A pre-task plan (PTP) is a short written review that a crew completes at the start of a shift or before a specific task. It lists the steps of the work, the hazards involved in each step, and the controls the crew will use to stay safe that day. Pre-task plans are sometimes called daily task plans, pre-job briefings or daily safety plans.
Pre-task plans matter because conditions change every day. Weather, nearby trades, equipment, staffing and the exact scope of work can all shift between one day and the next. A PTP makes the crew stop, look at today's conditions and agree on how the work will be done before anyone is exposed to a hazard.
What Is a Pre-Task Plan?
A pre-task plan is a field-level planning tool, usually completed by the foreman or crew lead together with the workers who will do the job. It is typically one or two pages and focuses on the work happening that day, in that location, with that crew. Every crew member reviews the plan and signs it before work starts.
OSHA does not have a standard titled "pre-task plan", and no federal rule requires a specific PTP form. However, pre-task planning supports many OSHA expectations, such as identifying hazards, inspecting work areas, having a competent person oversee certain work, and training workers to recognize hazards. Many general contractors, owners and company safety programs require a daily PTP as a condition of working on site, especially in construction, utilities, oil and gas, and industrial maintenance.
Pre-Task Plan vs. Job Hazard Analysis
A PTP is often confused with a job hazard analysis (JHA), but the two serve different purposes:
- Job hazard analysis: a detailed, often office-prepared analysis of a recurring job or task. It breaks the job into steps, identifies hazards and sets standard controls. It is reviewed periodically or when the job changes.
- Pre-task plan: a daily, crew-level review of today's specific work. It applies the JHA to current conditions and captures hazards the JHA could not anticipate, such as a wet surface, a nearby crane lift or a missing crew member.
- Toolbox talk: a short safety discussion on a general topic. A toolbox talk educates, while a PTP plans a specific task.
In practice, the JHA is the reference document and the PTP is how the crew puts it to work each day.
What to Include in a Pre-Task Plan
- Basic details: date, project or location, crew lead, crew members and the specific task.
- Task steps: the main steps of the work in order.
- Hazards: the hazards in each step, such as falls, struck-by, caught-in, electrical, chemical, heat, overhead work or traffic.
- Controls: how each hazard will be controlled, including guarding, barricades, lockout/tagout, fall protection and the required PPE.
- Permits: any permits needed, such as hot work, confined space or excavation permits.
- Tools and equipment: what will be used and whether it has been inspected.
- Emergency information: muster point, nearest first aid, emergency contacts and rescue plans where needed.
- Nearby activities: other crews or operations that could affect, or be affected by, this work.
- Sign-off: each worker's signature confirming they took part and understand the plan.
How to Complete a Pre-Task Plan Step by Step
- Walk the area. The crew lead checks the work area before the meeting and notes any changes since the previous shift.
- Gather the crew. Bring everyone doing the task together, including new or temporary workers.
- Describe the task. Explain the scope of today's work and break it into steps.
- Identify hazards together. Ask the crew what could go wrong at each step. Workers often spot hazards a supervisor misses.
- Agree on controls. Assign controls to each hazard and confirm that the equipment, permits and PPE are available.
- Review emergencies. Confirm how to raise an alarm and where to go.
- Sign the plan. Each crew member signs, and the plan stays at the work location.
- Update during the day. If conditions or scope change, stop, revise the plan and brief the crew again.
- Review afterward. At the end of the shift, note anything that went wrong or could be improved.
Tips to Keep Pre-Task Plans Useful
- Keep the form short so crews spend time talking, not writing.
- Rotate who leads the discussion so all workers engage.
- Have supervisors spot-check PTPs in the field and ask crew members about the hazards listed.
- Link PTPs to stop work authority, so workers know they can pause the job if the plan no longer fits.
- Use completed PTPs as a source of trend data on common hazards.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Copying yesterday's plan without reviewing today's conditions.
- Having the foreman fill out the form alone and asking the crew to sign without discussion.
- Writing generic hazards such as "be careful" instead of specific hazards and controls.
- Failing to update the plan when the task, location or crew changes.
- Filing completed plans without ever reviewing them for trends.
How SMS360 Helps
SMS360's Risk Assessment module lets teams build pre-task plan forms and job hazard analyses that crews can complete on mobile devices before work starts. Hazards that need follow-up can be assigned through Actions Management, and permit-required tasks can be managed in the Work Permits module.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does OSHA require a pre-task plan?
No federal OSHA standard requires a document called a pre-task plan. However, PTPs help meet broader OSHA duties to identify and control hazards, and many contractors, owners and company programs require them.
How long should a pre-task plan take?
Most crews complete a PTP in about 10 to 15 minutes. Complex or high-risk tasks may need more time, especially when several crews or permits are involved.
Who should sign the pre-task plan?
Every worker who will perform the task, plus the crew lead or foreman. Anyone who joins the crew later in the day should review and sign the plan before starting work.
How long should pre-task plans be kept?
There is no federal retention rule for PTPs. Many companies keep them for at least the length of the project, and often longer, because they can help show that hazards were reviewed before work began.
