Job Hazard Analysis · Roofing

Job Hazard Analysis: Roof leak repair

Repair of a leak on a sloped asphalt-shingle roof, usually a 1–2 story house or small building. Crew accesses the roof by extension ladder, finds the leak, removes damaged shingles, flashing, or underlayment, and installs new material and sealant. Roof edge is 6 ft or more above the ground. Work is outdoors and exposed to sun, heat, rain, wind, and storms.

Published 2026-10-23

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

Step	Hazard	Risk	Controls
1. Check the site and weather and set up the work area	Lightning, rain, or high wind making the roof wet or unstable	High	Check the forecast before leaving the shop; reschedule if storms or wind over 25 mph are expected. If you hear thunder, get off the roof and into a vehicle or building. Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back up. Do not work on wet, icy, or frosty shingles. Wait until the roof is dry.
	Overhead power lines near the ladder spot or roof edge	High	Walk the site and find all overhead lines and the service drop before unloading the ladder. Set the ladder and carry material at least 10 ft away from power lines. Use a fiberglass ladder, not aluminum. If work must be closer, stop and have the supervisor call the utility to de-energize or cover the lines.
	Tools and shingles falling onto people below	Medium	Mark off the drop zone under the work area with caution tape or cones and keep the homeowner, kids, and pets out. Ground crew wears a hard hat inside the marked zone.
2. Set up and climb the extension ladder	Ladder slipping, kicking out, or tipping while climbing	High	Inspect the fiberglass extension ladder for cracked rails, bent rungs, and worn feet; tag and remove a damaged ladder. Set it on firm, level ground at a 4-to-1 angle (1 ft out for every 4 ft up) and extend it 3 ft above the roof edge. Tie off the top to the gutter bracket or a ladder stabilizer and have a coworker hold the base until it is secured. Keep 3 points of contact. Do not carry tools or bundles in your hands; use a tool belt or hoist material with a rope.
2. Set up and climb the extension ladder	Fall while stepping from the ladder onto the roof	High	Step off only where the ladder extends 3 ft above the edge and hold the rails while you step. Clip into the lifeline or anchor as soon as you reach it; do not walk the roof untied.
3. Install roof anchor and fall arrest system	Falling off the roof edge before protection is in place	High	Install the first roof anchor at the ridge near the ladder, working from the ladder or staying as far from the edge as you can. Screw or nail the anchor into a rafter or truss, not just the decking, following the maker's instructions. Inspect the harness, lanyard or rope grab, and lifeline for cuts, burns, and bad hardware before each use. Adjust the lifeline length so you cannot reach or go over the roof edge.
4. Find the leak (roof surface and attic)	Stepping through rotted or soft decking at the leak	High	Check the attic first to see how big the wet or rotted area is. Do not stand on soft, spongy, or stained decking. Walk over rafters, and lay a plank across the rafters if needed. Stay tied off the whole time you are on the roof.
4. Find the leak (roof surface and attic)	Attic heat, exposed nails, and fiberglass insulation	Medium	Go in the attic early in the day; limit time in a hot attic and come out to cool off and drink water. Step only on joists or a board, use a work light, and wear a hard hat for roofing nails sticking through. Wear long sleeves, gloves, safety glasses, and an N95 dust mask around insulation.
5. Remove damaged shingles, flashing, and underlayment	Cuts from utility knife, flat bar, and sharp metal flashing	Medium	Use a hook-blade utility knife with a sharp blade and cut away from your body and hands. Wear cut-resistant work gloves when handling metal flashing.
5. Remove damaged shingles, flashing, and underlayment	Slipping on loose shingles, granules, and debris	Medium	Drop torn-off material straight into a bag or bucket, or into a dumpster or tarp below the marked zone. Do not leave it on the roof. Sweep loose granules off your walking path and install a toe board or roof jack board below the work area on steep roofs. Wear soft-soled, slip-resistant boots.
6. Install new underlayment, flashing, shingles, and sealant	Pneumatic coil roofing nailer injuries (nail in hand or foot, double fire)	Medium	For small repairs, hand-nail with a roofing hammer instead of using the nailer. If you use the nailer, use sequential (single-shot) trigger mode and keep the safety tip working; never tape or bypass it. Keep your hand at least 6 in from the nose, disconnect air before clearing jams, and keep the hose off walking paths. Wear safety glasses at all times while nailing.
	Roofing cement, sealant, and primer (skin and eye contact, vapors, flammable)	Low	Read the SDS and label before use; choose low-VOC sealant when it works for the repair. Keep cans closed, away from sparks and cigarettes, and do not smoke while using them. Wear nitrile gloves and safety glasses; wash hands before eating.
	Heat illness on a hot roof	High	Schedule roof work for the morning on hot days. Drink water every 15 minutes, take shade breaks, and give new workers time to get used to the heat. Watch each other for dizziness, confusion, cramps, or stopping sweating; get that person off the roof and cooled down right away.
7. Test the repair, clean up, and come down	Slipping on a wet roof during the water test	Medium	Run the hose from the ground or from above the repair while staying tied off; do not walk on wet shingles. Have a second worker check the attic for drips instead of you climbing down and back up.
	Fall while removing the anchor and climbing down the ladder	High	Lower tools and debris with a rope first, then remove the anchor last while staying near the ladder. Seal the anchor nail holes and climb down facing the ladder with 3 points of contact.
	Nails and debris left on the ground	Low	Sweep the yard and driveway with a magnetic sweeper and bag all debris.

Required PPE

Full-body harness with lanyard or rope grab — At all times on the roof, connected to a roof anchor in a rafter or truss.
Safety glasses — ANSI Z87.1 at all times when cutting, nailing, tearing off, or using sealant.
Slip-resistant boots — Soft rubber soles for gripping shingles; no worn-out treads.
Work gloves — Cut-resistant for flashing and shingles; nitrile for roofing cement and primer.
Hard hat — For ground crew in the drop zone and anyone working in the attic.
N95 dust mask — In the attic around insulation and dust.
Sun protection — Light-colored long sleeves, hat brim or hard hat sunshade, and sunscreen on hot days.

Training

Fall protection training per 29 CFR 1926.503, including harness inspection, anchor installation, and fall rescue.
Ladder safety training: inspection, 4-to-1 setup, 3-ft extension, tying off, and power line clearance.
Pneumatic nailer training, including sequential trigger use and clearing jams.
Hazard communication training on roofing cement, sealants, and primers, including how to read the SDS.
Heat illness and lightning safety: signs, water and rest breaks, and when to stop work.
A competent person reviews the roof, anchors, and fall protection plan before work starts.

Emergency

If a worker falls: stop all work, call 911, and give the exact job address. Do not move the injured person unless they are in danger; give first aid until help arrives. If a worker is hanging in a harness, rescue them within minutes using the ladder or rescue plan, and keep their legs moving or supported. Report every fall to the supervisor right away.

Official sources

29 CFR 1926.501 — Duty to have fall protection
29 CFR 1926.502 — Fall protection systems criteria and practices
29 CFR 1926.503 — Fall protection training requirements
29 CFR 1926.1053 — Ladders
29 CFR 1926.302 — Power-operated hand tools
29 CFR 1926.59 — Hazard communication
OSHA — Heat — hazard recognition and prevention
OSHA/NOAA — Lightning safety when working outdoors

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General information, not legal advice. Templates and examples should be reviewed by a competent person before use. HardHat Binder is not affiliated with or endorsed by OSHA.