Data Center Safety Checklist (Free and Printable)

How to use this data center safety checklist

Treat the checklist as a walkthrough guide, not a form to fill in from your desk. Go to each area, look, and record what you actually see.

1. Pick an owner. A facilities lead, shift supervisor, or EHS coordinator runs the walkthrough.
2. Walk area by area. Check each item from outside any approach boundary. A walkthrough never involves opening energized equipment.
3. Record findings. Note the location, take a photo where site rules allow, and describe the problem in one line.
4. Assign and track. Give each finding an owner and due date, and track it in your work order or CMMS system until closed.
5. Review trends. Repeat findings point to a training or procedure gap, not just a housekeeping issue.

Electrical rooms and switchgear

• ☐Arc flash labels are present, legible, and current after the last system change.
• ☐Working space in front of switchgear, panels, and PDUs is clear. Nothing is stored in electrical rooms.
• ☐Panel covers, dead fronts, and doors are closed and secured, with blanks in any open breaker spaces.
• ☐Current one-line diagrams are posted or available in the room.
• ☐Arc-rated PPE and rubber insulating gloves are stocked, sized, inspected, and within their test dates.
• ☐Voltage testers and a proving unit or known source are available and in good condition.
• ☐Any locks and tags in place identify the person and match an active permit or MOP.
• ☐Breaker maintenance or arc energy reduction switches are back in their normal position after work.
• ☐No water leaks, condensation, or roof drips above electrical equipment.
• ☐Findings from the last infrared scan are closed out or scheduled.
• ☐Doors are labeled and access is limited to authorized people.

UPS and battery rooms

• ☐Room ventilation is running, and any hydrogen or off-gas detection is in service with no active alarms.
• ☐Eyewash or drench equipment is accessible, unobstructed, and inspected on the site schedule.
• ☐A spill kit suited to the battery chemistry is stocked.
• ☐The battery monitoring system is online with no unacknowledged temperature, voltage, or resistance alarms.
• ☐No swollen, cracked, or leaking jars or modules are visible, and no corrosion shows on visible terminals.
• ☐Insulated tools, face shields, and chemical-resistant gloves and aprons are available.
• ☐Room temperature is within the battery manufacturer's range.
• ☐For lithium-ion systems, the manufacturer's emergency response information is posted or on file and the fire department knows where the batteries are.
• ☐UPS bypass and battery breaker positions match the documented normal configuration.
• ☐Hazard signs are posted, and no combustible materials are stored in the room.

Battery strings stay energized when the UPS is off. See UPS and Battery System Safety and Lithium-Ion Thermal Runaway.

Generator yard and fuel systems

• ☐Enclosures and yard gates are closed and locked.
• ☐Signs warn that generators can start automatically at any time.
• ☐Generator controls are in their normal automatic position, or the exception is documented.
• ☐No fuel, oil, or coolant leaks under engines; drip pans are clean.
• ☐Fuel tank containment is free of water and fuel, and leak detection shows no alarms.
• ☐Spill kits and fire extinguishers are present, and extinguishers are inspected.
• ☐Starting battery chargers show normal status.
• ☐Hearing protection is available and noise signs are posted where required.
• ☐Walkways are lit and free of trip hazards, standing water, and ice.
• ☐The fuel delivery procedure is posted and followed.

Data hall (white space)

• ☐EPO buttons are guarded, clearly labeled, unobstructed, and not mistakable for door releases.
• ☐Aisles and exit paths are clear of carts, boxes, and equipment.
• ☐Packaging and cardboard are removed promptly, following site policy.
• ☐Server lifts are available and inspected, and heavy equipment is moved with a lift or team lift.
• ☐Rack stabilizers are deployed and racks are loaded from the bottom up.
• ☐No daisy-chained power strips, and no power or network cords run across walkways.
• ☐Containment doors close properly, and water is available for extended hot aisle work.
• ☐Food and drink rules are followed.

Accidental EPO activation is a well-known cause of outages. The EPO Procedures course covers activation criteria and reset.

Raised floor and under-floor work

• ☐Every floor tile is in place except where work is active.
• ☐Every open tile is barricaded or attended, never left open unattended.
• ☐Approved tile lifters are available and used.
• ☐The site limit on adjacent tiles removed at one time is followed.
• ☐Floor load ratings are checked before heavy equipment moves, with load plates where needed.
• ☐Perforated tiles are in their planned locations.
• ☐Spaces that meet OSHA's permit-required confined space definition, such as deep plenums, vaults, or tunnels, are identified and marked.

Mechanical rooms and cooling plant

• ☐Refrigerant detectors and machinery room ventilation are working, where installed.
• ☐Guards are in place on belts, couplings, and fans.
• ☐Energy isolation points on CRAC and CRAH units, chillers, and pumps are labeled.
• ☐Leak detection under cooling units and along piping is operating.
• ☐No visible leaks at valves, joints, or pressure relief devices.
• ☐Water treatment chemicals are labeled and stored properly, with safety data sheets available.
• ☐Hearing protection is available where noise requires it.
• ☐Only EPA Section 608 certified technicians open refrigerant circuits.

Fire protection and suppression

• ☐Suppression and fire alarm panels show normal, with no trouble or impairment signals.
• ☐Clean agent warning signs are posted at room entrances.
• ☐Abort switches are labeled, and staff know who may use them.
• ☐Protected rooms hold their integrity: doors close and latch, and penetrations are sealed.
• ☐Inspection tags on suppression cylinders and extinguishers are current.
• ☐Pre-action sprinkler valves are in their normal position.
• ☐Extinguishers suitable for electrical equipment are present and accessible.
• ☐Any impairment has a permit, required notifications, and a fire watch if needed.

Everyone in a protected room should know what the pre-discharge alarm means. See Fire Suppression System Safety.

Housekeeping and walking surfaces

• ☐Exit routes and stairs are clear and lit, and exit signs are illuminated.
• ☐No combustible storage in electrical, battery, or mechanical rooms.
• ☐Spills are cleaned up and wet floor signs are used.
• ☐Extension cords are not used as permanent wiring.
• ☐Ladders and step stools are inspected and stored.
• ☐Loading dock edges are marked, and trailers are secured before loading.
• ☐Chemicals are labeled, and safety data sheets are available.

Contractor and permitted work

• ☐The contractor is prequalified, with training records on file.
• ☐Site orientation is complete: EPO, suppression alarms, evacuation, and restricted areas.
• ☐An approved MOP is in hand before work on critical systems.
• ☐Required permits are issued: energized work, hot work, confined space entry, work at heights, and fire protection impairment.
• ☐The site and contractor have exchanged energy control procedures and agreed on lock placement.
• ☐A site representative with stop-work authority is assigned.
• ☐At closeout, the area is restored, locks are removed under procedure, and permits are closed.

Emergency readiness

• ☐Evacuation routes and assembly points are posted.
• ☐Emergency contacts are current: utility, fire department, key vendors, and on-call staff.
• ☐First aid kits are stocked, and any AED is checked and ready.
• ☐Staff know how to safely release a person in contact with an energized part.
• ☐Written response steps exist for EPO activation, agent discharge, lithium-ion events, refrigerant leaks, and fuel spills.
• ☐Emergency lighting has been tested.
• ☐Radios are charged, and the notification call tree has been tested.
• ☐The local fire department has toured the site or has a current pre-plan.

Training and records

• ☐Everyone with floor access has completed electrical safety awareness training.
• ☐Workers exposed to electrical hazards have NFPA 70E training within the last three years.
• ☐The employer's qualification decisions are documented by equipment and task.
• ☐Lockout/tagout training is certified with names and dates, and each energy control procedure has had its periodic inspection within the last year.
• ☐Confined space training is certified where permit spaces exist.
• ☐Hearing conservation training has been repeated within the year for employees in the program.
• ☐Hazard communication training is complete, and safety data sheets are current.
• ☐Certificates of completion and course outlines are filed for every course taken.

For refresher rules by topic, see Data Center Safety Training.

How often should you use a data center safety checklist?

No single rule sets a walkthrough frequency for a whole data center. These are suggestions to adapt to your site, plus the one interval OSHA does set for lockout/tagout procedures.

Courses that go deeper

These self-paced courses explain the hazards behind each checklist section and award a certificate of completion.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.147, The control of hazardous energy (annual periodic inspection, training certification).
• OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.146, Permit-required confined spaces.
• OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.95, Occupational noise exposure (annual hearing conservation training).
• OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.1200, Hazard communication.

Keep learning

This checklist is general educational information, not engineering, legal, or compliance advice. Follow your employer's safety program, the equipment manufacturer's instructions, and the codes and regulations that apply at your site.