| Step | Potential Hazard | Control |
|---|---|---|
| Assess work area | Unstable banks, fast flowing water, slippery rocks, overhead hazards, wildlife | Conduct site walk through; identify safest access points; stay clear of undercut banks; set up exclusion zones; evaluate the need for engineered controls |
| Inspect equipment and tools | Damaged excavator buckets, dull chainsaws or saws, broken shovels, defective straps or rigging | Perform pre operation inspection; ensure all equipment is functioning; remove defective tools from service |
| Don required PPE | Slips, water exposure, debris contact, insect hazards | Wear gloves, boots or waders, high visibility vest, and safety glasses; apply insect repellent |
| Establish access and staging area | Equipment rollovers, soft ground, submerged obstacles | Mark stable access routes; avoid steep or muddy slopes; use mats if needed; place equipment on firm ground |
| Divert stream flow (if required) | Sudden water release, erosion, working near swift water | Use sandbags, temporary diversion pipes, or cofferdams; monitor flow; do not stand directly in flow path |
| Remove debris from streambank | Sharp objects, unstable footing, slips and falls | Use long handled tools; avoid working on unstable banks; maintain three points of contact when climbing |
| Excavate area for repair | Equipment striking workers, bank collapse, cave in hazards | Maintain exclusion zone around excavator; keep workers off excavation edge; use proper benching if needed |
| Place riprap or large stones | Rolling rocks, pinch points, heavy lifting | Use machinery whenever possible; keep workers clear of placement path; never stand below suspended loads |
| Install erosion control fabric or geotextile | Slips on fabric, cuts from pins or staples | Secure fabric from top down; anchor with staples or stakes; maintain firm footing |
| Install vegetative treatments (live stakes, brush layers, plantings) | Slips, punctures from branches or tools | Use gloves; maintain safe spacing from tools; work from stable ground |
| Backfill and compact soil | Entrapment between equipment and bank, soft soil | Keep workers away from equipment; compact in thin lifts; watch for soil slumping |
| Reestablish stream channel | Sudden water flow changes, debris movement | Ensure stable channel shape; remove temporary flow diversions gradually; monitor water behavior |
| Final stabilization | Loose material, exposed roots or fabric | Secure remaining fabric; add additional riprap or straw matting; smooth exposed soil |
| Inspect completed repair | Hidden instability, weak points, unstable footing | Walk area carefully; check riprap placement, erosion controls, and plantings; avoid unstable edges |
| Cleanup and site restoration | Trip hazards, leaving debris in waterway | Remove unused materials, packaging, and debris; restore staging area; check for compliance with environmental permits |
| Remove traffic control (if roadside) | Worker exposure to live traffic | Remove cones and signs in reverse order; maintain lookout; keep PPE on until clear |
Hard hat
Safety glasses
High visibility vest or jacket
Waterproof or steel toe boots
Cut resistant gloves
Long pants and long sleeves
Waders when working in shallow water
Hearing protection near machinery
Respirator if working around dust, soil aerosols, or decaying organic material
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 | Unstable banks, fast flowing water, slippery rocks, overhead hazards, wildlife | Conduct site walk through; identify safest access points; stay clear of undercut banks; set up exclusion zones; evaluate the need for engineered controls |
| Inspect equipment and tools | Damaged excavator buckets, dull chainsaws or saws, broken shovels, defective straps or rigging | Perform pre operation inspection; ensure all equipment is functioning; remove defective tools from service |
| Don required PPE | Slips, water exposure, debris contact, insect hazards | Wear gloves, boots or waders, high visibility vest, and safety glasses; apply insect repellent |
| Establish access and staging area | Equipment rollovers, soft ground, submerged obstacles | Mark stable access routes; avoid steep or muddy slopes; use mats if needed; place equipment on firm ground |
| Divert stream flow (if required) | Sudden water release, erosion, working near swift water | Use sandbags, temporary diversion pipes, or cofferdams; monitor flow; do not stand directly in flow path |
| Remove debris from streambank | Sharp objects, unstable footing, slips and falls | Use long handled tools; avoid working on unstable banks; maintain three points of contact when climbing |
| Excavate area for repair | Equipment striking workers, bank collapse, cave in hazards | Maintain exclusion zone around excavator; keep workers off excavation edge; use proper benching if needed |
| Place riprap or large stones | Rolling rocks, pinch points, heavy lifting | Use machinery whenever possible; keep workers clear of placement path; never stand below suspended loads |
| Install erosion control fabric or geotextile | Slips on fabric, cuts from pins or staples | Secure fabric from top down; anchor with staples or stakes; maintain firm footing |
| Install vegetative treatments (live stakes, brush layers, plantings) | Slips, punctures from branches or tools | Use gloves; maintain safe spacing from tools; work from stable ground |
| Backfill and compact soil | Entrapment between equipment and bank, soft soil | Keep workers away from equipment; compact in thin lifts; watch for soil slumping |
| Reestablish stream channel | Sudden water flow changes, debris movement | Ensure stable channel shape; remove temporary flow diversions gradually; monitor water behavior |
| Final stabilization | Loose material, exposed roots or fabric | Secure remaining fabric; add additional riprap or straw matting; smooth exposed soil |
| Inspect completed repair | Hidden instability, weak points, unstable footing | Walk area carefully; check riprap placement, erosion controls, and plantings; avoid unstable edges |
| Cleanup and site restoration | Trip hazards, leaving debris in waterway | Remove unused materials, packaging, and debris; restore staging area; check for compliance with environmental permits |
| Remove traffic control (if roadside) | Worker exposure to live traffic | Remove cones and signs in reverse order; maintain lookout; keep PPE on until clear |
Hard hat
Safety glasses
High visibility vest or jacket
Waterproof or steel toe boots
Cut resistant gloves
Long pants and long sleeves
Waders when working in shallow water
Hearing protection near machinery
Respirator if working around dust, soil aerosols, or decaying organic material