| Step | Potential Hazard | Control |
|---|---|---|
| Assess work area | Fast flowing water, unstable banks, deep pools, slippery rocks, wildlife | Conduct site walk through; choose safe access points; avoid undercut banks; assign lookout; monitor water depth and flow |
| Inspect tools and equipment | Damaged chainsaws, dull hand tools, compromised ropes, faulty excavator | Perform pre operation inspection; ensure chainsaws, hand saws, excavators, rakes, and hooks are functioning; check communication devices |
| Don required PPE | Waterborne hazards, sharp debris, insects, falling material | Wear gloves, waders or waterproof boots, hard hat, and safety glasses; apply insect repellent |
| Develop removal plan | Sudden dam breach, downstream flooding, crew in flow path | Determine how much of the dam to remove at once; assign positions; ensure no one is downstream in hazard zone; consider staged removal |
| Establish access and staging area | Equipment rollovers, unstable ground | Place equipment on level ground; avoid working on soft soil; maintain clear paths for workers |
| Control water flow (if required) | Sudden washout, erosion, entrapment | Use partial removal strategy; create pilot channel slowly; never remove dam all at once; allow water to drain gradually |
| Remove debris manually | Sharp branches, unstable footing, entanglement | Use hooks, rakes, and long handled tools; do not stand directly in front of dam; maintain stable footing; pull materials toward the side, not downstream |
| Use chainsaw to cut logs (if needed) | Kickback, water interference, slipping during operation | Only use chainsaw on stable ground; never cut while standing in flowing water; use waterproof PPE and non slip footwear |
| Use excavator for large dams | Falling debris, equipment striking workers, bank failure | Establish exclusion zone; operator must use slow controlled movements; no workers in swing radius or below bucket |
| Monitor water levels continuously | Sudden surge, worker swept downstream | Keep lookout stationed downstream; relocate workers if flow increases unexpectedly; maintain escape routes |
| Remove remaining material slowly | Unexpected movement, rolling logs, hidden cavities | Pull material in small sections; step back after each pull; do not enter voids left by dam removal |
| Inspect for beaver activity or animals | Aggressive beavers, wildlife encounters | Observe area before working; back away slowly if animals are present; do not attempt to handle wildlife |
| Final grading and stabilization | Loose soil, erosion, equipment slips | Regrade banks as needed; place erosion control matting or riprap; ensure equipment operates on stable ground |
| Site cleanup | Trip hazards, debris left in waterway | Remove all tools and debris; ensure channel is clear; dispose of material in approved location |
| Remove traffic control (if roadside) | Worker exposure to moving traffic | Remove cones and signage in reverse order; maintain lookout; keep PPE on until fully clear |
Hard hat
Safety glasses or face shield
High visibility vest or jacket if working roadside
Waterproof boots or chest waders
Cut resistant gloves
Steel toe boots (if using heavy tools or equipment)
Long pants and long sleeves
Hearing protection when using chainsaws or mechanical equipment
Respirator if exposed to decaying organic material or strong odors
Beaver dam removal can be extremely dangerous due to sudden washouts pulling workers with immense force. Workers may be swept downstream or into culverts.
Always have a complete, well-stocked first aid kit available.
JSA Category: Stormwater, Drainage, and Waterways
* 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Assess work area | Fast flowing water, unstable banks, deep pools, slippery rocks, wildlife | Conduct site walk through; choose safe access points; avoid undercut banks; assign lookout; monitor water depth and flow |
| Inspect tools and equipment | Damaged chainsaws, dull hand tools, compromised ropes, faulty excavator | Perform pre operation inspection; ensure chainsaws, hand saws, excavators, rakes, and hooks are functioning; check communication devices |
| Don required PPE | Waterborne hazards, sharp debris, insects, falling material | Wear gloves, waders or waterproof boots, hard hat, and safety glasses; apply insect repellent |
| Develop removal plan | Sudden dam breach, downstream flooding, crew in flow path | Determine how much of the dam to remove at once; assign positions; ensure no one is downstream in hazard zone; consider staged removal |
| Establish access and staging area | Equipment rollovers, unstable ground | Place equipment on level ground; avoid working on soft soil; maintain clear paths for workers |
| Control water flow (if required) | Sudden washout, erosion, entrapment | Use partial removal strategy; create pilot channel slowly; never remove dam all at once; allow water to drain gradually |
| Remove debris manually | Sharp branches, unstable footing, entanglement | Use hooks, rakes, and long handled tools; do not stand directly in front of dam; maintain stable footing; pull materials toward the side, not downstream |
| Use chainsaw to cut logs (if needed) | Kickback, water interference, slipping during operation | Only use chainsaw on stable ground; never cut while standing in flowing water; use waterproof PPE and non slip footwear |
| Use excavator for large dams | Falling debris, equipment striking workers, bank failure | Establish exclusion zone; operator must use slow controlled movements; no workers in swing radius or below bucket |
| Monitor water levels continuously | Sudden surge, worker swept downstream | Keep lookout stationed downstream; relocate workers if flow increases unexpectedly; maintain escape routes |
| Remove remaining material slowly | Unexpected movement, rolling logs, hidden cavities | Pull material in small sections; step back after each pull; do not enter voids left by dam removal |
| Inspect for beaver activity or animals | Aggressive beavers, wildlife encounters | Observe area before working; back away slowly if animals are present; do not attempt to handle wildlife |
| Final grading and stabilization | Loose soil, erosion, equipment slips | Regrade banks as needed; place erosion control matting or riprap; ensure equipment operates on stable ground |
| Site cleanup | Trip hazards, debris left in waterway | Remove all tools and debris; ensure channel is clear; dispose of material in approved location |
| Remove traffic control (if roadside) | Worker exposure to moving traffic | Remove cones and signage in reverse order; maintain lookout; keep PPE on until fully clear |
Hard hat
Safety glasses or face shield
High visibility vest or jacket if working roadside
Waterproof boots or chest waders
Cut resistant gloves
Steel toe boots (if using heavy tools or equipment)
Long pants and long sleeves
Hearing protection when using chainsaws or mechanical equipment
Respirator if exposed to decaying organic material or strong odors
Beaver dam removal can be extremely dangerous due to sudden washouts pulling workers with immense force. Workers may be swept downstream or into culverts.