Lockdown and Shelter-in-Place Toolbox Talk

Lockdown and shelter-in-place procedures are used when leaving the jobsite may be more dangerous than staying put. This can happen during violence nearby, police activity, severe weather, chemical release, civil unrest, security threats, or other emergencies that make normal evacuation unsafe.

This talk focuses on when to lock down or shelter in place, how to communicate with the crew, where to go, and how to stay accounted for until the all-clear is given.

Why This Matters

• Leaving during the wrong emergency can put workers directly in the path of danger.
• A clear shelter location helps prevent confusion, panic, and workers scattering across the site.
• Lockdown procedures help protect workers from outside threats entering the jobsite or building.
• Good communication helps supervisors account for workers, visitors, and subcontractors.
• Practicing the process helps the crew respond quickly when there is no time to debate what to do.

Common Hazards

• Workers evacuating into severe weather, police activity, traffic, violence, or a hazardous release.
• Doors, gates, trailers, or access points left unsecured during a lockdown.
• Crews not hearing the alert because of equipment noise, distance, radios off, or poor phone service.
• Workers sheltering in areas with glass, overhead hazards, chemicals, poor ventilation, or weak exterior walls.
• Visitors, delivery drivers, or subcontractors not knowing the site’s lockdown or shelter location.
• People leaving shelter early because they assume the emergency is over.
• A crew working on a roof, lift, excavation, remote area, or separate floor when the lockdown or shelter-in-place order is given.

Safety Checklist

Before Work Begins

• Review the difference between evacuation, lockdown, and shelter-in-place with the crew.
• Identify approved shelter locations for severe weather, outside threats, chemical releases, or other site-specific emergencies.
• Confirm how alerts will be given, including radios, air horn, text, phone call, runner, or site alarm.
• Make sure supervisors know how to account for workers, visitors, vendors, and subcontractors.
• Check that shelter areas are accessible, not blocked by materials, and large enough for the expected crew.

During Work

• Stop work immediately when a lockdown or shelter-in-place order is given.
• Move to the assigned shelter location using the safest route available.
• Secure doors, gates, windows, and access points if directed and safe to do so.
• Stay away from windows, exterior doors, open areas, unstable materials, and equipment movement.
• Keep radios or phones available, but avoid unnecessary calls that may block emergency communication.
• Report missing workers, visitors, injuries, or hazards to the designated site contact.
• Remain in place until supervision, emergency responders, or local authorities give the all-clear.

Crew Talking Points

• Where is our shelter-in-place location for today’s work area?
• What signal tells the crew to lock down or shelter in place?
• Who is responsible for accounting for workers, visitors, and subcontractors?
• What should workers do if they are on a roof, lift, excavation, or remote part of the site when the alert is given?
• How will the all-clear be communicated?
• Speak up if you do not know the shelter location, alert signal, communication process, or safest route from your work area.

Stop Work If

• A lockdown or shelter-in-place order is given by supervision, security, emergency responders, or local authorities.
• There is violence, a threat, police activity, civil unrest, or an unknown person creating danger near the site.
• Severe weather, lightning, high winds, tornado warning, or airborne debris makes outdoor work unsafe.
• A chemical release, gas leak, smoke, or hazardous air condition makes normal movement unsafe.
• The crew cannot account for workers, visitors, or subcontractors during the emergency.

Final Reminder

Lockdown and shelter-in-place only work when everyone knows the signal, the location, and the plan. Stop work, move safely, stay together, and wait for the all-clear.