JHA / JSA / AHA builderConcrete Saw Cutting 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 Concrete Saw Cutting JHA
Walk through the job in order. Use these possible hazards, planned controls and checks to start a conversation about your actual work.
011. Confirm the cut location, depth, and surrounding work.
Possible hazards: The blade could contact concealed electrical services, pipework, reinforcement, or tensioned components, causing shock, release of energy, or structural damage.
Planned controls: 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.
Check before work: Foreperson and operator compare the marked area with the current release before the saw is positioned.
022. Set the work boundary and arrange access.
Possible hazards: A pedestrian or vehicle could enter the cutting area; a worker could trip over water hoses or slip on slurry.
Planned controls: 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.
Check before work: Walk the access and exit route; confirm the boundary remains effective during nearby deliveries.
033. Inspect and set up the saw.
Possible hazards: A damaged or incompatible blade, missing guard, unstable machine, or unexpected start could injure the operator or nearby people.
Planned controls: 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.
Check before work: Operator records the inspection and resolves defects before use; no reaching toward moving parts.
044. Establish and maintain the silica control.
Possible hazards: Cutting concrete can release respirable crystalline silica into the breathing zone of the operator and nearby workers.
Planned controls: 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.
Check before work: Operator confirms delivery at the blade before cutting and watches for loss of flow or unexpected dust; the competent person makes the required inspections.
055. Make the released cuts.
Possible hazards: 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.
Planned controls: 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.
Check before work: Crew confirms the agreed stop signal, communication method despite noise, and protection before starting; changes prompt a pause and review.
066. Stop, adjust, move, or refuel the equipment.
Possible hazards: Stored motion, accidental starting, a hot engine, or spilled fuel can cause contact injury, burns, or fire.
Planned controls: 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.
Check before work: Verify the machine is in the required safe state before approaching the blade or fuel system; do not improvise repairs.
077. Collect slurry, protect the cut, and hand over.
Possible hazards: Wet residue can cause slips; dried residue can become airborne dust. An unprotected cut or unfinished opening can endanger the next crew.
Planned controls: 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.
Check before work: Foreperson inspects the area and confirms the handover. No dry sweeping or compressed-air cleanup is included in this method.
Example scope and starting conditions
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.
Know when to 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.
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
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.
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.
Carbon Monoxide: Keep Exhaust Out of the Work →Concrete Saws: Verify the Cut and the Setup →
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
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.
Compare control wording
| 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. |
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.
Developed by Todd Jerome Jenkins, MS, CSP · Edition v1.0 · October 6, 2026
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