Plumbing · Canada

FLHA for drain unblocking and jetting

By Safety PaperworkBuilt from provincial OHS law and CCOHS guidance · How we write and check theseUpdated November 9, 2026

Provincial OHS law requires hazards to be assessed and controlled before work starts. A field level hazard assessment (FLHA) for drain unblocking and jetting is done on site at the start of the shift and again whenever conditions change.

It lists the tasks, hazards and controls, and every worker signs on before starting and signs off at the end of the shift. The main hazards are falling through a floor opening or void, public entering the work area, lifting and carrying heavy loads and loud noise.

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FLHA example: drain unblocking and jetting

This is a complete FLHA for drain unblocking and jetting, with 6 job steps. Open it in the builder to add your site, crew and signatures, change anything, and download a PDF. Or download the free Word template below and fill it in by hand.

Field Level Hazard Assessment (FLHA)

Drain unblocking and jetting · Plumbing · Example

Document FLHA-001 · Rev 1

Job steps, hazards and controls

#	Job step	Hazards	Risk before	Controls	Risk after
1	Set up cones around open pits and keep the public and pets away	Public entering the work area Falling through a floor opening or void	Critical	Fence off the site with secure temporary fencing and lock the gates when you leave. Engineering (guarding) Give pedestrians a safe, marked path around the work, with ramps for strollers and wheelchairs. Engineering (guarding) Use hoarding, covered walkways or catch fans where work is above public areas. Engineering Put signs at each entry: site name, contact number and "No unauthorised entry". Administrative Make the site safe at the end of each day: cover holes, lower buckets and booms, remove ladders and lock tools away. Administrative Use a spotter when moving equipment or materials across public paths. Administrative Cover every hole and penetration with a fixed, secured cover marked "HOLE" or "DANGER". Engineering (guarding) Put guardrails with toe boards around stairwells, lift shafts, voids and open edges. Engineering (guarding) Install stairs early and fit temporary handrails as soon as they go in. Engineering Never remove a cover or guardrail without approval. Put it back straight away. Administrative Inspect covers and barriers daily and after other trades have been through. Administrative Keep lighting good enough to see openings, especially on lower floors and in the evening. Administrative Use a harness clipped to a rated anchor when working right next to an open void. PPE	Medium
2	Open the inspection point, never enter pits or manholes without a confined space permit	Confined space entry Lifting and carrying heavy loads	High	Do the work from outside the space where you can, using cameras or long-reach tools. Elimination Isolate and lock out all pipes, power and moving parts going into the space. Engineering (guarding) Test the air for oxygen, flammable and toxic gases before entry, and keep testing during the work. Engineering Use forced ventilation to keep the air clean. Engineering Follow your province's confined space program with a written entry permit. Only trained workers enter. Administrative Keep a trained standby person outside at all times, in contact with those inside. Administrative Set up a rescue plan and rescue gear before entry. Never go in to rescue without the right gear. Administrative Wear a harness for retrieval and the respirator the air test calls for. PPE Plan to avoid carrying: have materials delivered, and old items picked up, as close as possible to where they are used. Elimination Use lighter or smaller loads: order smaller bags and shorter lengths, and drain or break down old items before moving them. Substitution Use trolleys, pallet jacks, hoists, vacuum lifters or equipment instead of carrying by hand. Engineering Use a two-person lift for anything heavy, long or awkward. Plan the route first and clear it. Administrative Keep the load close, back straight and no twisting. Turn with your feet. Administrative Rotate tasks and take breaks on long lifting jobs. Administrative Wear gloves for grip and safety boots to protect your feet. PPE	Medium
3	Check the jetter hose and fittings, then jet with the nozzle well inside the pipe before starting	High pressure water jetting Stored energy Loud noise	High	Set an exclusion zone around the jetting area. Engineering (guarding) Use a dead man's trigger that stops the jet when released, and check hoses and fittings before use. Engineering Only trained operators use high pressure jetting gear. Administrative Never point the lance at anyone or put a hand in front of it. Administrative Treat any jetting injury as serious and go to hospital, even if it looks small. Administrative Release or block all stored energy before work: release the pressure in pipes, tanks and hoses, bleed hydraulics, release springs, lower loads. Elimination Lock out and tag all energy sources with personal locks. Engineering (guarding) Put mechanical blocks or props under raised parts like buckets, tipper bodies and doors. Engineering Test that the system is dead and nothing can move before you start. Administrative Follow the maker's procedure, for example for garage door and roller door springs. Administrative Use quieter tools and methods, such as cut-to-size materials, low-noise machines and battery tools. Substitution Keep noisy equipment away from work areas, and use screens or distance between the noise and people. Engineering (guarding) Keep tools maintained and use mufflers on compressors and generators. Engineering Limit time on noisy tools and rotate workers. Administrative If you have to shout to be heard 1 metre away, wear hearing protection. Administrative	Medium
4	Clear the blockage, keeping face and hands away from splashback	Sewage and wastewater Eye injuries Slips and trips	Medium	Flush and drain the line before opening it, and plan the job to avoid contact. Elimination Use drain cameras, jetters and long-handled tools to keep hands out. Engineering Sewage and wastewater: see step 6 for the full controls Administrative Use tool guards and screens to stop flying particles. Engineering Use dust extraction and water to keep dust out of the air. Engineering Keep others out of the area when cutting, grinding or chipping. Administrative Keep an eye wash station or eye wash bottles on site. Administrative Wear safety glasses at all times, goggles for dust and chemicals, and a face shield for grinding. PPE Plan walkways and keep them clear of materials, hoses and leads. Elimination Run leads and hoses overhead on hooks or stands, or along walls, not across walkways. Engineering Fill or cover holes, and lay boards or mats on muddy access paths. Engineering Clean up offcuts, packaging and spills as you go, not at the end of the day. Administrative Keep work areas, stairs and access paths well lit. Administrative	Low
5	Run a CCTV camera to confirm the line is clear	Sewage and wastewater	Medium	Cover cuts with waterproof dressings. Never eat, drink or smoke before washing. Administrative Wash hands well and clean tools and boots after the job. Administrative Sewage and wastewater: see step 6 for the full controls Administrative	Low
6	Close pits, wash down, and wash hands before eating	Sewage and wastewater Poor housekeeping and waste	Medium	Flush and drain the line before opening it, and plan the job to avoid contact. Elimination Use drain cameras, jetters and long-handled tools to keep hands out. Engineering Cover cuts with waterproof dressings. Never eat, drink or smoke before washing. Administrative Wash hands well and clean tools and boots after the job. Administrative Keep vaccinations such as tetanus and hepatitis A up to date, on medical advice. Administrative Wear waterproof gloves, goggles or a face shield, and coveralls. PPE Order materials to size and send packaging back where you can. Elimination Put waste bins and chutes close to the work. Engineering Clean as you go, and do a full clean up at the end of each day. Administrative Keep exits, stairs and walkways clear at all times. Administrative Stack materials neatly on level ground, away from edges. Administrative Wear gloves when handling waste. PPE	Low

PPE

CSA green triangle safety boots (CSA Z195)Chemical-resistant glovesSafety gogglesFace shieldCoverallsHigh-visibility vest (CSA Z96)Work glovesHearing protectionSafety glasses (CSA Z94.3)

Plant and equipment

Sewer jetterHand tools

Permits and plans

Lockout permit

Emergency

Call 911. Add the nearest hospital, the muster point and the first aid attendant for your site.

Sign-off

Supervisor and every worker sign to confirm they have read and understood this FLHA, then sign off at the end of the shift.

Free FLHA template for drain unblocking and jetting

Word (.docx) and PDF, Letter landscape, no email needed. Fill in your site details, then print or send it.

Word template (.docx)PDF template

Make yours in 2 minutes

Same document, filled in for your job. Answer a few yes or no questions, the crew signs on the phone, and you send the PDF.

Start this FLHA

Pre-start checklist for drain unblocking and jetting

Tick these off before work starts. They come from the hazards, permits and equipment in this job.

FLHA read, explained and signed by everyone on the job
Openings, voids and penetrations covered and marked
Lockout, tagout and test before touch done before work starts
Confined space permit, atmosphere test and standby person in place
Exclusion zone below the work and public kept out
First aid attendant, first aid kit and emergency number (911) confirmed
PPE checked and worn: CSA green triangle safety boots (CSA Z195), chemical-resistant gloves, safety goggles, face shield

The safe sequence of work

Set up cones around open pits and keep the public and pets away
Open the inspection point, never enter pits or manholes without a confined space permit
Check the jetter hose and fittings, then jet with the nozzle well inside the pipe before starting
Clear the blockage, keeping face and hands away from splashback
Run a CCTV camera to confirm the line is clear
Close pits, wash down, and wash hands before eating

Hazards to watch on drain unblocking and jetting

The hazards most specific to this job, and the step where each one comes up.

Step 2Confined space entryBad air, toxic gas or engulfment in a tank, pit, sewer or manhole overcomes workers and the people who try to rescue them.

Step 3High pressure water jettingHigh pressure water cuts through skin and injects water and dirt into the body, or the hose whips.

Step 4, 5, 6Sewage and wastewaterContact with sewage spreads germs that cause stomach illness, hepatitis and skin infections.

Step 3Stored energyEnergy left in springs, hydraulics, compressed gas, raised loads or capacitors releases suddenly and crushes or injures workers.

Step 1Falling through a floor opening or voidA worker steps into an open hole, stairwell, lift shaft or penetration and falls to the level below.

Step 4Eye injuriesFlying chips, dust, chemicals or sparks get into the eye and cause damage or blindness.

Highest risk on drain unblocking and jetting: Critical before controls (B), down to Medium after controls (A), on the Canada 5 by 5 risk matrix (possible and fatality becomes unlikely and lost time injury).

What changes on your site

This example covers the job itself. Your site may add more. Add controls for any of these that apply (the builder asks you these as yes or no questions):

Could anyone fall 3 metres or more, or fall any distance into machinery, water, a hazardous substance or through an opening?
Will anyone use a ladder or stepladder?
Will anyone work on a roof?
Is there a fragile roof, skylight or clear roof sheet?
Will you use a scaffold or mobile tower?

Why FLHAs get rejected

Prime contractors and COR auditors send documents back for these reasons. This example avoids them, but check yours too.

End of shift boxes already say "None" when the form was signed at the start of the shift.
One FLHA reused for days or weeks, or a "review by" date a month away, when the work and conditions change daily.
No time of assessment and no record of any revision, which Alberta s.7(3) requires.
Workers signed that they "read" it, but nothing shows they took part, which Alberta s.8(1) requires.
Work at height with no fall protection plan where the province requires one, or no written rescue procedure for workers using fall arrest.
Permits or locates required on site but no permit or ticket numbers recorded.
No re-assessment entry after an obvious change such as weather, a new task or a new crew member.

Rules by province for drain unblocking and jetting

Province or territory	Key local rule	Regulator
Ontario	Fall protection (O. Reg. 213/91 s.26) applies at a fall of more than 3 m, more than 1.2 m where the work area is used as a path for a wheelbarrow or similar equipment, and at any height into operating machinery, water or other liquid, a hazardous substance, or through an opening.	Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
British Columbia	Fall protection is required where a fall of 3 m or more may occur (s.11.2). A written fall protection plan is required at 7.5 m or more where there are no permanent guardrails (s.11.3).	WorkSafeBC
Alberta	A hazard assessment must be done before work begins, and before a new work site is built (OHS Code s.7(1)). The results must be written down with the controls (s.7(2)).	Alberta Occupational Health and Safety
Quebec	Guardrails (Safety Code s.2.9.1, as amended by Decret 63-2025) are needed where a worker could fall into liquid or a hazardous substance, onto moving parts or dangerous equipment, 1.2 m or more when using a vehicle, 1.5 m or more when handling a load, and more than 3 m in all other cases.	CNESST (Commission des normes, de l'equite, de la sante et de la securite du travail)
Manitoba	A prime contractor is required whenever more than one employer or self employed person works on the site at the same time (Act s.7).	Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Branch
Saskatchewan	An occupational health committee is required at 10 or more workers of one employer (Act s.3-22).	Saskatchewan Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety, OHS Division
Nova Scotia	Workers must be trained in fall protection before using it or working in, supervising or planning work in a fall protection area, with a refresher at least every 3 years (WHSR s.21.19).	Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration, Safety Branch (OHS)
New Brunswick	Fall protection is needed from 3 m above water or the nearest permanent safe level (Reg 91-191 s.49(1)(a)(i)).	WorkSafeNB
Newfoundland and Labrador	Give written notice to the minister before starting a construction project that will last 30 days or more, with the site, location, type of work and number of workers (Regs s.8).	Government Services, Occupational Health and Safety Division
Prince Edward Island	Fall protection is needed from 3 m above the nearest safe surface or water (Fall Protection Regulations s.2(1)(a)).	Workers Compensation Board of PEI, OHS Division
Yukon	Every employer must do hazard assessments with the committee, representative or workers, and redo them after significant changes or incidents (Regs s.1.03.01).	Yukon Workers' Safety and Compensation Board
Northwest Territories	Fall protection is needed from 3 m, or lower if there is a risk of injury (s.119(1)). Guardrails are needed for falls of 1.2 m to 3 m at permanent work sites (s.119(2)).	Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC)
Nunavut	No 911. To reach the RCMP in an emergency, dial your community's first three digits then 1111 (Iqaluit: 979-1111). Put the local fire, ambulance and RCMP numbers on every FLHA.	Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC)

Questions

Do I need an FLHA for drain unblocking and jetting?

Who signs the FLHA?

The supervisor and every worker take part in the assessment and sign on before work starts, then sign off at the end of the shift. Review it and re-sign whenever the task or conditions change.

How long do I keep it?

Keep completed hazard assessments for at least 3 years (COR auditors sample the last 12 months). Review this FLHA and re-sign whenever the task, crew or conditions change.

What PPE is needed for drain unblocking and jetting?

Usually CSA green triangle safety boots (CSA Z195), Chemical-resistant gloves, Safety goggles, Face shield, Coveralls, High-visibility vest (CSA Z96), Work gloves, Hearing protection, Safety glasses (CSA Z94.3). The site rules may add more, so check with the general contractor.

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Blank FLHA template: free FLHA templates. Also for other countries: Australia (SWMS) · United Kingdom (RAMS) · United States (JHA)