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Concreting · United States

JHA for concrete formwork

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 concrete formwork 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 falling from height, being hit by heavy equipment, falling through a floor opening or void and falling tools and materials.

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JHA example: concrete formwork

This is a complete JHA for concrete formwork, with 9 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)
Formwork installation and stripping · Concreting · Example
Document JHA-001 · Rev 1

Job steps, hazards and controls

#Job stepHazardsRisk beforeControlsRisk after
1Check the formwork design and that props sit on sole plates on firm ground
  • Formwork collapse
High
  • Keep people out from under the formwork during the pour. Engineering (guarding)
  • Use formwork designed by a competent person or engineer for the load. Engineering
  • Formwork collapse: see step 7 for the full controls Administrative
Medium
2Plan deliveries and crane lifts of form materials, with an exclusion zone under the load
  • Crane and lifting failure
  • Falling tools and materials
  • Being hit by heavy equipment
Critical
  • Barricade the lift zone and keep everyone out from under the load. Engineering (guarding)
  • Use a crane rated for the load at the radius, set up on firm ground with outrigger pads. Engineering
  • Check slings, chains, shackles and hooks before use. Remove anything damaged or not tagged. Engineering
  • Plan the lift: weight, radius, ground, path and landing area. Use a written lift plan for complex lifts. Administrative
  • Use a certified crane operator who has also been evaluated by the employer, with the evaluation documented on site (29 CFR 1926.1427), plus a qualified rigger (1926.1425) and a qualified signal person (1926.1428). Administrative
  • Barricade and sign the drop zone under overhead work so nobody walks beneath. Engineering (guarding)
  • Fit toe boards, kick plates and mesh screens on scaffolds and edges. Engineering
  • Use catch fans, debris netting or covered walkways where people pass below. Engineering
  • Tether hand tools when working at height. Engineering
  • Keep platforms tidy. Do not stack materials near edges or above toe board height. Administrative
  • 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
3Install edge protection before anyone works near an edge
  • Falling from height
  • Falling through a floor opening or void
Critical
  • Do the work from the ground where you can, for example pre-assemble on the ground or use extension poles. Elimination
  • Install guardrails or edge protection on all open edges before work starts. Engineering (guarding)
  • Use a scaffold, mobile work platform or aerial lift instead of working off a ladder. Engineering
  • Where edge protection is not practical, use a fall restraint or fall arrest system on a rated anchor point. Engineering
  • Provide fall protection at 6 feet or more and train workers to recognize fall hazards (29 CFR 1926.503). Administrative
  • Have a rescue plan so a worker hanging in a harness can be brought down within minutes. Administrative
  • Wear a full body harness with a shock-absorbing lanyard, clipped on at all times when using fall arrest. PPE
  • Cover every hole with a secured cover marked "HOLE" or "COVER" that can hold twice the weight it may carry. Engineering (guarding)
  • Put guardrails with toe boards around stairwells, elevator shafts, floor holes and open edges. Engineering (guarding)
  • Falling through a floor opening or void: see step 6 for the full controls Administrative
Medium
4Cut and fix form ply and timber with saw guards working
  • Saw cuts and kickback
  • Nail gun injuries
  • Wood and MDF dust
  • Loud noise
High
  • Keep blade guards fitted and working, and use the riving knife on table saws. Engineering
  • Use push sticks and clamps, and support long pieces so they do not pinch the blade. Engineering
  • Use a sharp, undamaged blade made for the material. Administrative
  • Stand to one side of the blade line, out of the kickback path. Administrative
  • Use a nail gun with a sequential (single shot) trigger, not a contact or bump trigger. Substitution
  • Disconnect the air or battery before clearing jams, adjusting or moving between work areas. Engineering
  • Keep your free hand at least 12 inches from the nailing point. Administrative
  • Never point the gun at anyone or carry it with your finger on the trigger. Administrative
  • Buy pre-cut or pre-finished lumber where you can. Substitution
  • Cut outdoors or in a well-ventilated area away from others. Engineering (guarding)
  • Use saws and sanders with dust collection connected to a HEPA vacuum. Engineering
  • Clean up with a vacuum, not a broom or compressed air. Administrative
  • Use quieter tools and methods, such as cut-to-size materials, low-noise machines and battery tools. Substitution
  • Keep noisy plant 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
Medium
5Erect props, bearers and joists in the designed order, bracing as you go. Work from a platform or from below, never walking on unfixed joists
  • Formwork collapse
  • Lifting and carrying heavy loads
  • Falling from height
Critical
  • A competent person inspects the formwork and shoring before, during and after the pour (29 CFR 1926.703(b)). Administrative
  • Follow the formwork drawings on site for shore spacing, bracing and pour rate (29 CFR 1926.703(a)). Administrative
  • Formwork collapse: see step 7 for the full controls Administrative
  • 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
  • Falling from height: see step 3 for the full controls Administrative
Medium
6Lay the deck, cover penetrations and cap rebar bars that stick up
  • Falling through a floor opening or void
  • Impalement on rebar
  • Falling from height
  • Strong wind and storms
Critical
  • Cover every hole with a secured cover marked "HOLE" or "COVER" that can hold twice the weight it may carry. Engineering (guarding)
  • Put guardrails with toe boards around stairwells, elevator shafts, floor holes 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
  • Guard all protruding rebar to remove the impalement risk (29 CFR 1926.701(b)). Engineering
  • Bend bars over where the design allows. Engineering
  • Use guardrails or covers near vertical rebar so nobody can fall onto it. Engineering
  • Keep walkways clear of exposed bars and mark the hazard. Administrative
  • Falling from height: see step 3 for the full controls Administrative
  • 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
Medium
7Inspect forms and props and get sign off before the pour, then watch them during it
  • Formwork collapse
  • Wet concrete and cement burns
High
  • Keep people out from under the formwork during the pour. Engineering (guarding)
  • Use formwork designed by a competent person or engineer for the load. Engineering
  • A competent person inspects the formwork and shoring before, during and after the pour (29 CFR 1926.703(b)). Administrative
  • Follow the formwork drawings on site for shore spacing, bracing and pour rate (29 CFR 1926.703(a)). Administrative
  • Watch for movement or bulging during the pour and stop if it happens. Administrative
  • Do not strip formwork until the concrete reaches the strength the engineer requires. Administrative
  • Wear a hard hat, safety boots and gloves. PPE
  • 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
Medium
8Strip forms only when the engineer says so, from a safe position, back propping as designed
  • Falling tools and materials
  • Structural collapse during alterations
  • Lifting and carrying heavy loads
High
  • Lower materials with a hoist, chute or rope. Never throw or drop anything down. Administrative
  • Wear a hard hat anywhere objects could fall. PPE
  • Falling tools and materials: see step 2 for the full controls Administrative
  • 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
  • Rotate tasks and take breaks on long lifting jobs. Administrative
  • Wear gloves for grip and safety boots to protect your feet. PPE
  • Lifting and carrying heavy loads: see step 5 for the full controls Administrative
Medium
9Denail, stack timber and clean up
  • Cuts from sharp edges
  • Poor housekeeping and waste
Medium
  • Deburr or cover sharp edges, and fit edge protectors on exposed sheet metal. Engineering
  • Use knives with retractable or self-retracting blades. Engineering
  • Cut away from your body and keep your other hand clear. Administrative
  • Put used blades in a blade bin or sharps container. Administrative
  • Use two people to handle large sheets of metal or glass. Administrative
  • Wear cut-resistant gloves and long sleeves. PPE
  • 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
Low

PPE

Safety-toe boots (ASTM F2413)Hard hat (ANSI Z89.1)Safety glasses (ANSI Z87.1)Work glovesHearing protection (earmuffs or plugs)Personal fall arrest system (harness)High-visibility safety apparel, ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 2 or 3 (Type R near roadways)N95 respiratorChemical-resistant glovesSafety goggles (ANSI Z87.1)Knee padsCut-resistant gloves

Plant and equipment

Circular saw (skill saw)Nail gun (pneumatic nailer)Power drillMobile crane: Operator certified by an accredited body or audited employer program (29 CFR 1926.1427) and evaluated by the employer, with a signed evaluation on site (1926.1427(f)); qualified rigger (1926.1425) and qualified signal person (1926.1428)Hand tools

Permits and plans

Critical lift plan

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 concrete formwork

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 concrete formwork

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

The safe sequence of work

  1. Check the formwork design and that props sit on sole plates on firm ground
  2. Plan deliveries and crane lifts of form materials, with an exclusion zone under the load
  3. Install edge protection before anyone works near an edge
  4. Cut and fix form ply and timber with saw guards working
  5. Erect props, bearers and joists in the designed order, bracing as you go. Work from a platform or from below, never walking on unfixed joists
  6. Lay the deck, cover penetrations and cap rebar bars that stick up
  7. Inspect forms and props and get sign off before the pour, then watch them during it
  8. Strip forms only when the engineer says so, from a safe position, back propping as designed
  9. Denail, stack timber and clean up

Hazards to watch on concrete formwork

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

Step 1, 5, 7Formwork collapseFormwork or falsework fails during a concrete pour and collapses with workers on or under it.
Step 6Impalement on rebarA worker falls or trips onto exposed rebar and is impaled or badly cut.
Step 4Nail gun injuriesA nail gun fires by accident, or a nail goes through the lumber or ricochets and hits the user or someone nearby.
Step 4Wood and MDF dustSawing and sanding lumber, MDF and treated wood makes fine dust that causes asthma, skin problems and some cancers.
Step 2Crane and lifting failureA load falls or swings, or the crane tips, crushing workers under or near the lift.
Step 7Wet concrete and cement burnsWet concrete, mortar and cement burn skin and eyes. Burns can be deep and are often not felt until later.
Almost certainLikelyPossibleUnlikelyRareHow bad it could be: First aid only to FatalityBA
Highest risk on concrete formwork: 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 serious 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):

  • 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?
  • Will you use an aerial lift (scissor lift or boom lift)?

Licences and legal requirements in United States

Equipment on this job that needs a licence, ticket or training:

  • Mobile crane: Operator certified by an accredited body or audited employer program (29 CFR 1926.1427) and evaluated by the employer, with a signed evaluation on site (1926.1427(f)); qualified rigger (1926.1425) and qualified signal person (1926.1428)

OSHA requires employers to find and fix hazards and to train workers on them. A JHA breaks the job into steps, lists the hazards in each step and the controls that protect the crew. General contractors often require one before you start.

Rules that apply: 29 CFR 1926.703; 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC; 29 CFR 1926.501(c); 29 CFR 1926 Subpart O; 29 CFR 1926 Subpart M; 29 CFR 1926 Subpart I; 29 CFR 1926.52; 29 CFR 1926.701(b).

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 concrete formwork?

OSHA expects employers to find and control hazards on every job, and many general contractors require a written JHA for concrete formwork 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 concrete formwork?

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

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Toolbox talks for this job

Toolbox talkExtension Leads and Power ToolsToolbox talkHearing Protection and NoiseToolbox talkPPE: Personal Protective EquipmentToolbox talkCrane and Lifting Safety

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

Sources