Excavation and trenching JHA: job hazard analysis example and generator

An excavation JHA covers utility locates, equipment operation, and the protective system. It also covers spoil placement, access and egress, water and atmosphere hazards, and daily inspections. The references are in 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P (1926.650–1926.652). A protective system is required at 5 feet or deeper, unless the excavation is entirely in stable rock. Under 5 feet, a competent person can decide that there is no sign of a cave-in.

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Draft only. Every JHA is a draft and must be reviewed by a competent person for the specific site before work begins. JHABox is not affiliated with OSHA or the US Department of Labor.

General contractors (GCs) list site work among the tasks that need a written JSA (job safety analysis). The JHA has to show the soil classification, the protective system you will use, and who the competent person is. A competent person can identify the hazards and is authorized to correct them.

Common excavation hazards

Cave-in
Striking buried utilities
Struck by excavators and trucks
Water accumulation and unstable walls
Hazardous atmospheres in deep trenches

Sample excavation hazard table

Sample from the JHABox excavation library. Example task: “Sewer lateral replacement, trench approx. 6 ft deep” at a Florida address. Showing 5 of 11 steps.

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Swipe sideways to see the full table.

#	Job step	Potential hazards	Risk before controls	Controls	Risk after controls	29 CFR reference
1	Locate underground utilities	Striking gas, electric, water or fiber lines Explosion or electrocution from damaged utilities	HHigh	Call 811 (Sunshine 811 in Florida) and wait for all locates before digging Determine estimated utility locations before opening the excavation Hand dig or vacuum excavate near marks	MMedium	1926.651(b)(1) 1926.651(b)(2)
2	Excavator and equipment operation	Workers struck by swinging or reversing equipment Workers under loads lifted by the excavator Contact with overhead power lines	HHigh	Reverse alarms working or a spotter for equipment with obstructed rear view Nobody under loads handled by lifting or digging equipment Keep equipment clear of power lines; check clearances before work Hi-vis vests for anyone exposed to traffic	MMedium	1926.602(a)(9)(ii) 1926.651(e) 1926.600(a)(6) 1926.651(d)
3	Excavate and install protective system	Cave-in burying workers Undermining nearby structures or slabs	HHigh	Protective system (sloping, benching, shoring or trench box) for excavations 5 ft or deeper unless in stable rock Slopes and benching selected and built per the soil classification Support or brace adjacent structures where stability is endangered	MMedium	1926.652(a)(1) 1926.652(b) 1926.651(i)(1)
4	Spoil piles and edge loads	Spoil, tools or materials falling into the trench Equipment too close to the edge	HHigh	Keep spoil and materials at least 2 ft from the edge or use retaining devices Mark equipment set-back distance	MMedium	1926.651(j)(2)
5	Access, egress and walkways	No quick way out during a collapse or flooding Falls into the excavation	HHigh	Ladder, stair or ramp within 25 ft of lateral travel in trenches 4 ft or deeper Walkways with guardrails where people cross over Barricade open excavations at end of shift	MMedium	1926.651(c)(2) 1926.651(l)

Risk = Severity × Likelihood on a 3×3 matrix (1–2 Low, 3–4 Medium, 6–9 High). Citations link to the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR).

Relevant 29 CFR 1926 subparts

PSubpart P: Excavations1926.650–1926.652 OSubpart O: Motor Vehicles, Mechanized Equipment1926.600–1926.606 ESubpart E: Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment1926.95–1926.107 CSubpart C: General Safety and Health Provisions1926.20–1926.35

Key paragraphs we cite

1926.652(a)(1)Adequate protective system for each employee in an excavation
1926.651(c)(2)Ladder or other egress within 25 ft in trenches 4 ft or deeper
1926.651(j)(2)Spoil kept at least 2 ft from the edge (or retained)
1926.651(k)(1)Daily inspections by a competent person, and after rainstorms

Checked against the eCFR (Title 29, as amended through October 14, 2026). Confirm the current text, and any state plan rules that apply to your site.

Florida job sites

Florida: Sunshine 811 and the water table

In Florida, contact Sunshine 811 (call 811 or submit online) at least two full business days before you dig, per Chapter 556, Florida Statutes. A high water table and afternoon rain make water accumulation a daily issue. JHABox excavation drafts add a Florida site note on dewatering and reinspection after rain.

Excavation JHA FAQ

Does OSHA require a written excavation JHA?

Federal OSHA has no construction standard that requires a document called a “JHA” (job hazard analysis). You still have to meet the specific 29 CFR 1926 standards for the work and run the accident-prevention program in 1926.20(b). General contractors (GCs), owners, and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) often require one. USACE calls it an Activity Hazard Analysis.

When is a trench box or shoring required?

1926.652(a)(1) requires a protective system (sloping, benching, shoring or shielding) for each employee in an excavation, unless it is made entirely in stable rock or is less than 5 feet deep and a competent person finds no indication of a potential cave-in.

Can I hand this straight to my general contractor?

Not without review. Every JHABox document is a draft. A competent person (someone who can identify the hazards and is authorized to correct them) has to check it for that site, adjust it to real conditions, and sign it before work starts. JHABox is not affiliated with OSHA.

Is the Spanish version included?

Yes. Pick Spanish on the build form and the whole document comes out in Spanish, including the hazard table, personal protective equipment (PPE) list, and crew sign-off sheet. A paid document includes both languages.

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