A pre-task plan (PTP) is a short, crew-level document completed at the start of each shift or before each new work task. It identifies the specific hazards the crew will face that day and documents the controls in place to protect them. Done right, it takes 5–10 minutes. Done wrong — or not done at all — it leaves your crew exposed and your company without documentation when something goes wrong.
If you're searching for a pre-task plan template you can actually use on a Texas construction site, download ours for free here. It's fillable online, printable, and downloadable as a PDF.
What OSHA Says About Pre-Task Planning
OSHA doesn't have a single standard titled "pre-task planning," but PTPs are required in practice through several overlapping regulations:
- 29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2) — Employers must instruct workers to recognize and avoid unsafe conditions. A PTP is the documented proof that this instruction happens before each task, not just at onboarding.
- 29 CFR 1926.20(b)(1) — Employers must initiate and maintain safety programs for each project. Pre-task plans are a standard component of those programs.
- General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1)) — Employers must provide a workplace free from recognized hazards. PTPs demonstrate that hazards were recognized and addressed.
Beyond OSHA, many general contractors and project owners require PTPs by contract — especially on data center, healthcare, federal, and industrial projects where the owner's safety requirements exceed OSHA minimums.
What a Complete Pre-Task Plan Should Include
A PTP that actually protects your crew (and holds up in an OSHA inspection) needs these sections:
1. Job information
Project name, work location, date, and the specific task being performed. Vague entries like "framing" or "electrical" aren't enough — the task should be specific enough that a supervisor reading it later can picture exactly what the crew was doing.
2. Crew sign-in
Every worker on the crew should sign the PTP before work begins. This creates a record that each person was briefed on that day's hazards. A PTP unsigned by the crew is worth nothing in a post-incident investigation.
3. Task steps
A brief breakdown of the sequence of work — not a detailed work plan, but enough to identify where in the task each hazard occurs.
4. Hazard identification
For each step, identify the specific hazards: fall exposure, struck-by, caught-in/between, electrical, heat, silica, or whatever applies to that task. The hazard identification is the core of the document. If your crew can't name the hazards, they can't protect themselves from them.
5. Controls
For each hazard, document the control measure in place: fall protection system, barricades, PPE required, tool guards, specific procedures. Controls should be specific — "use PPE" is not a control; "wear cut-resistant gloves (ANSI A4 or higher) when cutting rebar" is.
6. Emergency information
Nearest hospital, emergency contact, and what to do if someone is injured. Every crew member should know this before the task starts.
7. Supervisor sign-off
The foreman or lead signs the completed PTP before work begins. This documents that a competent person reviewed the hazard assessment and approved the controls.
How to Use a Pre-Task Plan Effectively
A PTP is only as good as how it's used. The most common failure mode isn't skipping it — it's filling it out as paperwork and ignoring it during the actual work.
Effective pre-task planning looks like this:
Fill it out with the crew, not for the crew. The foreman shouldn't complete the PTP alone at the trailer and then hand it to workers to sign. The crew should participate in identifying the hazards. Workers doing the task know the hazards better than anyone.
Do it before every new task, not just at the start of the day. If your crew switches from concrete work to overhead steel installation after lunch, that's a new task — and a new set of hazards. One PTP per shift is usually not enough on complex projects.
Keep them on site and accessible. PTPs should be retained for at least the duration of the project. If OSHA shows up, they'll ask for them. If there's an incident, they become critical evidence.
Review them at the end of the task. A 2-minute close-out — did the controls work? was anything missed? — improves the next PTP and builds a hazard-recognition culture on the crew.
Download Our Free Pre-Task Plan Template
Our pre-task planning form covers all the required sections, works on mobile or desktop, and can be filled out online, printed, or downloaded as a PDF — no login required.
Fill out or download the Pre-Task Plan template →
The template is designed for Texas construction sites but applies to any jurisdiction. It includes space for task steps, hazard-by-step identification, controls, crew signatures, and supervisor sign-off.
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If your project requires a more comprehensive safety program — one that integrates PTPs with a site-specific safety plan, subcontractor management, and OSHA compliance support — contact Greenberg Safety or call (512) 585-7070. We work with GCs and subcontractors throughout Austin, Central Texas, and nationwide.