Seizure First Aid Toolbox Talk

A seizure can happen without warning and may cause a worker to fall, shake, lose awareness, stare blankly, become confused, or act differently for a short time. On a construction site, this can be especially dangerous around equipment, ladders, scaffolds, traffic, tools, open edges, trenches, heat, or electrical hazards.

This talk focuses on recognizing a seizure, protecting the worker from nearby hazards, knowing what not to do, calling for help when needed, and keeping the area calm until the worker recovers or responders arrive.

Why This Matters

• A worker having a seizure can be injured by falls, sharp tools, moving equipment, traffic, or nearby materials.
• Most seizure first aid is about protecting the person from harm, not trying to stop the seizure.
• Putting objects in the mouth, holding the person down, or moving them without reason can cause more injury.
• Some seizures are medical emergencies, especially if they last too long or happen after a head injury.
• Clear response helps the crew stay calm, protect the worker, and give accurate information to emergency responders.

Common Hazards

• A worker falling from a ladder, scaffold, lift, truck bed, roof edge, stairway, or uneven walking surface.
• Seizures happening near saws, grinders, welding leads, cords, rebar, sharp materials, or hot work.
• Equipment, vehicles, forklifts, cranes, or delivery trucks moving near the worker during the event.
• Workers crowding the person, blocking airflow, or preventing trained responders from helping.
• Someone trying to hold the worker down, force their mouth open, or give water, food, or medication during the seizure.
• Confusion after the seizure causing the worker to wander into traffic, equipment routes, open holes, or restricted areas.
• A seizure occurring after a fall, electrical contact, heat illness, chemical exposure, or struck-by incident.

Safety Checklist

Before Work Begins

• Know who on the crew is trained in first aid, CPR, and AED use.
• Locate the nearest first aid kit, AED, phone, radio, emergency contact list, and site address.
• Confirm how emergency responders will reach today’s work area.
• Keep walkways, work platforms, equipment paths, and access routes clear to reduce injury if someone falls.
• Make sure workers know to report medical conditions or restrictions to supervision as required by company policy.

During Work

• Stop nearby work and move tools, materials, equipment, traffic, and other hazards away from the worker if it is safe.
• Protect the worker’s head with a folded jacket, towel, or other soft item if available.
• Do not hold the worker down, put anything in their mouth, or give food, water, or medication during the seizure.
• Time the seizure and watch for breathing, injury, and changes in condition.
• Keep bystanders back and give the worker space to breathe.
• After the seizure, place the worker on their side if safe to do so and stay with them while they recover.
• Call emergency services if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, repeats, follows an injury, happens in water or at height, causes breathing trouble, or the worker does not recover normally.

Crew Talking Points

• Who on this crew is trained in first aid, CPR, and AED use?
• Where are the nearest first aid kit, AED, phone, radio, and emergency contact list?
• What hazards near today’s work area could injure someone during a seizure?
• How will we stop equipment, traffic, or nearby work if a seizure happens?
• When should emergency services be called for a seizure?
• Speak up if you are unsure how to respond, where emergency supplies are located, or how responders will reach the work area.

Stop Work If

• A worker has a seizure, collapses, loses awareness, or becomes confused around active work.
• The seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, repeats, or the worker does not return to normal awareness.
• The worker is injured, pregnant, diabetic, has breathing trouble, or the seizure happens after a fall, electrical contact, heat illness, or chemical exposure.
• The area has moving equipment, traffic, open edges, trenches, energized systems, hot work, or other hazards that could injure the worker or responders.
• The crew cannot safely protect the worker, contact emergency services, or direct responders to the location.

Final Reminder

Do not try to stop a seizure by force. Clear hazards, protect the worker’s head, time the seizure, call for help when needed, and stay with the worker until they are safe.