# Job Hazard Analysis: Deck construction URL: https://hardhatbinder.com/en/jha/carpentry/deck-construction Last updated: 2026-10-23 Building a wood deck attached to a house: layout, footings, posts, ledger, beams, joists, decking, stairs, and railings. Covers decks with walking surfaces 6 ft or more above grade. Work uses an auger, pneumatic nailer, circular saw, miter saw, drill/impact driver, and 6-ft to 8-ft ladders. > A general example for this task. Your JHA should reflect your crew, equipment and site — review it with a competent person before work starts. ## Steps, hazards and controls ### 1. Lay out the deck, confirm utility locates, and set up power and tools. - **Hitting buried gas, electric, or water lines when digging.** (High): Call 811 before digging and wait for all lines to be marked.; Move footing locations away from marked lines when the design allows.; Hand dig within 18 in. of any marked line. - **Electric shock from damaged extension cords or ungrounded outlets.** (Medium): Plug all tools into a GFCI outlet or portable GFCI.; Inspect cords before use; tag out and remove any with cuts or missing ground pins.; Keep cords out of puddles and off walkways. - **Contact with overhead power lines when carrying long lumber or ladders.** (High): Locate the service drop and overhead lines before work starts and point them out to the crew.; Keep ladders, lumber, and tools at least 10 ft from power lines.; Use fiberglass ladders only. ### 2. Dig footing holes and pour concrete footings. - **Power auger kickback or twisting when the bit hits a rock or root.** (Medium): Use a towable or frame-mounted auger with a torque arm instead of a handheld one when possible.; Run handheld augers with two workers, feet planted, and the kill switch within reach.; Keep loose clothing and gloves away from the spinning bit. - **Chemical burns to skin and eyes from wet concrete.** (Medium): Mix in a wheelbarrow or mixer, not by hand.; Keep clean water on site to rinse skin and eyes right away.; Wear alkali-resistant gloves, safety glasses, and long sleeves; wash off any concrete on skin. - **Back strain from lifting 60-80 lb concrete bags.** (Medium): Use a hand truck or wheelbarrow to move bags.; Lift with your legs and get help for heavy loads. - **Tripping or twisting an ankle in open holes.** (Low): Cover or flag open holes until they are poured. ### 3. Install the ledger board on the house and set the posts. - **Fall from a ladder while installing the ledger.** (Medium): Work from a rolling platform or scaffold instead of a ladder when the ledger is long or high.; Set extension ladders at a 4-to-1 angle on firm, level ground; open stepladders fully and lock the spreaders.; Keep three points of contact and do not stand on the top two steps. - **Drilling into hidden wiring or plumbing inside the house wall.** (Medium): Check inside the house for panels, outlets, and pipes behind the ledger line before drilling.; Shut off the circuit at the panel if wiring is near the drilling area. - **Posts or a heavy ledger falling on workers before they are braced.** (Medium): Brace each post in two directions right after setting it.; Use two workers to lift and hold the ledger while it is fastened. ### 4. Frame the beams and joists. - **Falling 6 ft or more while walking on beams or open joists.** (High): Build as much framing as possible from the ground, then raise it into place.; Install temporary guardrails on open sides, or use a personal fall arrest system tied to a rated anchor.; Lay temporary plywood over joists for a work surface; do not walk the top of joists. - **Nail gun puncture wounds from accidental firing or nails passing through wood.** (High): Use full sequential trigger nailers only.; Keep your free hand at least 12 in. from the nailing point and never point the nailer at anyone.; Disconnect the air hose before clearing jams, moving, or handing off the nailer.; Wear safety glasses at all times when nailing. - **Being struck by dropped lumber, hangers, or tools from above.** (Medium): Keep workers out from under overhead framing work.; Wear a hard hat when anyone is working overhead. ### 5. Cut and install the deck boards. - **Cuts and kickback from the circular saw.** (High): Make repeat cuts on a miter saw with a stand when possible.; Check that the lower blade guard returns freely; never pin it back.; Support boards on both sides of the cut and keep your body out of the blade line.; Unplug the saw before changing blades. - **Falling off the open edge of the deck.** (High): Keep temporary guardrails in place on open sides 6 ft or more above grade until permanent railings are installed.; Work facing the edge, not backing toward it. - **Wood dust, splinters, and noise from cutting treated or composite boards.** (Low): Cut outdoors downwind of the crew and use saws with dust bags when available.; Wear gloves, safety glasses, hearing protection, and a dust mask when cutting.; Wash hands before eating after handling treated lumber. - **Knee and back strain from kneeling and bending.** (Low): Rotate tasks and take short stretch breaks.; Wear knee pads. ### 6. Build the stairs and install the railings. - **Falling from the deck edge or stair opening before railings are complete.** (High): Remove temporary guardrails one section at a time only as permanent rail goes in.; Barricade the stair opening until stairs and handrails are installed.; Use fall arrest when working outside the rail line at 6 ft or more. - **Cuts from the miter saw when cutting balusters and stringers.** (Medium): Clamp short pieces; keep hands at least 6 in. from the blade.; Let the blade stop fully before raising it. - **Ladder tip-over on uneven ground near the stairs.** (Medium): Level the ground or use ladder levelers; never stack blocks under ladder feet. ### 7. Clean up the site and store tools and materials. - **Stepping on nails or tripping over scrap lumber and cords.** (Medium): Pick up scrap and bent nails throughout the day, not just at the end.; Sweep the area with a magnet for loose nails and screws.; Coil cords and hoses and keep paths clear. - **Lumber stacks falling over.** (Low): Stack lumber on level blocking, crossed or banded, no higher than you can safely reach. ## Required PPE - Safety glasses — ANSI Z87.1 at all times on site. - Hard hat — When anyone is working overhead or framing above you. - Work gloves — Leather for lumber; alkali-resistant nitrile for concrete. - Safety-toe work boots — Puncture-resistant soles; rubber boots when pouring concrete. - Hearing protection — Earplugs or earmuffs when running saws, nailers, or the auger. - Dust mask — N95 when cutting treated or composite boards or dumping dry concrete mix. - Full-body harness and lanyard — When working 6 ft or more above grade without guardrails. - Knee pads — When installing deck boards. ## Training - Fall protection training covering guardrails, harness use, and anchors before working at 6 ft or more. - Ladder safety training: setup, angle, and three points of contact. - Hands-on training for pneumatic nailers, including sequential trigger use and clearing jams. - Safe use of circular saws, miter saws, and power augers by a trained person. - Hazard communication on wet concrete and treated lumber, including where to find the SDS. - A competent person on site to inspect fall protection, ladders, and guardrails. ## Emergency If a worker falls: stop work, do not move the injured person unless they are in danger, call 911 and give the full site address, then give first aid until help arrives. For a nail puncture, do not pull the nail out; keep it still and get medical care. ## Official sources - [29 CFR 1926.501](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1926.501) — Duty to have fall protection - [29 CFR 1926.502](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1926.502) — Fall protection systems criteria and practices - [29 CFR 1926.503](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1926.503) — Fall protection training requirements - [29 CFR 1926.1053](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1926.1053) — Ladders - [29 CFR 1926.302](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1926.302) — Power-operated hand tools - [29 CFR 1926.304](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1926.304) — Woodworking tools - [29 CFR 1926.102](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1926.102) — Eye and face protection - [29 CFR 1926.25](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1926.25) — Housekeeping --- Source: HardHat Binder, operated by Leadspire LLC. Templates to be reviewed by a competent person before use; not legal advice; not affiliated with OSHA.