Job site safety checklist for small crews
A short check at the start of every day catches most of the hazards on a small job. Here is a checklist a lead can run in about five minutes, and how to make it stick.
Printable safety checklist: PDFWordExcel
The checklist
Run it at the start of each day, before work begins, and again when the job changes, such as when the crew moves onto the roof.
Start of the day
Crew told about today's work and its hazards
First aid kit stocked; fire extinguisher on site and charged
Site address and the nearest urgent care or hospital known
Weather checked: heat, wind, rain, lightning
Falls
Roof edges and openings protected where people work 6 feet or more above a lower level: guardrails, nets or harnesses with anchors
Harnesses, lanyards and anchors inspected
Holes and skylights covered or guarded
Ladders
On firm, level ground and the right height
Extended at least 3 feet above the landing and tied off
Inspected; no damaged rails or rungs
Electrical
GFCI protection on temporary power and extension cords
Cords and tools undamaged
Overhead power lines identified and kept clear
Circuits locked out before anyone works on them
Tools and protective gear
Guards in place on saws and grinders
Eye, hearing and hand protection in use
Hard hats where things can fall from above
Dust masks or respirators where there is dust or fumes
Housekeeping
Walkways and stairs clear
Debris going into the dumpster or chute, not off the roof edge
Materials stacked and secured against wind
Nails and scraps picked up
End of the day
Ladders down or secured; tools stored
Open roofs tarped; holes covered
Site closed to the public
How to make it stick
- One person runs it, usually the lead on site, every day, and signs it.
- Keep it short. A checklist that takes five minutes gets done; one that takes thirty gets skipped.
- Fix it before you start. A "no" means the work waits until it's a "yes".
- Talk for two minutes about one hazard from today's work, such as a steep slope, heat or a live panel. Write the topic down.
When something happens
Take care of the person first. Then photograph the scene, write down what happened while it is fresh, and record near misses too; they show where the next injury is coming from. In the US, OSHA requires employers to report a work-related death within 8 hours, and an in-patient hospitalization, an amputation or the loss of an eye within 24 hours.
Know your rules
Federal construction safety rules are in OSHA's 29 CFR 1926, and many states run their own plans with their own requirements. This checklist is a daily habit, not a full safety program; use it alongside your company's written plan and training.
Doing it in FieldPix
Build this checklist once in FieldPix with yes-or-no answers and a photo where it matters, and run it on the job each morning. Each answer records who gave it, every photo carries the time, date and location, and the day's safety notes can go straight into the daily log. Watch: checklists for every job.
Sources: fall protection at 6 feet, OSHA 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(1); ladders 3 feet above the landing, 29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(1); reporting deadlines, 29 CFR 1904.39.
