First, describe the work and worksite
A specialist support crew will install engineer-designed vertical adjustable shores, bearing members and required restraint beneath a surveyed existing wood floor in an unoccupied building bay. The accepted sequence includes only the specified contact and load-transfer stage, followed by support handover for a separately planned framing alteration. Floor raising and releveling are excluded. This fictional learning example describes planned controls; it records no actual inspection or work authorization.
- The current support design identifies the full temporary load path, verified receiving foundation, shore models, bearing components, restraint and actual adjustment/acceptance criteria.
- The surveyed floor remains stable for installation under the design’s initial-stage controls; unsafe emergency entry, active collapse and unknown lower-floor capacity are excluded.
- Partial framing-alteration connection: this ends before cutting or replacing members, demolition, raising the floor, later load changes or shore removal.
Questions before work
- What verified foundation receives each shore load, including any required transfer through lower levels?
- How will bearing components and shores remain stable before and during the prescribed load-transfer stage?
- Who accepts the installed support and communicates adjustment, loading and removal restrictions to the alteration crew?
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. Release the temporary load path
Hazard: A shore can punch through an unsuitable floor or support the wrong member despite appearing upright.
Control: Support lead checks the surveyed wood floor and engineer-issued support plan, including initial installation safety and the receiving foundation or required lower-level transfer. Confirm identified models and bearing/restraint details. Hold unverified foundations or changed framing; do not choose shore spacing from a product capacity headline.
Verification: Lead compares the whole support path and installation boundary with current design records.
Why this belongs in the analysis: A rated post cannot establish the capacity of what is above or below it.
2. Prepare controlled installation access
Hazard: Long bearing members or moving shores can strike workers and obstruct escape beneath the floor.
Control: Close the support bay to unrelated work and establish stable routes and the design’s initial-stage protection. Stage components on released locations using planned assistance or handling aids. Keep the intended foundations and escape route clear, and arrange safe reach for overhead bearing without standing on loose support parts.
Verification: Installation lead walks component routes and checks access for every planned support location.
Why this belongs in the analysis: The safe installation arrangement precedes any claimed benefit from the new shores.
3. Inspect and identify the support components
Hazard: Damaged threads, unsuitable heads or mixed equipment can produce unstable bearing or failed locking.
Control: Inspect the identified shores, bearings, bases, heads and restraints against the design and current equipment criteria. Verify model-specific adjustment range and the required locking components without inventing a common extension limit. Remove bent, corroded, incomplete or incompatible parts from service; keep damaged components out of the bay.
Verification: Lead records component identity, condition and compatibility before erection.
Why this belongs in the analysis: Different-looking tops or adjustment hardware can change the intended force path.
4. Erect bearings, shores and restraint
Hazard: An unsecured bearer or partially assembled post can rotate, slide or fall before loading.
Control: Use the issued assembly order, planned handling support and protected work positions. Establish the specified base contact, centered vertical bearing and independent restraint required by the design and actual shore instructions. Secure components progressively; do not use loose packing, an eccentric top or a shore intended only for vertical loads as a lateral brace.
Verification: Support lead checks contact, alignment, restraint and safe adjustment access at the hold point.
Why this belongs in the analysis: Temporary-stage stability is needed before a completed support system carries load.
5. Perform the prescribed load-transfer stage
Hazard: Uncontrolled tightening can raise the structure, overload a support or damage adjacent construction.
Control: Only assigned personnel apply the design’s exact contact/load-transfer procedure with its monitoring and hold points. Check prescribed structure and foundation response and stop for movement outside the criteria. Lock the actual adjustment arrangement as instructed; no generic turn count, jacking force or attempt to level the floor is authorized.
Verification: Designated reviewer compares actual transfer and monitoring findings with the issued criteria.
Why this belongs in the analysis: Making a post feel tight is not an accepted measurement of structural load transfer.
6. Accept and protect the installed support
Hazard: An alteration crew may disturb a shore or begin cutting before support acceptance is complete.
Control: Identify the installed system and protect it from traffic, stock and unauthorized adjustment. Transfer actual inspection and load-transfer records, required ongoing checks and open actions to the responsible reviewer and alteration lead. Keep alteration on hold until the designated acceptance; retain all support and removal restrictions at handover.
Verification: Receiving lead confirms support acceptance and the limits of the next separately released operation.
Why this belongs in the analysis: Support installation ends with a controlled handover, before the structure is altered.
What does a useful control look like?
| Needs improvement | More useful for this scenario |
|---|---|
| Buy enough posts and tighten them until the floor feels supported. | Use the issued whole-load-path design and verified foundations, then complete only its monitored contact/load-transfer stage with designated acceptance. |
| Keep everyone away after the props are in. | Identify and protect the accepted support system, assign its ongoing checks and brief the alteration crew on loading, adjustment and removal restrictions before handing over. |
Decisions that change the analysis
Does this support handover authorize demolition or floor leveling?
No. It establishes the planned temporary support for one separately released alteration. Cutting, replacement, further load transfer, lifting the floor and shore removal each require the applicable design and authorization; they do not follow automatically from tightened posts.
What must the crew record for actual use?
Record the actual work boundary, equipment and materials, responsible people, applicable criteria, control checks and unresolved actions. Keep changed conditions on hold, communicate restrictions to affected crews and obtain the required project authorization before work.
Agree when the crew will pause
- The receiving foundation, surveyed frame, model identity or current support detail cannot be confirmed.
- Bearing contact, restraint, locking or measured response differs from the accepted transfer criteria.
- A request introduces floor raising, member cutting, changed loading, shore adjustment outside the sequence or removal.
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 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.
Training needs to confirm
- Actual engineered shore layout, equipment limits, bearing/restraint arrangement, specified load-transfer hold points and stop criteria.
- Safe component handling, model-specific shore adjustment and locking, support monitoring and protection from interference by other trades.
Confirm applicable qualifications, task instruction and actual training evidence for the people assigned. Related toolbox talks support toolbox talks; they do not establish competence.
Common questions
Can this example be used as a JSA?
Adapt the Task | Hazard | Control sequence to the employer’s JSA format and actual worksite. Name the people who will check controls and record their findings; this learning example supplies no completed field inspection.
What changes if the project requires an AHA?
Use the governing AHA format, risk method, supporting records and acceptance process. The published formwork AHA illustrates that additional structure. Add the actual competencies, inspections and project reviews rather than assuming a renamed JHA meets those requirements.
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
- Ellis Heavy Duty Steel Shores: application requirements
- OSHA 1926.305 Jacks and support after lifting
- OSHA 1926.850 Demolition preparatory operations
Original instructional scenario with planned controls. Primary references support hazard planning. Use actual equipment and product instructions, project design and employer requirements to establish field criteria. This example supplies no inspection findings or work authorization. Use actual equipment instructions and site requirements alongside these references. Reference review: October 9, 2026.