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Bricklaying · United States

JHA for brick fence construction

By Safety PaperworkBuilt from OSHA standards and guidance · How we write and check theseUpdated

OSHA expects employers to find and control hazards on every job, and many general contractors require a written JHA for brick fence construction before you start.

A JHA breaks the job into steps, lists the hazards in each step and the controls that protect the crew, and the crew signs it. The main hazards are silica dust from concrete, brick, stone and tiles, hitting underground services, trench or excavation collapse and being hit by heavy equipment.

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JHA example: brick fence construction

This is a complete JHA for brick fence construction, with 5 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.

Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)
Build a brick fence · Bricklaying · Example
Document JHA-001 · Rev 1

Job steps, hazards and controls

#Job stepHazardsRisk beforeControlsRisk after
1Get 811 locates and set up a barrier from the footpath
  • Hitting underground services
  • Public entering the work area
Critical
  • Keep machine buckets well clear of marked services and use a spotter. Engineering (guarding)
  • Scan the area with a cable locator before digging and mark services on the ground. Engineering
  • Hand dig or vacuum excavate to expose services before using a machine near them. Engineering
  • Call 811 before you dig and wait until all utilities have marked their lines. Administrative
  • Keep plans or locate tickets on site and check them again if the work area grows. Administrative
  • Support or protect exposed utilities so they cannot sag or break while the excavation is open (29 CFR 1926.651(b)(4)). Administrative
  • If you hit a service, stop, get everyone clear, and call the owner and emergency services. Administrative
  • Wear safety boots, gloves and hi-vis when digging. PPE
  • 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 unauthorized entry". Administrative
  • Make the site safe at the end of each day: cover holes, lower plant, remove ladders and lock tools away. Administrative
  • Use a spotter when moving plant or materials across public paths. Administrative
Medium
2Dig and pour the footing
  • Trench or excavation collapse
  • Wet concrete and cement burns
  • Being hit by heavy equipment
Critical
  • Use methods that keep people out of the trench, such as directional boring or working from the surface. Elimination
  • Barricade or cover the excavation so people and equipment cannot fall in. Use guardrails on walkways that cross it (29 CFR 1926.651(l)). Engineering (guarding)
  • Use a protective system (sloping, shoring or a trench box) in any trench 5 feet or deeper, or shallower if the competent person sees signs of a possible cave-in (29 CFR 1926.652). Engineering
  • Protective systems for trenches over 20 feet deep are designed by a registered professional engineer (29 CFR 1926.652(b), (c)). Engineering
  • Keep spoil, materials and equipment at least 2 feet back from the edge. Engineering
  • Provide a ladder, stairway or ramp within 25 feet of workers in trenches 4 feet or deeper. Engineering
  • Competent person inspects the trench daily, after rain and as conditions change, and tests the air before entry in trenches over 4 feet deep where a hazardous atmosphere could exist (29 CFR 1926.651(g), (k)). Administrative
  • Nobody works in a trench where water is collecting unless the competent person has controls in place, such as pumping or special support (29 CFR 1926.651(h)). Administrative
  • Nobody stands under a loaded bucket or near a truck being loaded (29 CFR 1926.651(e)). Administrative
  • Use long-handled tools and pumps to cut down contact. Engineering
  • Wash concrete off skin straight away with clean water. Administrative
  • Have clean water and eye wash at the pour. Administrative
  • Wear waterproof gloves, long sleeves and rubber boots with pants worn over the top. PPE
  • Wear safety glasses or goggles to stop splashes. PPE
  • Separate people and equipment with barriers, exclusion zones and marked walkways. Engineering (guarding)
  • Use equipment with working backup alarms, cameras and lights. Engineering
  • Have a site traffic plan showing equipment routes, loading areas and pedestrian paths. Administrative
  • Use a spotter when backing up or working near people. Administrative
  • Make eye contact with the operator before going near. Stay out of the swing radius. Administrative
Medium
3Lay bricks with wet cutting
  • Silica dust from concrete, brick, stone and tiles
  • Lifting and carrying heavy loads
  • Repetitive work and awkward postures
Critical
  • Order materials cut to size, or use low-dust methods such as score and snap or a block splitter. Substitution
  • Cut outdoors or in a separate area, with other people well away and upwind. Engineering (guarding)
  • Use wet cutting or on-tool dust collection with a HEPA vacuum, as set out in Table 1 of 29 CFR 1926.1153. Engineering
  • Clean up with a vacuum or wet methods. Never dry sweep or use compressed air. Administrative
  • Have a written exposure control plan and a competent person for silica (29 CFR 1926.1153). Administrative
  • Workers who must wear a respirator 30 or more days a year get a free medical exam every 3 years (29 CFR 1926.1153(h)). Administrative
  • Wear the respirator Table 1 lists for the task: APF 10 (a fit-tested N95 or half mask) for most tasks, APF 25 (such as a loose-fitting PAPR) for tuckpointing with a handheld grinder for more than 4 hours a shift. 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 plant 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
  • Use tools that cut the effort: powered screwdrivers, long-handled tools and extension poles for overhead work. Substitution
  • Set work up at waist height on benches or trestles where you can. Engineering
  • Use light tools with good grips, and keep blades and bits sharp. Engineering
  • Rotate tasks and take short breaks every hour on repetitive work. Administrative
  • Warm up before heavy physical work and report aches and pains early. Administrative
Medium
4Brace piers and walls until cured
  • Structural collapse during alterations
  • Strong wind and storms
High
  • Get an engineer to check before removing any wall, beam, post or bracing that may be load-bearing. Elimination
  • Keep everyone clear of the area under and next to the work. Engineering (guarding)
  • Install temporary props, needles or shoring as designed before removing any support. Engineering
  • Follow the engineer's sequence. Do not change it without approval. Administrative
  • Check props daily. Do not remove them until the permanent support is in and approved. Administrative
  • Wear a hard hat and safety boots. PPE
  • Check the forecast each morning and plan work at height and lifting around the weather. Elimination
  • Tie down or weigh down loose sheets, panels, boards and rubbish at the end of each shift. Engineering
  • Set wind limits for roof work, platforms and cranes, using the manufacturer's limits, and stop when they are reached. Administrative
  • Stop work and get down in lightning. Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back up. Administrative
  • Check scaffold, fencing and edge protection after strong wind before anyone uses them. Administrative
  • Do not carry large sheets on roofs in wind. Administrative
  • Wear a hard hat with a chin strap at height in windy conditions. PPE
Medium
5Clean up and reopen the sidewalk
  • Poor housekeeping and waste
  • Sun exposure (UV)
High
  • Order materials to size and send packaging back where you can. Elimination
  • Put dumpsters and waste 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
  • Plan outdoor work for early morning or late afternoon when UV is lower. Elimination
  • Put shade covers over fixed work areas. Engineering
  • Check the UV index each day. Use sun protection when it is 3 or higher. Administrative
  • Check your skin regularly and see a doctor about any new or changing spots. Administrative
  • Wear a broad-brim hat or hard hat brim, long sleeves, sunglasses and SPF 30 or higher sunscreen, reapplied every 2 hours. PPE
Medium

PPE

Safety-toe boots (ASTM F2413)Chemical-resistant glovesSafety glasses (ANSI Z87.1)N95 respiratorHigh-visibility safety apparel, ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 2 or 3 (Type R near roadways)Sun protection (sunscreen, hat, long sleeves)Safety goggles (ANSI Z87.1)Knee padsHard hat (ANSI Z89.1)Half-face respirator (P100 cartridges)Hearing protection (earmuffs or plugs)Work gloves

Plant and equipment

Cement mixerConcrete saw (cut-off saw)ExcavatorHand tools

Emergency

Call 911. Add the nearest hospital, the assembly point and the first aid / cpr person for your site.

Sign-off

Supervisor and every worker sign to confirm they have read and understood this JHA.

Free JHA template for brick fence construction

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 JHA

Pre-start checklist for brick fence construction

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

The safe sequence of work

  1. Get 811 locates and set up a barrier from the footpath
  2. Dig and pour the footing
  3. Lay bricks with wet cutting
  4. Brace piers and walls until cured
  5. Clean up and reopen the sidewalk

Hazards to watch on brick fence construction

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

Step 2Trench or excavation collapseThe trench walls cave in and bury or crush a worker. Trenches 5 feet or deeper need a protective system, and shallower ones do too if there are signs of a possible cave-in.
Step 5Sun exposure (UV)Long hours in the sun cause sunburn, eye damage and skin cancer.
Step 2Wet concrete and cement burnsWet concrete, mortar and cement burn skin and eyes. Burns can be deep and are often not felt until later.
Step 4Strong wind and stormsWind blows sheets, panels and people off roofs and scaffolds, and storms and lightning make work at height and lifting unsafe.
Step 4Structural collapse during alterationsRemoving a wall, beam, post or bracing makes part of the building fall on workers.
Step 1Hitting underground servicesDigging, drilling or driving pegs hits a buried power cable, gas pipe or water main, causing electrocution, explosion or flooding.
Almost certainLikelyPossibleUnlikelyRareHow bad it could be: First aid only to FatalityBA
Highest risk on brick fence construction: Critical before controls (B), down to Medium after controls (A), on the United States 5 by 5 risk matrix (likely and fatality becomes unlikely and recordable / lost time).

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):

  • Will anyone work 6 feet or more above a lower level?
  • Will anyone use a ladder or stepladder?
  • Will anyone work on a roof?
  • Is there a skylight, fiberglass panel or other fragile roofing?
  • Will you use a scaffold or rolling tower?

Why JHAs get rejected

General contractors send documents back for these reasons. This example avoids them, but check yours too.

  • Generic steps such as "work safely" or "use PPE" with no task-specific hazards or controls.
  • No OSHA standards referenced for the hazards that have them, such as fall protection, ladders, scaffolds or silica.
  • No competent person named for fall protection, excavation, scaffolds or silica where those hazards exist.
  • Equipment listed without inspection requirements, and no training listed for the people using it.
  • Respirators listed with no respiratory protection program, medical clearance or fit test.
  • Controls rely only on PPE when engineering controls such as guardrails, wet cutting or extraction are feasible.
  • No crew sign-off, or no date and revision when the job has changed.

Questions

Do I need a JHA for brick fence construction?

OSHA expects employers to find and control hazards on every job, and many general contractors require a written JHA for brick fence construction before you start.

Who signs the JHA?

The supervisor or competent person who prepared it signs, and every crew member signs to show they were trained on the hazards and controls before the job starts. Many general contractors also sign to accept it.

How long do I keep it?

Keep this JHA on site during the job, and keep it with the training and inspection records for at least 1 year after the job (longer if your state plan or general contractor requires it). OSHA does not set a retention period for JHAs themselves.

What PPE is needed for brick fence construction?

Usually Safety-toe boots (ASTM F2413), Chemical-resistant gloves, Safety glasses (ANSI Z87.1), N95 respirator, High-visibility safety apparel, ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 2 or 3 (Type R near roadways), Sun protection (sunscreen, hat, long sleeves), Safety goggles (ANSI Z87.1), Knee pads, Hard hat (ANSI Z89.1), Half-face respirator (P100 cartridges), Hearing protection (earmuffs or plugs), Work gloves. The site rules may add more, so check with the general contractor.

More bricklaying JHAs

JHAMasonry Work10 stepsJHACMU Block Wall6 stepsJHATuckpointing4 stepsJHABrick Wall Repair5 stepsJHABrick Cleaning5 steps

Related jobs in other trades

ConcretingConcrete Slab PourAlso involves being hit by heavy equipmentRoofingRoof ReplacementAlso involves strong wind and stormsExcavation and earthworksTrenching and ExcavationAlso involves hitting underground servicesWelding and fabricationSteel ErectionAlso involves structural collapse during alterationsScaffoldingScaffold ErectionAlso involves public entering the work areaPaintingLead Paint Removal (RRP)Also involves public entering the work area

Toolbox talks for this job

Toolbox talkSilica DustToolbox talkPPE: Personal Protective EquipmentToolbox talkExcavation and Trench SafetyToolbox talkCrane and Lifting Safety

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

Sources