Landscaping · United States

JHA for fence installation

By Safety PaperworkBuilt from OSHA standards and guidance · How we write and check theseUpdated November 9, 2026

OSHA expects employers to find and control hazards on every job, and many general contractors require a written JHA for fence 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 hitting underground services, disturbing asbestos, falling through a floor opening or void and being hit by heavy equipment.

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JHA example: fence installation

This is a complete JHA for fence 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)

Fence installation · Landscaping · Example

Document JHA-001 · Rev 1

Job steps, hazards and controls

#	Job step	Hazards	Risk before	Controls	Risk after
1	Get 811 locates and agree the boundary with neighbours	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
2	Check old fencing for asbestos before removal	Disturbing asbestos	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	Medium
3	Dig post holes and cover open holes	Falling through a floor opening or void Being hit by heavy equipment	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 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 Operators are trained and authorized for each machine. Forklift and telehandler operators are trained, evaluated and certified by the employer (29 CFR 1910.178(l), via 1926.602(d)). Administrative Do a pre-start check on each machine every day and record it. Administrative Wear hi-vis clothing and a hard hat. PPE	Medium
4	Set posts in concrete	Wet concrete and cement burns Lifting and carrying heavy loads	High	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 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	Medium
5	Fix rails and sheets, watching sharp edges	Cuts from sharp edges Injury from power tools Saw cuts and kickback	High	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 Keep all guards fitted and working. Never tie back or remove a guard. Engineering Clamp or secure the work piece. Do not hold it by hand. Engineering Only trained, competent people use power tools, following the maker's instructions. Administrative Check tools before use. Unplug or remove the battery before changing blades or bits. Administrative No loose clothing, jewelry or long hair near spinning parts. Administrative 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 Let the blade stop fully before reaching in or putting the saw down. Administrative	Medium
6	Clean up	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)Safety glasses (ANSI Z87.1)Cut-resistant glovesHearing protection (earmuffs or plugs)Sun protection (sunscreen, hat, long sleeves)High-visibility safety apparel, ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 2 or 3 (Type R near roadways)Half-face respirator (P100 cartridges)CoverallsWork glovesHard hat (ANSI Z89.1)Chemical-resistant glovesSafety goggles (ANSI Z87.1)Knee padsN95 respirator

Plant and equipment

ExcavatorCement mixerCircular saw (skill saw)Power drillHand 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 fence 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 fence installation

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

JHA read, explained and signed by everyone on the job
Openings, voids and penetrations covered and marked
811 ticket current and services marked
Asbestos register or survey checked for the work area
Exclusion zone and spotter set up for equipment and traffic
Exclusion zone below the work and public kept out
Weather checked: water, shade and rest breaks planned
First aid / CPR person, first aid kit and emergency number (911) confirmed
PPE checked and worn: safety-toe boots (ASTM F2413), safety glasses (ANSI Z87.1), cut-resistant gloves, hearing protection (earmuffs or plugs)

The safe sequence of work

Get 811 locates and agree the boundary with neighbours
Check old fencing for asbestos before removal
Dig post holes and cover open holes
Set posts in concrete
Fix rails and sheets, watching sharp edges
Clean up

Hazards to watch on fence installation

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

Step 6Sun exposure (UV)Long hours in the sun cause sunburn, eye damage and skin cancer.

Step 4Wet concrete and cement burnsWet concrete, mortar and cement burn skin and eyes. Burns can be deep and are often not felt until later.

Step 1Hitting underground servicesDigging, drilling or driving pegs hits a buried power cable, gas pipe or water main, causing electrocution, explosion or flooding.

Step 3Falling through a floor opening or voidA worker steps into an open hole, stairwell, elevator shaft or floor opening and falls to the level below.

Step 2Disturbing 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 3Being hit by heavy equipmentExcavators, loaders, telehandlers and trucks run over or crush workers, especially when backing up or swinging.

Highest risk on fence 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?

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 fence installation?

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

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