Short answer. An emergency checklist is a short list of the first actions to take in an unplanned event. It supports, and does not replace, the site emergency action plan (OSHA 29 CFR 1926.35) and calling 911.
Definition. An emergency checklist is a short, ordered list of first actions for one unplanned event, written to be used under stress.
Why emergency checklists must be short and easy to find
In a cockpit, emergency procedures are the first thing a checklist system must get right. Under stress, people read less and remember less, so the checklist has to be short, in the right order, and quick to open. A checklist buried in a binder in the trailer is little help when someone is down in the building.
Man down / injured worker
General actions only. Your site plan sets the actual steps.
- Call 911 as your site plan directs, and tell the site emergency contact.
- Do not touch a person who may still be in contact with an energized source. Have the source de-energized by a qualified person first.
- Follow your site plan for first aid, and send someone to meet and guide emergency responders.
Fire
- Raise the alarm and call 911 as your site plan directs.
- Evacuate by the planned route to the muster point.
- Account for everyone at the muster point, and report anyone missing to responders.
Approaching thunderstorm and lightning
Follow National Weather Service lightning safety guidance and your site plan. Your plan should say who watches the weather, who decides to stop work, where crews shelter, and who decides when work resumes.
Heat illness
Use OSHA’s heat illness resources and your site plan.
Make it site-specific
- Site address and access gate for responders.
- Emergency contacts and who calls 911.
- Muster points and evacuation routes.
- Location of first aid kits, AEDs and fire extinguishers.
Where ICARUS Ops fits
The ICARUS Ops Error Elimination System (EES) includes emergency checklists, such as medical emergency, fire and approaching thunderstorm. They are stored on the device, open with one tap from any screen, and work with no signal, even in the middle of another procedure. HQ can edit them to match each site’s plan.
Emergency checklists support, and do not replace, your site emergency action plan and calling 911.
See a sample ICARUS Ops EES procedure
See a sample ICARUS Ops EES procedure
Demos are for teams actively evaluating software for deployment.
Frequently asked questions
What should a crew do when a thunderstorm approaches a construction site?
Follow your site plan and National Weather Service lightning safety guidance: the person named in the plan stops work, crews go to the planned shelter, and work resumes only when the plan’s criteria are met.
Does an emergency checklist replace our emergency action plan?
No. Emergency checklists support, and do not replace, your site emergency action plan and calling 911.
Who should write site emergency checklists?
Your safety team, based on the site emergency action plan, with review by a qualified safety person. Each site needs its own contacts, routes and muster points.