | Place spoil away from road edge; maintain safe setback; avoid creating berms that obstruct drainage |
| Watch for water flow and soft spots | Equipment bogging, sudden trench collapse | Work from firm ground first; probe soft areas; do not enter ditch while machine is operating |
| Clean ditches with hand tools | Back strain, sharp debris, slippery surfaces | Use proper lifting techniques; avoid stepping into deep or soft areas; wear gloves; maintain communication with machine operator |
| Control erosion and sediment | Loose soil entering roadway or storm drains | Stabilize soil with seed, matting, or riprap as needed; keep sediment away from inlet grates |
| Restore ditch slopes | Steep banks, sliding soil, uneven footing | Grade slopes gently; ensure stable sidewalls; keep crew off unstable banks |
| Final inspection of ditch | Missed obstructions, unstable slopes | Walk ditch line when safe; check flow path; verify outlet is clear |
| Clean area and remove spoil as needed | Material left in roadway, trip hazards | Remove all loose soil from road; clean storm drains; dispose of spoil properly |
| Remove traffic control | Worker exposure to live traffic | Remove cones, signs, and barriers in reverse order; maintain lookout; keep PPE on until fully clear |
Hard hat
Safety glasses
High visibility vest or jacket (Class 3 recommended)
Steel toe boots
Cut resistant gloves
Long pants and long sleeves
Hearing protection around equipment
Respiratory protection if dust is significant
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, soft shoulders, blind curves, overhead lines | Conduct site assessment; set up MUTCD compliant work zone; use lookout; mark utilities; identify steep or unstable slopes |
| Inspect equipment (excavator, backhoe, grader, or ditching machine) | Hydraulic leaks, worn cutting edges, faulty alarms, malfunctioning attachments | Perform pre operation inspection; verify backup alarms, tracks or tires, buckets, and hydraulic hoses |
| Don required PPE | Struck by hazards, debris, noise | Wear safety glasses, hard hat, high visibility vest, gloves, and steel toe boots |
| Position equipment safely | Soft shoulders, equipment tipping, backing hazards | Use spotter; avoid operating close to shoulder edge; activate beacons; ensure stable footing for equipment |
| Establish exclusion zone | Ground crew entering swing radius, traffic encroachment | Use cones or barricades; mark excavator swing radius; keep pedestrians and workers out of danger zones |
| Remove brush or obstacles from ditch line | Contact with sharp objects, slips, uneven ground | Use hand tools carefully; maintain safe footing; avoid tossing debris into road; watch for hidden hazards |
| Begin excavation or ditch shaping | Falling material, trench collapse, struck by bucket | Keep crew out of excavation zone; scoop material in controlled passes; avoid overreaching with boom; bench slopes when needed |
| Manage spoil placement | Spoil rolling into roadway, equipment striking piles | Place spoil away from road edge; maintain safe setback; avoid creating berms that obstruct drainage |
| Watch for water flow and soft spots | Equipment bogging, sudden trench collapse | Work from firm ground first; probe soft areas; do not enter ditch while machine is operating |
| Clean ditches with hand tools | Back strain, sharp debris, slippery surfaces | Use proper lifting techniques; avoid stepping into deep or soft areas; wear gloves; maintain communication with machine operator |
| Control erosion and sediment | Loose soil entering roadway or storm drains | Stabilize soil with seed, matting, or riprap as needed; keep sediment away from inlet grates |
| Restore ditch slopes | Steep banks, sliding soil, uneven footing | Grade slopes gently; ensure stable sidewalls; keep crew off unstable banks |
| Final inspection of ditch | Missed obstructions, unstable slopes | Walk ditch line when safe; check flow path; verify outlet is clear |
| Clean area and remove spoil as needed | Material left in roadway, trip hazards | Remove all loose soil from road; clean storm drains; dispose of spoil properly |
| Remove traffic control | Worker exposure to live traffic | Remove cones, signs, and barriers in reverse order; maintain lookout; keep PPE on until fully clear |
Hard hat
Safety glasses
High visibility vest or jacket (Class 3 recommended)
Steel toe boots
Cut resistant gloves
Long pants and long sleeves
Hearing protection around equipment
Respiratory protection if dust is significant