500 EM385-1-1 Construction Safety Hazard Awareness for Contractors Sections 1 - 6

01.A.14 Contractor Risk Management Process.

Risk management is a business process that includes the identification, assessment, and prioritization of risks, followed by coordinated and economical application of resources to minimize, monitor, and control the probability and/or impact of unfortunate events to an acceptable level.

The USACE uses the Activity Hazard Analysis (AHA) as part of a total risk management process. See Figure 1-2 for a NON-MANDATORY formatted outline of an AHA. An electronic version AHA may be found on the HQUSACE Safety Office Website.

Note: Contractors and other individual employer's typically use Job Safety Analyses (JSAs), Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), or similar Risk Management assessment tools. These documents are considered equivalent to, and acceptable substitutes for, the USACE's AHA provided the data collected is the same as that required by the AHA.

2. Before beginning each work activity, task or DFOW, the Contractor performing that work activity must prepare the initial AHA. A Risk Assessment Code (RAC) is assigned to each step, to the risk that remains after controls have been applied (residual risk).
• (1)Once this process has occurred, a RAC will be assigned to the activity as a whole (cannot be lower than the highest step RAC).
• (2)Acceptance of risk. This residual risk must then be communicated to the proper authority for acceptance in order to proceed with the activity.
• (3)The names of the Competent Person(s) (CP) and Qualified Person(s) (QP) required for a particular activity (e.g., excavation, scaffolding, fall protection, or other activities as specified by OSHA and this manual) must be identified and included in the AHA, as well as proof of their competency/qualification.
• (4)If more than one CP/QP is used on the AHA activity, a list of names and appropriate qualifications must be submitted as an attachment to the AHA. Those listed must be Cps/QPs for the type of work involved in the AHA and familiar with current site safety issues.
3. Work must not begin until the AHA with RAC for the work activity has been accepted by the GDA and discussed with all engaged in the activity, including the Contractor, subcontractor(s), and Government on-site representatives at preparatory and initial control phase meetings.
4. AHA's are intended to be developed and used by the field crews/workers performing the work, with the assistance of others (SSHO, QC, Superintendent, etc) as needed. The initial, accepted AHA must be provided to and used by the field crews/workers that are performing that activity. AHAs are to be considered living documents and are intended to be created in the field and updated by the workers as needed.
5. The AHA must be reviewed and modified as necessary to address changing site conditions, operations, or change of CP(s)/QP(s).
• (1) If a new CP/QP (not on the original list) is added, the list must be updated (an administrative action not requiring an updated AHA). The new CP/QP must acknowledge in writing that they have reviewed the AHA and is familiar with current site safety issues.
• (2) If the initial RAC increases due to a change made to the AHA by the workers, the AHA must be resubmitted to GDA for acceptance prior to work proceeding.
• Changes to or updates to an AHA that do not increase the RAC are not required to be resubmitted for acceptance by the GDA.
• (3)Workers/crews must have in their possession the current AHA that reflects current site conditions, personnel, equipment, control measures, etc while the work is being performed.
6. The AHA must be used by the contractor and USACE personnel to assure work is being performed consistent with the AHA. In the event that the work is not being conducted in a safe manner, the contractor and/or the USACE (COR or designated representative) must immediately stop the unsafe work being conducted until it is in compliance with this manual, APP and the AHA or the APP/ AHA is revised and accepted by the GDA, if necessary.
7. AHAs for completed work for the same contract or project work must be readily available on site (e.g., office, trailer, etc.) and accessible on site by all workers, for a period of 12 months or, for contract work, the length of the contract.

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