“How do you report an emergency?” is one of the most common questions in Saudi Aramco HSE interviews, and it also comes in the Aramco MCQ paper. The answer comes from the Saudi Aramco Safety Handbook. Here is the exact order to follow, explained simply.
Step 1: Call the emergency number
Call the Saudi Aramco emergency number from an Aramco phone. The number and the other ways to call it are given in the Safety Handbook and on the signs at your site, so learn it before you start work.
Step 2: Say “This is an emergency”
As soon as the call connects, say clearly: “This is an emergency, this is an emergency, this is an emergency.” Keep repeating it until the person on the other side responds to you.
Step 3: Give this information, in this order
- Exact location of the incident. This is the most important point. If you give everything else but not the location, help will not know where to come.
- Nature of the emergency or incident: what type of emergency it is and what happened.
- Number of injured or missing people: how many people are involved and how many are hurt.
- Type of services required: fire, medical or security.
- Your name and badge or ID number.
- The telephone number you are calling from, if available.
Step 4: Do not hang up first
This is the most important note in the handbook. Do not end the call until the other person ends it. You may have given all the details, but the operator may want to check them with you. Maybe the location was written down wrongly or not written at all. Stay on the line, repeat anything they ask, correct any mistakes, and let them end the call.
Remember for the MCQ: AEC
One question you should know by heart for interviews and the Aramco MCQ paper: AEC stands for Area Emergency Center.
Quick answer for the interview
If the interviewer asks you this question, you can answer in one line: “I call the emergency number, say ‘This is an emergency’ until they respond, then give the exact location, nature of the emergency, number of injured or missing people, services needed, my name and ID and my phone number, and I do not hang up until they do.”
For what workers should do on site during an emergency, read my Emergency Response Toolbox Talk, and for more handbook questions see Saudi Aramco Safety Handbook: Basic Safety Rules Interview Questions.
Common mistakes when you report an emergency
- Hanging up too early. The operator may still need to confirm the location or ask a question. Let them end the call.
- Not giving a clear location. In panic, people say “near the site” or “over here”. Give the area, building, unit or gate, and a landmark nearby.
- Thinking someone else has already called. In a crowd, everyone waits for someone else. If you see an emergency and nobody is calling, you call.
- Talking too fast. Speak slowly and clearly so the operator can write the details correctly the first time.
Prepare before an emergency happens
- Learn the emergency number for your site and save it in your phone.
- Know the name of your area and the nearest landmarks, so you can describe your location quickly.
- Keep your badge or ID with you, because you will be asked for your ID number.
- Know where your assembly point is and who your area emergency contact is.
FAQ
What if I do not know the exact location?
Give the closest information you have: the area or plant name, the building or unit number, a gate number or any large landmark nearby. Then stay on the line and answer the operator’s questions.
Do I give the information even if I am not sure how many people are hurt?
Yes. Give your best estimate, say that you are not sure, and update the operator if you learn more. Do not delay the call to count people.
Is this question asked in interviews?
Yes. “How do you report an emergency?” is a very common question in Saudi Aramco HSE interviews and in the Aramco MCQ paper, so learn the order of the steps by heart.
Test yourself
Now check what you remember. Take the free How to Report an Emergency Quiz and see your score in a minute.