| Step | Potential Hazard | Control |
|---|---|---|
| Plan route and assess work area | High traffic residential streets, blind curves, icy roads, limited daylight | Plan safest route; schedule during daylight; place cones or signage as needed; assign lookout to watch traffic |
| Inspect collection vehicles and equipment | Faulty lights, hydraulic leaks, damaged lift gates, dull chipper blades | Conduct pre trip inspection; verify backup alarms, beacons, and brakes; confirm chipper or grapple truck is in safe condition |
| Don required PPE | Eye injuries, cuts from branches, being struck by vehicles | Wear high visibility vest, gloves, steel toe boots, and safety glasses before entering roadway |
| Position truck safely | Backing hazards, proximity to traffic, soft shoulders | Use spotter when backing; activate hazard lights and beacons; park to provide a protective buffer between crew and traffic |
| Establish work zone | Motorists entering work area, distracted drivers | Use cones, signs, and barricades; maintain a buffer zone around crew; assign lookout to monitor approaching vehicles |
| Inspect each tree before handling | Hidden metal hangers, ornaments, wire, sharp objects | Check for remaining hooks or string lights; remove hazards before loading; avoid handling trees blindly |
| Manual lifting and handling of trees | Back strain, slips on icy pavement, punctures from branches | Lift with legs; team lift larger trees; maintain solid footing; wear cut resistant gloves |
| Load trees into truck, trailer, or chipper | Falling branches, swing hazards, material jam, equipment contact | Keep crew clear of loading path; operate chipper following its specific JSA; ensure trees are fed butt end first when chipping |
| Use grapple truck (if applicable) | Struck by grapple arm, debris drop zone, load swing | Establish exclusion zone; operate slowly; use spotter; never swing over personnel |
| Transport between stops | Load shifting, trees falling off truck, traffic hazards | Secure load; use sideboards or straps if needed; keep speed moderate; maintain full awareness of pedestrians and parked cars |
| Dump collected trees at yard or disposal site | Falling trees, slips on debris, backing hazards | Use designated dump area; employ spotter when backing; unload trees slowly and in a controlled manner |
| Clean up roadway | Branches left behind, trip hazards, blocked storm drains | Remove small debris; clear drains; ensure roadway is safe for motorists and pedestrians |
| Final route check | Missed trees, unsafe debris left curbside | Conduct second pass if required; note locations with improper setouts for follow up |
| Remove traffic control | Crew exposure to motorists | Remove cones and signs in reverse order; maintain lookout; keep PPE on until truck is safely clear |
Hard hat
Safety glasses
High visibility vest or jacket (Class 3 recommended)
Cut resistant gloves
Steel toe boots
Hearing protection when near equipment
Long pants and long sleeves
Always have a complete, well-stocked first aid kit available.
JSA Category: Miscellaneous Operations
* The steps, hazards, and controls displayed above may be incomplete or not suit your department's needs. All job safety analyses should be a completed with frontline worker input to ensure that each potential hazard is identified and mitigated.
Please read about The Essentials Elements of a Solid Job Safety Anaylsis here.
Thank you to our primary sponsor, Roadwurx, which is a simple asset management platform for small public works and road departments.
| Step | Potential Hazard | Control |
|---|---|---|
| Plan route and assess work area | High traffic residential streets, blind curves, icy roads, limited daylight | Plan safest route; schedule during daylight; place cones or signage as needed; assign lookout to watch traffic |
| Inspect collection vehicles and equipment | Faulty lights, hydraulic leaks, damaged lift gates, dull chipper blades | Conduct pre trip inspection; verify backup alarms, beacons, and brakes; confirm chipper or grapple truck is in safe condition |
| Don required PPE | Eye injuries, cuts from branches, being struck by vehicles | Wear high visibility vest, gloves, steel toe boots, and safety glasses before entering roadway |
| Position truck safely | Backing hazards, proximity to traffic, soft shoulders | Use spotter when backing; activate hazard lights and beacons; park to provide a protective buffer between crew and traffic |
| Establish work zone | Motorists entering work area, distracted drivers | Use cones, signs, and barricades; maintain a buffer zone around crew; assign lookout to monitor approaching vehicles |
| Inspect each tree before handling | Hidden metal hangers, ornaments, wire, sharp objects | Check for remaining hooks or string lights; remove hazards before loading; avoid handling trees blindly |
| Manual lifting and handling of trees | Back strain, slips on icy pavement, punctures from branches | Lift with legs; team lift larger trees; maintain solid footing; wear cut resistant gloves |
| Load trees into truck, trailer, or chipper | Falling branches, swing hazards, material jam, equipment contact | Keep crew clear of loading path; operate chipper following its specific JSA; ensure trees are fed butt end first when chipping |
| Use grapple truck (if applicable) | Struck by grapple arm, debris drop zone, load swing | Establish exclusion zone; operate slowly; use spotter; never swing over personnel |
| Transport between stops | Load shifting, trees falling off truck, traffic hazards | Secure load; use sideboards or straps if needed; keep speed moderate; maintain full awareness of pedestrians and parked cars |
| Dump collected trees at yard or disposal site | Falling trees, slips on debris, backing hazards | Use designated dump area; employ spotter when backing; unload trees slowly and in a controlled manner |
| Clean up roadway | Branches left behind, trip hazards, blocked storm drains | Remove small debris; clear drains; ensure roadway is safe for motorists and pedestrians |
| Final route check | Missed trees, unsafe debris left curbside | Conduct second pass if required; note locations with improper setouts for follow up |
| Remove traffic control | Crew exposure to motorists | Remove cones and signs in reverse order; maintain lookout; keep PPE on until truck is safely clear |
Hard hat
Safety glasses
High visibility vest or jacket (Class 3 recommended)
Cut resistant gloves
Steel toe boots
Hearing protection when near equipment
Long pants and long sleeves