What is a tailgate briefing?

A short job briefing at the start of the work, often at the back of the truck. The crew covers the work, the hazards, the controls and the emergency plan, and everyone signs.

Does this form set switching or clearance rules?

No. It gives you a place to record what your procedures require for switching, grounding and clearances. The procedures and the people qualified to apply them make those calls.

How often should we brief?

At the start of each job and whenever the work, the crew or the conditions change. Your company's procedures and the current rules decide the rest.

Free template

A tailgate briefing form for the crew before the work.

Brief the job at the truck, before anyone climbs or opens anything. Everyone on the crew signs. Print the sheet or save it as a PDF.

Also calledJob briefing form, Tailgate safety meeting form, Line crew job brief, Utility job hazard briefing

See the sheet All free tools

Free to print, copy and change. It’s a starting point. Add the lines your equipment and your rules need.

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Utility tailgate briefing

Date

Time

Location

Crew lead

Work order or job number

Circuit or line

Work to be done

What we're doing, step by step.

Hazards

Check all that apply.

Energized lines or equipment
Traffic
Weather
Climbing
Rigging
Underground facilities
Ground conditions
Public near the work
Animals or insects
Other, write it below

Controls and PPE

How each hazard is controlled, and what each person wears.

Switching, grounding and clearances

As your procedures require.

Emergency plan

Nearest help, who calls it in, and how to reach each other.

Sign-on

Name (print)

Signature

Date

A starting point. Adapt it to your equipment, your procedures and the rules that apply to you.Free template from portalbaseai.com

How to use it

Three habits that make it worth filling out.

Step 1
Brief it where the work is
Stand at the pole, the vault or the truck, so the crew can see what you're talking about.
Step 2
Ask the crew what they see
The foreman states the plan. Then everyone says what could go wrong that the plan missed.
Step 3
Brief again when the job changes
A new task, a new crew member or a new hazard means a new briefing. Add it to the sheet.

Do this on a phone instead of paper.

Run the briefing on a phone, with each crew member signing on the screen. It works with no signal and the record is kept for you.

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Common questions

What is a tailgate briefing?: A short job briefing at the start of the work, often at the back of the truck. The crew covers the work, the hazards, the controls and the emergency plan, and everyone signs.
Does this form set switching or clearance rules?: No. It gives you a place to record what your procedures require for switching, grounding and clearances. The procedures and the people qualified to apply them make those calls.
How often should we brief?: At the start of each job and whenever the work, the crew or the conditions change. Your company's procedures and the current rules decide the rest.

Related and more free tools

Free tool

A tailgate briefing form for the crew before the work.

Utility tailgate briefing

Three habits that make it worth filling out.

Brief it where the work is

Ask the crew what they see

Brief again when the job changes

Do this on a phone instead of paper.

Get new free tools by email.

Common questions

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