Key Elements of an Effective Emergency Response Plan for Construction Sites

Construction is an inherently dangerous business. From requiring working at extreme heights to handling heavy machinery, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that over 150,000 construction site injuries occur every year. For workers, emergencies are more than just a known possibility––they’re a regular part of the job. Thankfully, proactive measures can reduce their frequency and impact. That’s where emergency plans come in. David Devita, a Senior Risk Management Consultant at Builders Mutual, guides us through how to create and implement effective job-site emergency response plans.

By the time something goes awry on your job-site, it’s too late to plan. When you’re faced with an emergency, it’s imperative to not waste time thinking through what to do, who to call, or where to go. Rather, you’ll want to have streamlined procedures in place that allow you to react as quickly and effectively as possible.

In reality, emergency planning should start the minute a contractor is awarded the job. The considerations and details of an emergency response plan will vary depending on the job-site, with different plans and protocols in place depending on what type of emergencies might be relevant. Types of emergencies worth addressing include (but aren’t limited to):

Medical emergencies

Construction can result in several types of medical emergencies, such as falls, tool incidents, and heat strokes––or even the occasional unexpected situation, such as a heart attack or other anomaly. Responding immediately is crucial to ensure that outcomes are as positive as can be. This means training crews on how to recognize a medical emergency, administer CPR, and handle first aid, as well as creating an emergency response plan that includes designated personnel (who will handle what emergency needs) emergency contact numbers, on-site AED locations, nearest hospital information, and any other procedures for reporting and responding to the emergency.

Severe weather

Construction is often an outdoor job, making it very susceptible to weather concerns. Extreme weather, such as prolonged rain, thunderstorms, excessive wind, etc., can leave job-sites and construction workers even more vulnerable than usual. It’s critical to have an emergency response plan that takes local weather into account. The weather portion of an emergency response plan might answer questions like: How will managers notify crews about weather updates? Where will crews evacuate in case of a flash flood? Who is responsible for securing equipment during an evacuation?

Fires

While fires are unlikely on a construction site, they do happen. Crews should be trained on appropriate fire extinguisher use. In case of an uncontainable fire, an emergency response plan needs to include clear procedures for reporting a fire, emergency contact information, plus designated evacuation routes and assembly points.

Rescue situations

Construction crews are used to being put in compromising positions, like at extreme heights or in confined spaces and underground trenches. Occasionally, that can lead to a crew member getting stuck and requiring rescue assistance. As you’re creating an emergency response plan, Devita suggests reaching out to local fire departments and rescue workers ahead of time to ensure that they are trained––and comfortable––with the unique rescue situations encountered on a construction site. This way, your plan can include vetted emergency contact numbers you trust to handle whatever emergencies arise.

Active shooter

While the situation is rare, reacting to an active shooter is something that should be incorporated into modern-day emergency response plans, unfortunately. It may sound simple, but designating who is responsible for calling emergency services, how pertinent info will be relayed, and establishing evacuation or hiding plans can be crucial to proactively saving lives or preventing unnecessary injuries.

While emergency response plans will vary slightly from job-site to job-site, companies and contractors can work from a “general blueprint” that covers common emergency concerns––adding and editing information as needed for specific situations. Details such as fire truck entry routes, muster points, local emergency contact numbers, and maps will be different for every site.

It’s every employer’s responsibility to make absolutely certain that there’s a thorough emergency response plan posted and made known to employees. In order to maximize your emergency response plan’s functionality, Devita suggests three areas of focus:

1. Complete AND accurate information

What’s in your emergency response plan matters. You’ll want to check––and double check––regularly that your plan includes all of the necessary information your crew might need when facing an emergency, and that every piece of information is accurate and up to date.

2. Thorough distribution

If nobody can find your emergency response plan, nobody will be able to use it. It’s imperative that everyone on your project knows that an emergency plan is in place and where they can reference it if/when needed. As you communicate, be sure to include everybody in the conversation, translating to other languages as necessary.

3. Appointed leaders

Clear leadership can make or break an emergency situation. Project managers or superintendents should be upfront about who is in charge if an emergency takes place, delegating the most important tasks to specific people or positions.

Creating and implementing an emergency response plan is one of the most vital parts of construction management––but that doesn’t mean it has to be complicated. Be sure to make the emergency response plan easy to access, digest, and act on for the audience that needs it most: your crew. At Builders Mutual, we’re here to help every step of the way, including with emergency response plan templates to get you started.

Get in touch with your Risk Management Consultant today to learn how to create an emergency response plan that keeps your crew safe on the job.