| Step | Potential Hazard | Control |
|---|---|---|
| Assess slope and site conditions | Loose soil, unstable slopes, erosion holes, traffic exposure, hidden voids | Walk site from above and below; identify safest access points; set up MUTCD compliant traffic control if roadside; avoid undercut or saturated slopes |
| Inspect tools and equipment | Faulty ropes, damaged hand tools, malfunctioning machinery | Check ropes, anchors, hand tools, and any mechanized equipment; remove defective tools from service |
| Don required PPE | Slips, falls, rolling debris, vegetation hazards | Wear boots with good traction, gloves, hard hat, safety glasses, and high visibility vest |
| Establish work zone | Workers exposed to falling material or equipment | Mark exclusion zones at top and bottom; assign lookout; keep non essential personnel clear |
| Determine need for fall protection | Fall from height, sliding down slope | Use ropes, harnesses, and anchor points for slopes steeper than safe walking angle; follow department policy |
| Access embankment safely | Falls, slipping, vegetation hiding tripping hazards | Use designated path; descend slowly; use rope assist or handline if required; keep three points of contact |
| Remove vegetation or debris | Slips, cuts, rolling material downhill | Cut or pull vegetation from stable footing; ensure no workers are below; use tools rather than hands to reach into brush |
| Excavate, grade, or place materials | Equipment rollovers, struck by bucket, unstable footing | Keep ground crew above or below machine working zone, never in front of bucket; operate equipment on firm ground only; avoid overreaching with machinery |
| Install erosion control materials | Slipping on blankets, cuts from stakes or pins | Unroll blankets carefully; anchor securely; maintain stable footing; use tools to install staples |
| Handle riprap or stone | Rolling rocks, pinch points, back strain | Use machinery for large stones; keep workers away from placement path; use team lifts for smaller rocks |
| Monitor slope stability throughout work | Sudden sloughing, soil collapse, rocks dislodging | Watch for cracks, soil movement, or changing water flow; stop work and reposition if slope shows instability |
| Avoid working during or after heavy rain | Saturated soil causing collapse or slides | Suspend operations during rain; reassess slope after storms; do not enter slopes that show signs of failure |
| Perform final stabilization | Loose material, trip hazards | Smooth disturbed soil; secure erosion control; remove loose debris from top and bottom |
| Climb out safely | Falls, fatigue, slipping | Use same designated access path; climb slowly; use rope or handline where needed |
| Cleanup and restore site | Tools or materials left on unstable ground | Remove all tools; ensure slope is not left in an unsafe condition; inspect for remaining hazards |
| Remove traffic control | Exposure to moving vehicles | Remove cones and signs in reverse order; maintain lookout; keep PPE on until clear |
Hard hat
Safety glasses
High visibility vest or jacket
Steel toe boots with aggressive tread
Cut resistant gloves
Long pants and long sleeves
Hearing protection when near equipment
Fall protection harness and rope (when required)
Respirator if dust or soil aerosols are present
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.
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| Step | Potential Hazard | Control |
|---|---|---|
| Assess slope and site conditions | Loose soil, unstable slopes, erosion holes, traffic exposure, hidden voids | Walk site from above and below; identify safest access points; set up MUTCD compliant traffic control if roadside; avoid undercut or saturated slopes |
| Inspect tools and equipment | Faulty ropes, damaged hand tools, malfunctioning machinery | Check ropes, anchors, hand tools, and any mechanized equipment; remove defective tools from service |
| Don required PPE | Slips, falls, rolling debris, vegetation hazards | Wear boots with good traction, gloves, hard hat, safety glasses, and high visibility vest |
| Establish work zone | Workers exposed to falling material or equipment | Mark exclusion zones at top and bottom; assign lookout; keep non essential personnel clear |
| Determine need for fall protection | Fall from height, sliding down slope | Use ropes, harnesses, and anchor points for slopes steeper than safe walking angle; follow department policy |
| Access embankment safely | Falls, slipping, vegetation hiding tripping hazards | Use designated path; descend slowly; use rope assist or handline if required; keep three points of contact |
| Remove vegetation or debris | Slips, cuts, rolling material downhill | Cut or pull vegetation from stable footing; ensure no workers are below; use tools rather than hands to reach into brush |
| Excavate, grade, or place materials | Equipment rollovers, struck by bucket, unstable footing | Keep ground crew above or below machine working zone, never in front of bucket; operate equipment on firm ground only; avoid overreaching with machinery |
| Install erosion control materials | Slipping on blankets, cuts from stakes or pins | Unroll blankets carefully; anchor securely; maintain stable footing; use tools to install staples |
| Handle riprap or stone | Rolling rocks, pinch points, back strain | Use machinery for large stones; keep workers away from placement path; use team lifts for smaller rocks |
| Monitor slope stability throughout work | Sudden sloughing, soil collapse, rocks dislodging | Watch for cracks, soil movement, or changing water flow; stop work and reposition if slope shows instability |
| Avoid working during or after heavy rain | Saturated soil causing collapse or slides | Suspend operations during rain; reassess slope after storms; do not enter slopes that show signs of failure |
| Perform final stabilization | Loose material, trip hazards | Smooth disturbed soil; secure erosion control; remove loose debris from top and bottom |
| Climb out safely | Falls, fatigue, slipping | Use same designated access path; climb slowly; use rope or handline where needed |
| Cleanup and restore site | Tools or materials left on unstable ground | Remove all tools; ensure slope is not left in an unsafe condition; inspect for remaining hazards |
| Remove traffic control | Exposure to moving vehicles | Remove cones and signs in reverse order; maintain lookout; keep PPE on until clear |
Hard hat
Safety glasses
High visibility vest or jacket
Steel toe boots with aggressive tread
Cut resistant gloves
Long pants and long sleeves
Hearing protection when near equipment
Fall protection harness and rope (when required)
Respirator if dust or soil aerosols are present