Common Jobsite Emergencies

A few construction-specific situations need special care:

• Electrocution — do NOT touch a victim still in contact with electricity; shut off the power first or you'll become a victim too.
• Heat stroke — a medical emergency: move to shade, cool aggressively, call 911.
• Falls — assume spinal injury; don't move the person; call 911.
• Chemical exposure — flush with water, check the SDS for the chemical, and get medical help.
• Trench collapse — call 911; don't jump in (secondary collapses kill rescuers).

Protecting yourself first is rule number one in every rescue.

Going Deeper (Intermediate)

Beyond falls, the recurring jobsite emergencies each have a right first move:

• Lacerations/amputations → control bleeding, preserve the part.
• Eye injuries → eyewash 15 min.
• Burns (thermal/chemical/electrical/arc) → stop the source, cool thermal burns with water, brush off dry chemicals then flush.
• Falls → assume spinal injury.
• Equipment/struck-by → secure the scene, shut down equipment, render aid.
• Heat stroke → 911 + aggressive cooling.

Advanced / Pro-Level

The system that handles all of them:

• Pre-plan by scenario in the EAP; stage first-aid, eyewash, AED, fire extinguishers, and SDS where they're needed.
• Utility strikes: gas (evacuate upwind, no ignition sources, call gas co. + 911), electric (treat lines as live, keep everyone back), water/sewer.
• Structural/trench collapse: do not rush in — secondary collapse kills rescuers; call technical rescue.
• Chemical release: consult SDS §6 (accidental release), contain/ventilate, evacuate as needed.
• After any serious event: secure scene, account for everyone, report (OSHA timelines), preserve evidence, investigate root cause to prevent recurrence.

Practice Challenge

An excavator nicks a buried gas line and you smell gas. List the first three actions. (Answer: stop work and eliminate ignition sources, evacuate upwind and keep others back, and call 911 + the gas utility — do not try to operate valves or restart equipment.)

In Practice

A worker is in contact with a live wire. Grab them and you become the next victim. Shut off the power first — protecting yourself is rule one in every rescue.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Touching an electrocution victim still in contact with the source
• Treating heat stroke or a serious fall as minor
• Jumping into a collapsed trench to help

Takeaway: Shut off power before touching an electrocution victim, treat heat stroke and falls as emergencies, and never make an unsafe rescue.

⚠️ Awareness only — NOT a substitute for hands-on certification. Get certified in First Aid/CPR/AED through the American Red Cross or American Heart Association, and call 911 in any real emergency.