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HVAC · United States

JHA for central air installation

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 central air installation 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 disturbing asbestos, electric shock from live wiring, falling through a floor opening or void and heat stress.

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JHA example: central air installation

This is a complete JHA for central air installation, 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.

Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)
Ducted AC unit installation · HVAC · Example
Document JHA-001 · Rev 1

Job steps, hazards and controls

#Job stepHazardsRisk beforeControlsRisk after
1Check the roof space for asbestos, cables and access
  • Disturbing asbestos
  • Electric shock from live wiring
  • Tight spaces: attics and crawl spaces
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
  • 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)
  • Electric shock from live wiring: see step 6 for the full controls Administrative
  • Do as much of the work as you can from outside the tight space. Elimination
  • Turn the power off at the panel before entering where you can, as damaged wiring may be live. Engineering (guarding)
  • Lay crawl boards across the joists so you cannot step through the ceiling. Engineering
  • Set up ventilation and lighting in the space. Engineering
  • Limit time in hot attics and take breaks somewhere cool. Administrative
Medium
2Work in the roof space early in the day, with breaks and water
  • Heat stress
  • Confined space entry
High
  • 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
  • Watch each other for dizziness, headache, confusion or stopping sweating. Stop work, cool down and get help. Administrative
  • Have a hot weather plan, including when work stops. Administrative
  • In California, Washington, Oregon and Maryland, follow the state heat illness rule: written plan, shade, water, rest and high-heat procedures. Administrative
  • Wear light, loose, long-sleeved clothing, a hat or brim, and sunscreen. PPE
  • 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
  • Use a permit-required confined space program with a written entry permit (29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA). 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
Medium
3Lift the indoor unit into the roof with a hoist or team
  • Lifting and carrying heavy loads
  • Falling tools and materials
High
  • 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
  • Rotate tasks and take breaks on long lifting jobs. Administrative
  • Wear gloves for grip and safety boots to protect your feet. PPE
  • 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
  • Lower materials with a hoist, chute or rope. Never throw or drop anything down. Administrative
  • Wear a hard hat anywhere objects could fall. PPE
Medium
4Walk on joists or crawl boards only
  • Falling through a floor opening or void
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
  • 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
5Install ducts, cutting with care and wearing gloves and a mask for insulation
  • Cuts from sharp edges
  • General dust
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
  • Use low-dust products, such as dust-reduced or pre-mixed compounds. Substitution
  • Seal off the work area with plastic sheeting in occupied buildings. Engineering (guarding)
  • Use tools with dust extraction and a vacuum for clean up. Engineering
  • Lightly mist the area with water to keep dust down, away from anything electrical. Engineering
  • Never dry sweep or blow dust off with compressed air. Administrative
  • Wear a dust mask and safety glasses. PPE
Low
6Connect refrigerant and power, test and commission
  • Refrigerant leaks
  • Electric shock from live wiring
  • Pressure testing
Critical
  • Recover refrigerant into an approved cylinder before opening the system. Never vent it. Engineering (guarding)
  • Ventilate closed spaces and use a leak detector during the work. Engineering
  • Only EPA Section 608 certified technicians handle refrigerants. Administrative
  • With flammable refrigerants (such as R32 or R290), remove ignition sources and use spark-free tools. Administrative
  • Wear cold-rated gloves and safety glasses or a face shield. PPE
  • 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
  • Test with water instead of air or gas where the system allows it. Never put water in refrigerant pipework, which is tested with dry nitrogen. Substitution
  • Keep people out of the test area with signs and barriers. Engineering (guarding)
  • Use a calibrated gauge and a relief valve set to protect the system. Engineering
  • Test to the pressure the system calls for and hold it for the set time. Never go over. Administrative
  • Release the pressure fully before tightening anything or fixing leaks. Administrative
Medium

PPE

Safety-toe boots (ASTM F2413)Safety glasses (ANSI Z87.1)Cut-resistant glovesN95 respiratorPersonal fall arrest system (harness)Half-face respirator (P100 cartridges)CoverallsWork glovesRubber insulating glovesArc flash PPE (NFPA 70E)Knee padsHard hat (ANSI Z89.1)Sun protection (sunscreen, hat, long sleeves)Face shield (ANSI Z87.1)

Plant and equipment

Power drillHand toolsPlatform ladderMobile 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)Electrical test meter

Permits and plans

Lockout/tagout (1926.417)

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 central air installation

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 central air installation

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 roof space for asbestos, cables and access
  2. Work in the roof space early in the day, with breaks and water
  3. Lift the indoor unit into the roof with a hoist or team
  4. Walk on joists or crawl boards only
  5. Install ducts, cutting with care and wearing gloves and a mask for insulation
  6. Connect refrigerant and power, test and commission

Hazards to watch on central air installation

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

Step 1Tight spaces: attics and crawl spacesCrawling through attics, crawl spaces or tight ceilings leads to falls through the ceiling, heat stress, shocks and cuts.
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 6Refrigerant leaksRefrigerant gas causes frostbite, pushes oxygen out of small rooms, and some types catch fire.
Step 6Pressure testingA pipe, fitting or cap fails under test pressure and blows apart, hitting people nearby.
Step 2Heat stressHard work in hot weather or hot attics causes heat exhaustion or heat stroke, which can kill.
Step 4Falling through a floor opening or voidA worker steps into an open hole, stairwell, elevator shaft or floor opening and falls to the level below.
Almost certainLikelyPossibleUnlikelyRareHow bad it could be: First aid only to FatalityBA
Highest risk on central air installation: Critical before controls (B), down to Medium after controls (A), on the United States 5 by 5 risk matrix (possible 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?
  • Is there a skylight, fiberglass panel or other fragile roofing?
  • Will you use a scaffold or rolling tower?

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 1926.1101 and 40 CFR 61 Subpart M (NESHAP); 29 CFR 1926 Subpart K; OSH Act Section 5(a)(1) General Duty Clause; state heat rules where they apply (Cal/OSHA T8 3395, WA WAC 296-62-095, OR OAR 437-002-0156, MD COMAR 09.12.32); 29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA; 29 CFR 1926.501(c); 29 CFR 1926 Subpart M; 40 CFR Part 82 Subpart F (Section 608).

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 central air installation?

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

Usually Safety-toe boots (ASTM F2413), Safety glasses (ANSI Z87.1), Cut-resistant gloves, N95 respirator, Personal fall arrest system (harness), Half-face respirator (P100 cartridges), Coveralls, Work gloves, Rubber insulating gloves, Arc flash PPE (NFPA 70E), Knee pads, Hard hat (ANSI Z89.1), Sun protection (sunscreen, hat, long sleeves), Face shield (ANSI Z87.1). 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