General Safety Guidelines

Three general safety guidelines apply at all times while performing safety assessments:

• Be aware and cautious. Pay attention to where you are and what is in the area around you. Conditions of your surrounding may affect your health and safety.
  
  • Because of the event, the built environment has changed from its original state, and unstable features may appear to be stable.
  
  
  
  • Know where you are. You will likely be working in an unfamiliar area, and if you need to call for assistance you should be able to provide the nearest cross streets.
  
  

Assume the worst and be prepared!

• Work in teams of two or more individuals. Rapid evaluation teams are always made up of at least two people. Detailed evaluation teams, which are required to enter buildings, have at least three people.
  • Stay together. Splitting up to save time puts the entire team at danger. Keep together and know where your team members are.
  
  
  
  • Enter buildings only when you absolutely need to. If the team is composed of two people (as for Rapid Evaluations) enter buildings only if it is obviously safe. If the team is required to enter the building (as for Detailed Evaluations) one person remains outside the building while the others evaluate the inside.
  
  
  
• Wear a hard hat and safety shoes. There is a hazard from falling items any time you are working in or around a damaged or potentially damaged building.
  
  • Hard hats protect you from falling hazards. Individuals without hard hats will not be assigned to an evaluation team.
  
  
  
  • Proper footwear, such as safety boots, will protect your mobility. Sharp objects, slick surfaces and unstable structures can easily result in injury.

Above all, make sure your team remains mindful of its safety while evaluating buildings. Click the links below for more specific safety tips.

Safety before entering a building

Safety once inside a building

Other safety concerns