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Demolition · United States

JHA for asbestos abatement

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 asbestos abatement 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 a roof edge, disturbing asbestos, electric shock from live wiring and falling through a fragile roof or skylight.

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JHA example: asbestos abatement

This is a complete JHA for asbestos abatement, with 10 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)
Bonded (non-friable) asbestos removal · Demolition · Example
Document JHA-001 · Rev 1

Job steps, hazards and controls

#Job stepHazardsRisk beforeControlsRisk after
1Confirm the licence needed, notify the regulator if required, and tell neighbours
  • Disturbing asbestos
  • Public entering the work area
Critical
  • Treat insulation, surfacing and resilient flooring in buildings built before 1981 as asbestos unless testing shows otherwise, and get the owner's asbestos survey before you start. Elimination
  • Seal off the work area and keep everyone else out. Engineering (guarding)
  • Disturbing asbestos: see step 6 for the full controls Administrative
  • 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)
  • Public entering the work area: see step 2 for the full controls Administrative
Medium
2Set up the work area with barriers, signs and plastic sheeting, and close nearby windows
  • Disturbing asbestos
  • Public entering the work area
Critical
  • If asbestos must be disturbed, keep it wet, use hand tools not power tools, and clean up with a HEPA vacuum. Engineering
  • Follow 29 CFR 1926.1101: competent person, work class, regulated area and exposure monitoring. Administrative
  • Disturbing asbestos: see step 6 for the full controls Administrative
  • 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
3Set up a decontamination point and put on disposable coveralls and a fitted respirator
  • Disturbing asbestos
Critical
  • Commercial renovation and any demolition need a NESHAP asbestos inspection first, and demolition needs written notice to the state or EPA 10 working days before work starts (40 CFR 61 Subpart M). Administrative
  • Roofing felts, cement shingles and siding, roof coatings and old panel backboards can also contain asbestos. Test them or treat them as asbestos; asbestos roofing is removed intact with hand tools by trained workers (29 CFR 1926.1101(g)(8)). Administrative
  • Disturbing asbestos: see step 6 for the full controls Administrative
Medium
4Have a licensed electrician isolate and disconnect power to anything fixed to the sheets, and check where the service line is attached
  • Electric shock from live wiring
Critical
  • Isolate the power before any work. Do not work live. Elimination
  • Lock out and tag the disconnecting means with your own personal lock and tag so the circuit cannot be energized (29 CFR 1926.417). Engineering (guarding)
  • Test before you touch: prove dead at the point of work with a tested voltage tester. Engineering
  • Only qualified persons work on or near exposed energized parts. Administrative
  • Check for back feeds from solar, batteries and generators that can keep a circuit live after the main switch is off. Administrative
  • If energized work cannot be avoided, use an energized work permit, a safety observer and insulated tools, following NFPA 70E. Administrative
  • Wear insulated gloves, arc-rated clothing and a face shield when testing or working near live parts. PPE
Medium
5Use fall protection when removing from roofs, as sheets are fragile
  • Falling through a fragile roof or skylight
  • Falling from a roof edge
Critical
  • Work from underneath or from an aerial lift so nobody stands on the fragile roof. Elimination
  • Cover every skylight with a fixed, marked cover that can hold at least twice the weight it may carry, or guard it with a guardrail. Engineering (guarding)
  • Use crawl boards or staging to spread the load on fragile or rotten decking, and cover or guard any hole left where decking is removed (29 CFR 1926.501(b)(4)). Engineering
  • Use fall arrest on rated anchors when working near fragile areas. Engineering
  • Treat all roof sheets as fragile until a competent person confirms they are not. Old fiber cement and plastic sheets are fragile. Administrative
  • Put "Fragile roof" signs at every roof access point. Administrative
  • Never walk on sheets between purlins or along skylights. Stay on boards or staging. Administrative
  • Wear a full body harness clipped to a rated anchor. PPE
  • Do what you can from the ground or from a scaffold at the gutter line, for example pre-assemble parts on the ground. Elimination
  • Install edge protection or guardrails on all open roof edges before work starts. Engineering (guarding)
  • Use a perimeter scaffold with handrails and toe boards along the eaves where practical. Engineering
  • Where guardrails cannot be fitted, use fall restraint on certified roof anchors so workers cannot reach the edge. Engineering
  • Low-slope roofs: guardrails, safety nets, personal fall arrest, or a warning line combined with one of these or with a safety monitor (a safety monitor alone only on roofs 50 feet wide or less). Steep roofs: guardrails with toe boards, safety nets or personal fall arrest (29 CFR 1926.501(b)(10), (11)). Administrative
  • Use one safe, controlled access point and keep others off the roof. Administrative
  • Stop roof work in strong wind or rain, and when the roof is wet, icy or covered in dust or frost. Administrative
  • Wear a harness clipped to a rated anchor when using restraint or fall arrest, and soft-soled non-slip boots. PPE
Medium
6Wet the sheets and undo fixings by hand, removing sheets whole with no power tools or breaking
  • Disturbing asbestos
  • Lifting and carrying heavy loads
  • Heat stress
Critical
  • Treat insulation, surfacing and resilient flooring in buildings built before 1981 as asbestos unless testing shows otherwise, and get the owner's asbestos survey before you start. Elimination
  • Seal off the work area and keep everyone else out. Engineering (guarding)
  • If asbestos must be disturbed, keep it wet, use hand tools not power tools, and clean up with a HEPA vacuum. Engineering
  • Follow 29 CFR 1926.1101: competent person, work class, regulated area and exposure monitoring. Administrative
  • Commercial renovation and any demolition need a NESHAP asbestos inspection first, and demolition needs written notice to the state or EPA 10 working days before work starts (40 CFR 61 Subpart M). Administrative
  • Roofing felts, cement shingles and siding, roof coatings and old panel backboards can also contain asbestos. Test them or treat them as asbestos; asbestos roofing is removed intact with hand tools by trained workers (29 CFR 1926.1101(g)(8)). Administrative
  • Stop work straight away if you find suspect asbestos. Do not touch it and tell your supervisor. Administrative
  • Wear a fit-tested NIOSH-approved respirator suited to the work class, and disposable coveralls. 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
  • Schedule heavy work for the cooler part of the day. Elimination
  • Provide shade over work and rest areas, and fans or cooling in attics. Engineering
  • Supply cool drinking water close by and drink a cup every 15 to 20 minutes. Administrative
  • Take regular rest breaks in the shade, more often as it gets hotter. Administrative
  • Let new and returning workers build up to full work in the heat over about a week. Administrative
  • In California, Washington, Oregon and Maryland, follow the state heat illness rule: written plan, shade, water, rest and high-heat procedures. Administrative
Medium
7Lower sheets carefully; never drop or slide them
  • Disturbing asbestos
  • Falling tools and materials
  • Lifting and carrying heavy loads
Critical
  • Disturbing asbestos: see step 6 for the full controls 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
  • 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 6 for the full controls Administrative
Medium
8Wrap sheets in heavy plastic, label as asbestos waste and take to an approved disposal site
  • Disturbing asbestos
  • Poor housekeeping and waste
Critical
  • Disturbing asbestos: see step 6 for the full controls Administrative
  • 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
Medium
9Clean up with an H-class vacuum and wet wipes, then decontaminate
  • Disturbing asbestos
Critical
  • Disturbing asbestos: see step 6 for the full controls Administrative
Medium
10Get a clearance inspection before others enter
  • Disturbing asbestos
Critical
  • Disturbing asbestos: see step 6 for the full controls Administrative
Medium

PPE

Half-face respirator (P100 cartridges)CoverallsChemical-resistant glovesSafety-toe boots (ASTM F2413)Safety glasses (ANSI Z87.1)Work glovesHigh-visibility safety apparel, ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 2 or 3 (Type R near roadways)Personal fall arrest system (harness)Hard hat (ANSI Z89.1)Sun protection (sunscreen, hat, long sleeves)

Plant and equipment

Hand toolsHEPA vacuumExtension ladderTrailer

Permits and plans

Asbestos abatement permit / NESHAP notice (10 working days before demolition)Written fall protection plan (only where guardrails, nets or personal fall arrest are not feasible, 1926.502(k))

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 asbestos abatement

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 asbestos abatement

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

The safe sequence of work

  1. Confirm the licence needed, notify the regulator if required, and tell neighbours
  2. Set up the work area with barriers, signs and plastic sheeting, and close nearby windows
  3. Set up a decontamination point and put on disposable coveralls and a fitted respirator
  4. Have a licensed electrician isolate and disconnect power to anything fixed to the sheets, and check where the service line is attached
  5. Use fall protection when removing from roofs, as sheets are fragile
  6. Wet the sheets and undo fixings by hand, removing sheets whole with no power tools or breaking
  7. Lower sheets carefully; never drop or slide them
  8. Wrap sheets in heavy plastic, label as asbestos waste and take to an approved disposal site
  9. Clean up with an H-class vacuum and wet wipes, then decontaminate
  10. Get a clearance inspection before others enter

Hazards to watch on asbestos abatement

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

Step 5Falling through a fragile roof or skylightA worker steps on a skylight, clear sheet or old fiber cement roof and falls through to the floor below.
Step 5Falling from a roof edgeA worker slips or walks off the edge of a roof or gutter line and falls to the ground.
Step 6Heat stressHard work in hot weather or hot attics causes heat exhaustion or heat stroke, which can kill.
Step 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10Disturbing asbestosIn buildings built before 1981, OSHA presumes pipe and boiler insulation, sprayed or troweled coatings, and asphalt and vinyl flooring contain asbestos, and many other older materials can too. Drilling, cutting or breaking it releases fibers that cause cancer years later.
Step 7Falling tools and materialsTools, materials or debris fall from above and hit someone working or walking below.
Step 1, 2Public entering the work areaMembers of the public, including children, walk into the site and are hit by plant or falling objects, or fall into holes.
Almost certainLikelyPossibleUnlikelyRareHow bad it could be: First aid only to FatalityBA
Highest risk on asbestos abatement: 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 work 6 feet or more above a lower level?
  • Will anyone use a ladder or stepladder?
  • Will anyone work on a roof?
  • Will you use a scaffold or rolling tower?
  • Will you use an aerial lift (scissor lift or boom lift)?

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 asbestos abatement?

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

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

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

Sources