United States High-risk taskVersion 1Updated September 25, 2026

Construction safety drill checklist for site emergency plans

Free construction safety drill checklist: check your emergency action plan against 29 CFR 1926.35, then run, time and review an evacuation drill.

How often: Set by your organization; 29 CFR 1926.35 does not set a drill frequency. It does call for the plan to be reviewed with each covered employee when it is developed, when their duties under it change and when the plan changes.

Sections
4
Checks
38
Critical
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Sources
27

0/37 answered

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1

The emergency action plan is written, kept at the site and available for employees to review, or (for an employer with 10 or fewer employees) communicated orally to employees *

2

The plan sets out escape procedures and assigns escape routes *

3

The plan covers workers who stay behind to shut down critical operations before they evacuate

4

The plan has a procedure to account for all employees after evacuation *

5

The plan names who performs rescue and medical duties *

6

The plan states the preferred way to report fires and other emergencies *

7

The plan lists the names or job titles of people to contact for more information about duties under the plan *

8

The plan states the types of evacuation to be used (for example, whole site or one building or area) *

9

Enough people have been designated and trained to help with a safe, orderly evacuation *

10

An employee alarm system is in place, with a distinct signal for each purpose it is used for *

11

The alarm code and reporting instructions are posted at phones and employee entrances *

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  • Schedule it per site and assign it to the right people.
  • Turn every failed check into a corrective action that someone else verifies.
  • Keep signatures, photos and the full audit history across sites.
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Frequently asked questions

Does OSHA require emergency drills on construction sites?

The construction emergency action plan rule, 29 CFR 1926.35, does not contain a drill requirement. It requires the plan to be reviewed with each covered employee at set times [16] and enough people to be designated and trained to help with evacuation [15]. Drills are a good way to confirm the plan works.

What must a construction emergency action plan include?

At a minimum: escape procedures and route assignments [6], procedures for employees who stay behind to run critical operations [7], a way to account for everyone after evacuation [8], rescue and medical duties [9], the preferred way to report fires and emergencies [10], and the names or job titles of people to contact about the plan [11].

Does a small contractor need a written emergency plan?

Employers with 10 or fewer employees may communicate the plan orally and need not keep a written plan [21]. Otherwise the written plan is kept at the workplace and made available for employees to review [20].

When does the plan have to be reviewed with workers?

When the plan is first developed [17], whenever a worker's responsibilities or designated actions under it change [18], and whenever the plan is changed [19]. If a drill leads you to change the plan, review the changes with the workers it covers.

Built from 27 official sources

Every check traces to the text it is based on. Read the purpose, how to use it, the rules behind it, what it does not cover and every source.

Guidance, not legal advice. It does not replace the law, the manufacturer's instructions or your organization's competent people, and completing it does not certify that work is safe.