12 Aug Severe Weather – JSA

Severe Weather Job Safety Analysis (JSA)

Job / Task

Planning for, monitoring, suspending, securing, and resuming construction, maintenance, field, and outdoor work when severe or rapidly changing weather may affect employee safety.

Purpose

This Job Safety Analysis (JSA), also known as a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA), identifies hazards associated with severe weather and establishes safe work practices and controls for thunderstorms and lightning, high winds, heavy rain, flooding, hail, tornadoes, snow, ice, extreme temperatures, reduced visibility, and other hazardous weather conditions.

Personnel Qualifications

Employees shall understand site emergency procedures, weather-related hazards, warning methods, designated shelters, evacuation routes, and stop-work expectations applicable to their work.

Employees shall:

• Monitor changing weather conditions and promptly report hazardous conditions to supervision.
• Know how site weather alerts, emergency notifications, alarms, or other warning systems are communicated.
• Know the location of designated shelters, evacuation routes, and assembly areas.
• Follow supervisor or emergency-response instructions when work is suspended or evacuation is ordered.
• Stop work and seek appropriate shelter when severe weather creates an imminent hazard.
• Do not resume work until conditions have been evaluated and authorization to resume has been given.
• Inspect work areas, equipment, temporary structures, and access routes after severe weather before restarting operations.

Required PPE

PPE shall be selected based on the work activity and weather conditions and may include:

• Hard hat where head, overhead, or falling-object hazards exist.
• Safety glasses with side protection.
• Safety footwear with appropriate toe protection and slip-resistant soles.
• High-visibility apparel where vehicles or mobile equipment are present.
• Weather-resistant or waterproof clothing.
• Cold-weather clothing, insulated gloves, and other thermal protection as required.
• Sun and heat-protective clothing as appropriate.
• Additional task-specific PPE required by the work activity or site.

PPE does not make it safe to continue work during dangerous weather. Work shall be suspended, employees relocated, or shelter used whenever weather hazards cannot be adequately controlled.

JSA – Job Steps, Hazards, and Controls

Step 1 – Review Weather and Emergency Procedures Before Work

Potential Hazards

• Unanticipated severe weather.
• Employees unaware of shelter locations.
• Delayed response to warnings.
• Inadequate emergency planning.

Required Controls

• Review forecast and site-specific weather concerns before beginning outdoor or weather-sensitive work.
• Identify designated shelters, evacuation routes, assembly areas, and emergency communication methods.
• Determine who has authority to suspend and resume work.
• Discuss weather-related stop-work criteria during the pre-task briefing when severe weather is possible.
• Plan for employees working in remote or dispersed locations.

Step 2 – Monitor Changing Weather Conditions

Potential Hazards

• Rapidly developing storms.
• Lightning.
• High winds.
• Heavy precipitation.
• Temperature changes.
• Reduced visibility.

Required Controls

• Monitor reliable weather information and observable site conditions throughout the work period.
• Watch for darkening skies, thunder, lightning, rapidly increasing wind, sudden temperature changes, rising water, or other warning signs.
• Communicate significant changes to affected employees.
• Increase monitoring when hazardous weather is forecast or developing.
• Do not rely solely on visual observation when other warning systems are available.

Step 3 – Respond to Thunderstorms and Lightning

Potential Hazards

• Lightning strike.
• Electrical injury.
• Fire.
• Employees exposed in open areas or near tall objects.

Required Controls

• Suspend exposed outdoor work when lightning presents a hazard in accordance with site procedures and available weather information.
• Move employees to a substantial enclosed building or other designated safe shelter.
• Avoid isolated trees, open fields, rooftops, elevated locations, conductive fencing, and other exposed locations.
• Do not use open-sided shelters or equipment merely as a substitute for designated lightning shelter unless site procedures establish it as appropriate.
• Resume work only after the site-established all-clear criteria have been met.

Step 4 – Respond to High Winds

Potential Hazards

• Falling or flying objects.
• Unstable ladders or scaffolds.
• Crane or aerial-lift instability.
• Loss of material control.
• Temporary-structure failure.

Required Controls

• Secure loose tools, materials, signs, covers, debris, and lightweight equipment.
• Suspend elevated work, lifting operations, crane use, aerial-lift work, or other activities when wind exceeds equipment limitations or makes the task unsafe.
• Follow manufacturer wind limitations for cranes, aerial lifts, scaffolds, temporary structures, and other equipment.
• Keep employees clear of trees, temporary structures, suspended loads, and materials that could fall or become airborne.
• Inspect affected equipment and structures before reuse.

Step 5 – Respond to Heavy Rain

Potential Hazards

• Slips and falls.
• Reduced visibility.
• Electrical hazards.
• Soft or unstable ground.
• Flooding or erosion.

Required Controls

• Reduce or suspend work when rainfall prevents safe footing, visibility, equipment operation, or hazard recognition.
• Protect electrical equipment and temporary power from water exposure as required.
• Inspect slopes, excavations, trenches, access roads, and walking surfaces for erosion or instability.
• Keep drainage paths clear where practical.
• Do not enter areas where water obscures hazards or creates uncertain footing.

Step 6 – Respond to Flooding or Rising Water

Potential Hazards

• Drowning.
• Vehicle washout.
• Hidden drop-offs.
• Electrical hazards.
• Contaminated water.
• Rapidly changing conditions.

Required Controls

• Move employees, vehicles, equipment, and materials away from areas subject to flooding when safe to do so.
• Do not walk, drive, or operate equipment through moving or unknown-depth floodwater.
• Keep employees away from flooded electrical equipment and downed power lines.
• Barricade or restrict access to flooded or washed-out areas.
• Follow evacuation instructions promptly when flooding threatens the site.
• Inspect affected areas before re-entry.

Step 7 – Respond to Tornado or Extreme Wind Warning

Potential Hazards

• Structural failure.
• Flying debris.
• Vehicle overturn.
• Falling trees or utilities.
• Employees caught outdoors.

Required Controls

• Stop work and proceed immediately to the designated tornado or severe-weather shelter when directed by site procedures or emergency warnings.
• Use an interior, lower-level, structurally appropriate shelter away from windows when available.
• Do not remain in temporary structures, trailers, elevated equipment, or exposed outdoor areas when they are unsafe for the event.
• Account for personnel when required by the emergency plan.
• Remain sheltered until the all-clear is given.

Step 8 – Respond to Hail

Potential Hazards

• Head or eye injuries.
• Broken glass.
• Slippery surfaces.
• Vehicle or equipment damage.

Required Controls

• Suspend exposed outdoor work when hail creates an injury hazard.
• Move employees to suitable shelter.
• Stay away from windows where large hail or wind-driven debris could break glass.
• Inspect walking surfaces and equipment after the event before resuming work.

Step 9 – Work in Snow or Ice Conditions

Potential Hazards

• Slips and falls.
• Vehicle skidding.
• Reduced visibility.
• Cold exposure.
• Snow or ice falling from structures.

Required Controls

• Remove or treat snow and ice from required walking and working surfaces where practical.
• Use appropriate footwear and maintain three points of contact when climbing.
• Reduce vehicle and equipment speeds for conditions.
• Keep employees clear of areas where accumulated snow or ice may fall.
• Maintain safe access to exits, stairs, emergency equipment, and work areas.
• Suspend work when traction or visibility cannot be adequately maintained.

Step 10 – Manage Extreme Heat

Potential Hazards

• Heat stress or heat illness.
• Dehydration.
• Fatigue.
• Reduced concentration.

Required Controls

• Follow the applicable heat illness prevention or thermal-stress program.
• Provide access to drinking water and encourage adequate hydration.
• Use shade, rest breaks, acclimatization, work scheduling, and other controls appropriate to conditions.
• Monitor employees for signs and symptoms of heat illness.
• Immediately respond to suspected heat illness in accordance with emergency procedures.
• Modify or suspend work when heat hazards cannot be adequately controlled.

Step 11 – Manage Extreme Cold

Potential Hazards

• Cold stress.
• Frostbite or hypothermia.
• Reduced dexterity.
• Slips on ice.
• Equipment malfunction.

Required Controls

• Use layered, weather-appropriate clothing and protect exposed skin.
• Provide warming opportunities and adjust work/rest practices as conditions require.
• Monitor employees for signs and symptoms of cold stress.
• Keep clothing as dry as practical and replace wet clothing when necessary.
• Use extra caution when reduced dexterity affects tool or equipment control.
• Modify or suspend work when cold hazards cannot be adequately controlled.

Step 12 – Secure the Worksite Before Severe Weather

Potential Hazards

• Loose materials becoming airborne.
• Equipment damage.
• Unstable temporary structures.
• Chemical or waste release.
• Blocked drainage.

Required Controls

• Secure tools, materials, temporary signs, fencing, covers, containers, and other items that could move during severe weather.
• Lower or secure elevated equipment and attachments as appropriate.
• Close and secure chemical, fuel, and waste containers.
• Protect unfinished work and openings from foreseeable weather exposure.
• Move equipment from flood-prone or unstable areas when safe and practical.
• Do not delay evacuation or sheltering to protect property when employee safety is at risk.

Step 13 – Travel or Operate Vehicles During Severe Weather

Potential Hazards

• Vehicle collision.
• Hydroplaning or skidding.
• Poor visibility.
• Flooded roadways.
• Falling debris.

Required Controls

• Reduce speed and increase following distance for conditions.
• Use headlights and other required vehicle safety systems.
• Do not drive through flooded roadways or around barricades.
• Pull over or suspend travel when visibility, wind, precipitation, or road conditions make continued travel unsafe.
• Park away from trees, power lines, flood-prone areas, or other hazards when practical.

Step 14 – Inspect the Site After Severe Weather

Potential Hazards

• Downed power lines.
• Damaged structures.
• Unstable scaffolds or ladders.
• Flooding.
• Debris.
• Erosion or excavation collapse.

Required Controls

• Do not automatically resume work when weather subsides.
• Conduct an inspection of affected work areas before employees re-enter or resume operations.
• Look for downed or damaged utilities, unstable structures, standing water, damaged access routes, displaced traffic controls, debris, and equipment damage.
• Have competent or qualified personnel inspect specialized systems or structures when required.
• Barricade unsafe areas until hazards are corrected.

Step 15 – Resume Work

Potential Hazards

• Residual hazards.
• Premature restart.
• Damaged equipment.
• Changed site conditions.

Required Controls

• Resume work only after weather conditions and affected work areas have been evaluated.
• Verify required traffic controls, guards, barriers, access routes, utilities, equipment, and emergency systems are functional.
• Conduct a new pre-task assessment when conditions or the scope of work have changed.
• Communicate the all-clear and any revised controls to affected employees.
• Continue monitoring conditions after work resumes.

General Safe Work Requirements

• Weather conditions shall be evaluated before and throughout outdoor or weather-sensitive work.
• Employees shall know the site’s severe-weather warning methods, shelters, evacuation routes, and emergency procedures.
• Manufacturer weather and wind limitations shall be followed for cranes, aerial lifts, scaffolds, temporary structures, and other equipment.
• Employees shall not remain exposed solely to protect tools, materials, vehicles, or equipment when severe weather requires shelter or evacuation.
• Do not approach downed power lines, damaged electrical systems, flooded electrical equipment, or other energized hazards.
• Do not walk or drive through moving or unknown-depth floodwater.
• Secure loose materials and temporary installations before severe weather when time and conditions permit.
• Work shall be suspended when weather prevents safe visibility, footing, equipment control, communication, or hazard recognition.
• Work areas and equipment affected by severe weather shall be inspected before use or re-entry.
• Employees may stop work and seek shelter whenever they reasonably believe severe weather presents an immediate danger.

Training

Employees shall receive training appropriate to the severe-weather hazards that may affect their work. Training shall include recognition of severe-weather conditions, warning and notification methods, lightning and high-wind precautions, flooding, tornado response, heat and cold stress, designated shelters, evacuation procedures, site securing, post-weather inspections, emergency communication, and stop-work expectations.

References

• OSHA 29 CFR 1926.20 – General Safety and Health Provisions.
• OSHA 29 CFR 1926.21 – Safety Training and Education.
• OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart E – Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment.
• OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart K – Electrical.
• OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart L – Scaffolds, where applicable.
• OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart M – Fall Protection, where applicable.
• OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC – Cranes and Derricks in Construction, where applicable.
• Applicable manufacturer instructions and site emergency-action procedures.