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Aerial Lift JHA
A JHA breaks the work into steps, hazards and controls. Use this example to build a draft for your actual job and review it with your crew.
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Step 1 of 4 · Working draft
Your job
Tell Jenkins what you’re planning and where the work will happen. Use the actual job details.
Use the published example’s suggestions when they fit your task, or write your own steps. These are planned controls, not verified worksite conditions.
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.
Walk through the plan with the people doing the work. Resolve missing controls and agree who checks them. Moving to the next step does not approve the work.
Confirm people, equipment and emergency arrangements
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.
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Your entries stay in this working draft as you move between steps. Required field checks, employer review and work authorization remain separate.
Your Aerial Lift JHA
Walk through the job in order. Use these possible hazards, planned controls and checks to start a conversation about your actual work.
01Select the lift and plan the work
Possible hazards: Inadequate reach prompts climbing on rails; excess weight or side force destabilizes the platform.
Planned controls: Select equipment that reaches the work from a suitable ground position within its rated envelope. Account for people, tools, material, and the manufacturer’s restrictions. Change the method if the work cannot be done while standing on the basket floor.
Check before work: The supervisor and operator verify reach, combined load, operating limits, and the ability to complete the task from inside the platform.
02Inspect the lift and verify emergency arrangements
Possible hazards: A failed control, damaged guardrail, or unavailable ground operator leaves a worker trapped or unable to descend.
Planned controls: Perform pre-start checks and required control tests using the actual manual, including emergency functions under controlled conditions. Isolate defects. Brief the designated ground person on access to controls, communication, and the planned emergency response.
Check before work: Record actual findings and confirm the emergency method is understood and workable for the location before elevation.
03Prepare and control the work zone
Possible hazards: A wheel enters a weak cover or hole; the boom strikes a passing vehicle or a pedestrian enters the drop zone.
Planned controls: Verify support and position within the machine’s limits. Establish barriers for travel, tail swing, boom movement, and falling objects. Resolve overhead and electrical hazards before raising; coordinate with other trades and vehicle movements.
Check before work: The operator checks the full operating envelope and the supervisor confirms the pedestrian diversion and access control.
04Enter and connect the protection system
Possible hazards: An occupant falls or is ejected; an incompatible connector or external anchorage causes another hazard.
Planned controls: Enter using the designated access and close the gate. Use the selected manufacturer-compatible personal fall-protection system attached to the designated boom/basket anchorage. A full-body harness is required where a fall-arrest system is used; do not attach to a nearby structure.
Check before work: Inspect equipment, confirm compatible connections and fit, and verify the selected system addresses the actual task and rescue needs.
05Elevate, position, and perform the task
Possible hazards: The worker is crushed between rails and the building, contacts electricity, drops a tool, or exceeds operating limits.
Planned controls: Use deliberate movements with a clear view of overhead and adjacent surfaces. Keep feet on the basket floor and tools secured without creating snag hazards. Stop for obstructed visibility, entrapment potential, changing wind, alarms, or exclusion-zone entry; never bypass safety devices.
Check before work: Monitor clearances, platform load, weather, and the condition of the work zone throughout positioning and fastening.
06Lower, reposition, and park
Possible hazards: Travel in an unsuitable elevated configuration causes overturning; people enter while the boom is lowering.
Planned controls: Clear the lowering path and descend using the planned sequence. Move elevated only if the machine is designed for it and its instructions permit the actual conditions; otherwise stow for travel. Park, secure access, and report defects.
Check before work: Confirm safe stowage, removed materials, controlled keys/access, and a clear area before removing barriers.
Example scope and starting conditions
Fictional example: an authorized operator uses an articulating boom lift to inspect and fasten a small exterior sign from inside the basket. The machine works from a designated paved area beside a building; pedestrians normally pass nearby. The sign and tools fit within the approved platform arrangement. The example excludes energized electrical work, exiting the basket at height, using the boom as a crane, and scissor-lift work. Machine-specific instructions remain essential.
- Record the lift make/model, configuration, capacity, operating limits, inspection requirements, and applicable manufacturer instructions; do not copy another model’s wind or slope limits.
- Identify ground support, slopes, drains, covers, underground voids, vehicle interfaces, the whole boom-swing envelope, and potential overhead entrapment points.
- Identify electrical sources and establish required controls before approaching them. A nonconductive-looking basket does not establish insulation or authorization for electrical work.
- Plan the selected fall-protection system, approved anchor points, compatible equipment, clearance where relevant, and emergency lowering/rescue arrangements with assigned trained personnel.
Know when to pause
- Reassess for a different machine, surface, work position, material, weather condition, or nearby activity.
- Stop for alarms, defects, loss of visibility, electrical uncertainty, a failed barrier, or an unworkable emergency arrangement.
After a pause, correct the condition, reassess the work, and obtain required authorization before restarting.
Free example and 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.
Worked exampleNeed help? Ask Jenkins
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For managers
Does the team have what it needs to carry out the plan? Give the crew time, equipment and support, and make it clear who will resolve anything that is missing.
Manager checks and supporting resources
Confirm the people doing the work have the time, equipment, information and support to carry out the plan. Agree who checks the controls and who resolves open actions.
Decisions that change the plan
The worker can almost reach by leaning over the rail. What changes?
Stop the task and lower/reposition as required. Confirm a suitable work position without climbing or overreaching before continuing.
The assigned ground person leaves. Can the operator continue?
Pause work that depends on that person until the planned emergency and communication coverage is restored. Reassign and brief a suitable replacement.
Keep planning connected
Resources that support this JHA
Additional tools for task planning and safe work. Start with the free resources; explore paid options only when they meet an additional need.
Toolbox talks for the work
Prepare a practical crew discussion.
Aerial Lifts: Check the Machine and Work Area →Gutters and Downspouts: Verify Access and Material Control →
Safety program resources
Review procedures, roles, and requirements.
Browse the existing catalog and confirm the scope and purchase availability of each program.
Browse safety programs →
Paid service · Availability
Task-specific training and qualifications
Explore applicable training and qualification needs.
Task-specific training services are not currently available to book here. Start with the free training-needs lookup; a toolbox talk or online course alone does not establish competence or employer authorization.
Review training needs · Free →People, equipment, emergency arrangements and open actions are recorded in the guided JHA’s Crew review step.
Open the crew review step →For safety professionals
How do we know the planning process and controls are working? Connect what the crew reports with field checks, risk decisions and the evidence behind your system.
Industry context, SIF, control verification and AHA review
Guidance and evidence
Review the method, risk decisions and evidence behind the plan. Use the actual jurisdiction, equipment instructions, employer process and project requirements.
Task-by-task control and verification rationale
Select the lift and plan the work
Hazard: Inadequate reach prompts climbing on rails; excess weight or side force destabilizes the platform.
Control: Select equipment that reaches the work from a suitable ground position within its rated envelope. Account for people, tools, material, and the manufacturer’s restrictions. Change the method if the work cannot be done while standing on the basket floor.
Verification: The supervisor and operator verify reach, combined load, operating limits, and the ability to complete the task from inside the platform.
Why this belongs in the analysis: Equipment selection removes pressure to compensate for a poor setup by overreaching.
Inspect the lift and verify emergency arrangements
Hazard: A failed control, damaged guardrail, or unavailable ground operator leaves a worker trapped or unable to descend.
Control: Perform pre-start checks and required control tests using the actual manual, including emergency functions under controlled conditions. Isolate defects. Brief the designated ground person on access to controls, communication, and the planned emergency response.
Verification: Record actual findings and confirm the emergency method is understood and workable for the location before elevation.
Why this belongs in the analysis: Knowing an emergency button exists is different from being prepared to use the machine’s recovery procedure.
Prepare and control the work zone
Hazard: A wheel enters a weak cover or hole; the boom strikes a passing vehicle or a pedestrian enters the drop zone.
Control: Verify support and position within the machine’s limits. Establish barriers for travel, tail swing, boom movement, and falling objects. Resolve overhead and electrical hazards before raising; coordinate with other trades and vehicle movements.
Verification: The operator checks the full operating envelope and the supervisor confirms the pedestrian diversion and access control.
Why this belongs in the analysis: The exposure area includes more than the patch of pavement directly beneath the basket.
Enter and connect the protection system
Hazard: An occupant falls or is ejected; an incompatible connector or external anchorage causes another hazard.
Control: Enter using the designated access and close the gate. Use the selected manufacturer-compatible personal fall-protection system attached to the designated boom/basket anchorage. A full-body harness is required where a fall-arrest system is used; do not attach to a nearby structure.
Verification: Inspect equipment, confirm compatible connections and fit, and verify the selected system addresses the actual task and rescue needs.
Why this belongs in the analysis: Guardrails and personal protection perform different functions on a boom-supported platform.
Elevate, position, and perform the task
Hazard: The worker is crushed between rails and the building, contacts electricity, drops a tool, or exceeds operating limits.
Control: Use deliberate movements with a clear view of overhead and adjacent surfaces. Keep feet on the basket floor and tools secured without creating snag hazards. Stop for obstructed visibility, entrapment potential, changing wind, alarms, or exclusion-zone entry; never bypass safety devices.
Verification: Monitor clearances, platform load, weather, and the condition of the work zone throughout positioning and fastening.
Why this belongs in the analysis: A suitable starting position can become unsafe as the boom articulates or the task shifts.
Lower, reposition, and park
Hazard: Travel in an unsuitable elevated configuration causes overturning; people enter while the boom is lowering.
Control: Clear the lowering path and descend using the planned sequence. Move elevated only if the machine is designed for it and its instructions permit the actual conditions; otherwise stow for travel. Park, secure access, and report defects.
Verification: Confirm safe stowage, removed materials, controlled keys/access, and a clear area before removing barriers.
Why this belongs in the analysis: The last movement still needs clearance and ground checks even though the elevated work is finished.
Compare control wording
| Needs improvement | More useful for this scenario |
|---|---|
| Fall hazard: wear a harness. | Select the compatible system, attach to the designated lift anchorage, check fit and connections, and plan emergency recovery. |
| Ground: watch for holes. | Inspect and verify support throughout the machine route and operating envelope, and exclude weak covers or unverified surfaces. |
Common questions
Is this also a scissor-lift JHA?
No. This example covers an articulating boom platform. Scissor lifts have different configurations and applicable scaffold requirements. Use their manufacturer instructions and a separate task assessment rather than transferring every boom-lift rule.
Can someone stand on a ladder in the basket?
No. Workers should remain on the platform floor. If the work cannot be reached that way within the machine’s limits, reposition safely or choose another suitable access method.
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
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.
Developed by Todd Jerome Jenkins, MS, CSP · Edition v1.0 · October 6, 2026
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