Emergency Procedures Checklist
Restaurant emergency procedures checklist: power outage, fire, injury response, documentation, and manager sign-off.
- Estimated time
- 15 min
- Frequency
- as needed
- Business type
- restaurant
- Category
- maintenance
- Role
- manager
- Role
- shift lead
- Role
- kitchen manager
Purpose
Give managers a step-by-step response plan for power outages, fires, and guest or staff injuries.
Use this checklist during or immediately after an emergency. Assign a manager to lead each section. Document every action and sign off when the situation is resolved.
Power Outage
Protect food and activate contingency plans.
-
Cooler and freezer doors kept closed
-
Temperatures logged during outage
-
Generator or contingency plan activated
Pass / Fail
Fire
Evacuate and suppress if safe.
-
Guests and staff evacuated to assembly point
-
Fire suppression used only if safe
Pass / Fail
-
911 called and location confirmed
Injury
Provide first aid and document the incident.
-
First aid administered per kit instructions
-
Incident report completed
-
Emergency contacts and insurance notified
Pass / Fail
-
Emergency response notes (optional)
Note
Frequently asked questions
What should restaurants do during a power outage?
Keep cooler and freezer doors closed, log temperatures every 30 minutes, and activate your generator or contingency plan if outage exceeds four hours.
What is the first step in a restaurant fire emergency?
Evacuate guests and staff to your designated assembly point. Only use fire suppression equipment if it is safe to do so. Call 911 immediately.
Should restaurant injuries be documented?
Yes. Administer first aid, complete an incident report, and notify emergency contacts and your insurance carrier per your policy.
Who leads emergency response in a restaurant?
The manager on duty leads response. Kitchen managers handle back-of-house emergencies; floor managers handle front-of-house evacuation.
How often should staff review emergency procedures?
Review emergency procedures in monthly pre-shift meetings and after any incident. Keep a printed copy posted in the manager office and kitchen.
Want this checklist in an app your team can run daily?
SOP Chef templates fix the blank page. The app will track temps, completion, and inspector-ready logs. Join the waitlist for one email when it ships.