First, describe the work and worksite
A two-person crew will make marked cuts in an existing outdoor slab on grade in a closed contractor yard. The example uses a gasoline-powered walk-behind saw with an integrated water supply. A foreperson coordinates the work and the employer’s silica competent person checks the exposure-control arrangements. This is a fictional planning scenario, not a record of an actual approved job.
- Ground-level, open-air work on a level slab; no public traffic or work at an unprotected edge.
- The cut location and maximum depth must be released against current drawings, utility information, and any required scanning or isolation. Unknown embedded services or post-tensioning mean the cut does not proceed.
- The planned cutting area can be separated from pedestrians and vehicle movements. The crew has a clear exit route and communication with the yard coordinator.
- Water, slurry collection, first-aid arrangements, a suitable fire extinguisher, and the saw manufacturer’s operating instructions are available before setup.
- The scope ends with the cut protected and the area handed over. Breaking out, lifting slabs, excavation, indoor cutting, and handheld saws need a different or expanded analysis.
Build the analysis one step at a time
What will the worker do? How could someone be harmed? What prevents or reduces that exposure? Who checks the control, and when?
1. Confirm the cut location, depth, and surrounding work.
Hazard: The blade could contact concealed electrical services, pipework, reinforcement, or tensioned components, causing shock, release of energy, or structural damage.
Control: Foreperson obtains the required cut release and verifies the marked limits against the site’s investigation and isolation records. Operator follows the released line and depth. Unresolved services or structural uncertainty stop the work.
Verification: Foreperson and operator compare the marked area with the current release before the saw is positioned.
Why this belongs in the analysis: “Check the area” is too vague. A useful control identifies the decision, supporting evidence, and person who can release the cut.
2. Set the work boundary and arrange access.
Hazard: A pedestrian or vehicle could enter the cutting area; a worker could trip over water hoses or slip on slurry.
Control: Foreperson agrees the boundary with the yard coordinator, separates traffic, keeps an exit open, and routes hoses outside walking paths. The second worker monitors the boundary from a safe position. Stop if access separation fails.
Verification: Walk the access and exit route; confirm the boundary remains effective during nearby deliveries.
Why this belongs in the analysis: Worksite conditions belong in the analysis. The same saw can create different exposure when a delivery route crosses the cut.
3. Inspect and set up the saw.
Hazard: A damaged or incompatible blade, missing guard, unstable machine, or unexpected start could injure the operator or nearby people.
Control: Trained operator follows the model-specific inspection and setup instructions. Verify blade suitability and speed rating, guarding, controls, water connections, and machine condition. Remove defective equipment from service; isolate energy before adjustments.
Verification: Operator records the inspection and resolves defects before use; no reaching toward moving parts.
Why this belongs in the analysis: The JHA names what must work. The manufacturer’s instructions supply the equipment-specific setup and isolation method.
4. Establish and maintain the silica control.
Hazard: Cutting concrete can release respirable crystalline silica into the breathing zone of the operator and nearby workers.
Control: For this outdoor walk-behind saw example, use the integrated system to feed water continuously to the blade and operate and maintain it as instructed. The silica competent person checks implementation. Stop cutting if water delivery fails; resolve the fault before restarting.
Verification: Operator confirms delivery at the blade before cutting and watches for loss of flow or unexpected dust; the competent person makes the required inspections.
Why this belongs in the analysis: The control is tied to a specific tool and setting. Changing to a handheld saw or moving indoors changes the silica decision.
5. Make the released cuts.
Hazard: Blade contact or ejected fragments can cause severe injury. Noise can damage hearing; prolonged pushing or awkward posture can cause strain. Engine exhaust may enter nearby occupied areas.
Control: Operator uses the designated operating position and follows the saw instructions, keeping people clear of the blade path. Foreperson selects eye/face, hearing, foot, and other protection for assessed exposure; arrange workable pacing and assistance. Keep exhaust away from doors and air intakes; stop for binding, abnormal vibration, encroachment, or loss of control.
Verification: Crew confirms the agreed stop signal, communication method despite noise, and protection before starting; changes prompt a pause and review.
Why this belongs in the analysis: PPE supports the planned controls. “Wear PPE” alone does not explain how people are kept away from the cutting mechanism.
6. Stop, adjust, move, or refuel the equipment.
Hazard: Stored motion, accidental starting, a hot engine, or spilled fuel can cause contact injury, burns, or fire.
Control: Operator stops the saw and waits for motion to cease. Use the manufacturer’s isolation procedure for servicing or blade changes. Refuel only in the designated location after shutdown and cooling as instructed, with ignition sources controlled and spills addressed.
Verification: Verify the machine is in the required safe state before approaching the blade or fuel system; do not improvise repairs.
Why this belongs in the analysis: Stopping and servicing are separate tasks with different hazards from normal cutting.
7. Collect slurry, protect the cut, and hand over.
Hazard: Wet residue can cause slips; dried residue can become airborne dust. An unprotected cut or unfinished opening can endanger the next crew.
Control: Collect slurry while wet using a suitable method and container; protect drains and follow site disposal arrangements. Use wet cleaning or suitable HEPA vacuuming for remaining residue. Leave cut edges and any opening protected, remove hoses, and tell the receiving crew what remains.
Verification: Foreperson inspects the area and confirms the handover. No dry sweeping or compressed-air cleanup is included in this method.
Why this belongs in the analysis: A useful analysis follows the work through cleanup and the next person’s exposure.
What does a useful control look like?
| Needs improvement | More useful for this scenario |
|---|---|
| Dust — wear a mask. | Name the outdoor walk-behind saw and continuous wet method; stop if water delivery fails. Follow the employer’s silica-control arrangements. |
| Other workers — be careful. | Agree and maintain the cutting boundary; coordinate deliveries and stop if someone enters the work area. |
| Cut safely. | Release the cutting line and depth after service and structural checks; stop when an unknown condition appears. |
Decisions that change the analysis
What silica controls apply to this saw?
OSHA Table 1 specifies an integrated continuous water supply and proper operation/maintenance for walk-behind saws. For outdoor use with the specified controls fully implemented, that row does not require a respirator for the silica task. Indoor/enclosed use and handheld saws have different requirements. When the specified method is not fully implemented, use the applicable alternative exposure-control pathway. Required respirators belong within the respiratory-protection program.
What changes when the cut opens an unexpected void?
Stop the cut and control access. Resolve the service, support and structural questions before revising the cut release and work method. The marked line does not establish that hidden conditions are safe.
Agree when the crew will pause
- Water flow stops or dust behavior changes.
- A different saw, blade, cut depth, or method is proposed.
- An unidentified service, unexpected reinforcement, void, or structural condition is found.
- Traffic enters the boundary, footing becomes unsafe, or the job moves indoors.
- A worker cannot maintain control, communication fails, or a required protective measure is unavailable.
After a pause, correct the condition, reassess the work, and obtain required authorization before restarting. Keep unresolved actions visible.
Download the worked example and free template
No account or paid membership required. The worked example contains planned controls. The blank template is for your own work; neither includes fabricated inspection results, signatures or approval.
Your editable working copy
Build and download your draft
Start blank or load the learning example. Replace its assumptions with your actual conditions and involve the people doing the work. Your entries stay in this browser tab; download a copy before leaving or refreshing.
1. Describe your work and site
2. Work through each task
Describe an observable step, how someone could be harmed, and the control that acts on that hazard. Identify who checks it and what evidence is needed.
3. Record changes, checks, and open actions
Walk the work area, review with the crew, and resolve missing controls. Follow the required approval process. This tool does not judge completeness, verify signatures or authorize work.
Open the downloaded file in a browser, then use Print → Save as PDF for a printable copy.
Common questions
Can I use this as a concrete cutting JSA?
Adapt the task, hazard and control structure if it meets your organization’s JSA format. Record actual responsibilities, reviews and approvals. The title alone does not establish completeness.
Does this cover handheld saws, indoor cutting or slab removal?
No. This example is bounded to an outdoor walk-behind saw. Different tools, indoor locations, structural tasks and slab handling need their own assessment and controls.
Is this a completed USACE AHA?
No. Add and verify the applicable risk assessment, personnel, equipment, inspection and acceptance requirements using the required project process. See the formwork AHA walkthrough for those additional fields.
Are these resources part of a paid course?
This walkthrough, browser draft builder and downloads are free public resources, separate from Academy course enrollment.
References and source note
- OSHA: Respirable crystalline silica, 29 CFR 1926.1153 (including Table 1)
- OSHA: Control of Silica Dust in Construction — Walk-Behind Saws
- OSHA: Occupational noise exposure, 29 CFR 1926.52
- OSHA: Hand and power tools, general requirements, 29 CFR 1926.300
This original walkthrough was informed by review of uploaded examples, then rewritten for the stated fictional scenario using current primary references. It does not reproduce a source document or its approval record. Use actual equipment instructions and site requirements alongside these references. Reference review: October 6, 2026.