Discuss Hazards

Identify hazards that pose potential risks to workers. Look up, down, and all around in the area where the work will be performed. Examples to look for:

• Energy sources (including stored energy)


• Lifting and rigging


• Overhead hazards


• Below-grade hazards


• Gravity


• Walking working surfaces


• Pinch points, shear or nip hazards


• Improper or inadequate PPE


• Elevated work


• What else?

For each of the identified hazards, control measures must be implemented!

Ask Questions

• 1. Can the workforce come into contact with an energy source? Electricity, noise, radiation, heat, cold, or GRAVITY?


• 2. Can the workforce come into contact with hazardous materials? Dust, asbestos, lead, paint, hazardous chemicals/materials, or welding fumes?


• 3. Can the workforce be struck by anything? Moving objects, falling material, vehicles, conveyors, or moving equipment?


• 4. Can the workforce strike against anything? Scrap metal, sharp tool edges, or machine parts?


• 5. Can the workforce be caught in, on, or between anything? Pinch points on slings or chains, rotating parts on power tools or machines, objects in areas where loads will be moved, or heavy construction equipment?


• 6. Can the workforce slip, trip, or fall? Slippery floors, bad housekeeping - Hoses, extension cords, material, unprotected floor openings or unprotected leading edges?


• 7. Do we need to establish a drop zone?

Identify Controls

Develop a solution to control each hazard. Use the Hierarchy of Controls to identify the BEST way to reduce risk

Hot Work Permit

Required for work involving brazing, flame or plasma cutting, hot riveting, grinding, soldering, power driven fasteners, reciprocating power saws, and other activities that produce sparks, generate heat or use flame. Note: Not required in Designated Hot Work Areas.

Electrical Work Permit

Required for switching or other work on high and low voltage switchgear, electrical taps, installation/removal of buss plugs, changing/checking fuses in buss plugs or motor control centers, wiring into buss plugs on energized buss, removing wires from buss plug mounted on an energized buss, work inside motor control centers or direct-fed power distribution panel enclosures, any other work on electrical power distribution equipment.

Combustion Lockout Permit

Required when fuel supplies shall be isolated using blanking/blinding techniques and personnel must enter a designated confined space, a fuel train is dismantled for service, and service will exceed the current shift or there is a change in service personnel, the equipment has been removed from service with no intention of future use, or distribution systems are repaired, modified and pressure tested.

Confined Space Entry Permit

Required for entry to all confined spaces. Permit must be completed and signed by qualified person and contents reviewed with entry team.

Asbestos Safety Work Permit

Required for any work by Ford personnel or independent contractors involving asbestos-containing materials. Asbestos-containing materials defined as material composed of asbestos of any type and in an amount greater than 1% by weight. This includes products with multiple layers or substances.

Fire System Impairment Permit

If the work will cause impairment to the fire protection systems, contact Security for the required permit.

Changing Conditions

You are working outside and it begins to rain or snow.

Unexpected Results

A rigged load shifts as it begins to rise off of the floor.

Violation of a Drop Zone

A pedestrian enters the drop zone.

New Personnel

New personnel come onto the job and need to be briefed on the plan.

What Else?

Are there other conditions the team identifies that would cause an immediate pause in the work?

Establish a Communications Plan

• Within the work team


• Work-task communication protocols


• With affected personnel in the area

Use Resources Available to You

• People who have already performed the work


• Site plan layouts, sketches, photographs


• Your joint Health & Safety team

Familiarity with the Work

• Have you worked in this job or area before?


• Are you familiar with the method of work planned?


• If the skill set of the work team does not match the job demands, how will you overcome that? Use an SME? Build more time and precautions into the plan?

How were the six conditions listed on
the START Card selected?

The six conditions were not chosen randomly. They all represent situations in which some of your brothers and sisters died on the job.

What is the relationship between the
START Card and the PTA process?

The START Card identifies conditions under which you must perform a Pre-Task Analysis. The Pre-Task Analysis is a planning tool used to prevent injury while performing high-risk work.

What do the letters "S T A R T" represent?

The letters S T A R T stand for Skilled Trades Assess Risk Together.

Where are critical job steps documented
on a PTA?

Critical job steps are documented in Section 1 of a PTA.

What are some examples of critical
job steps?

Examples of critical jobs steps include free climbing, exposure to electrical buss bar, entering a safeguarded or confined space, cutting power cables, or opening a circuit breaker.

Where are identified hazards documented
on a PTA?

Identified hazards are documented in Section 2 of the PTA.

What are hidden hazards?

Hidden hazards are hazards you may not see during a visual inspection. The best example of a hidden hazard is gravity - an energy source that can cause serious injuries or death.

What are some examples of Ford-issued
permits that may be part of the
PTA development process?

Hot Work Permit, Electrical Permit, Combustion Permit, Confined Space Permit, and Asbestos Permit.

What conditions might cause a work team
to stop, re-think the plan, and adjust it
AFTER a PTA was completed?

New hazards are encountered, changing conditions, an incident or near miss occurs, new personnel added to the work team, or the scope of the original work plan changes.

If I'm not sure whether a PTA is required,
what should I do?

Contact your joint Health & Safety team. When in doubt, do a PTA! It can't hurt and it might save a life!