Emergency Plans Fact Sheet
Emergency Plans Fact Sheet
Emergency Plans Fact Sheet
This fact sheet provides general guidance for persons conducting a business or undertaking
(PCBUs) and workers on preparing and maintaining general emergency plans for fixed
workplaces under regulation 43 of the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations.
It does not cover additional requirements that apply to higher risk workplaces such as Major
Hazard Facilities.
The emergency plan should be based on a practical assessment of hazards associated with the
work activity or workplace, and the possible consequences of an emergency occurring as a
result of those hazards. External hazards should also be considered in preparing an emergency
plan, for example a chemical storage facility across the road.
In developing the plan, consideration should be given to the application of all relevant laws,
including public health laws (for example, workplaces that are also public places) and state or
territory disaster plans.
Special consideration may need to be provided for workers who travel for work, work alone or in
remote locations. The checklist on page 4 of this fact sheet provides examples of relevant
factors to consider.
For more information about these requirements refer to the relevant chapters in the WHS
Regulations and the related Codes of Practice.
Training may include practising evacuations, identifying assembly points, location of emergency
equipment, first aid arrangements and how to safely shut down machinery.
In determining training requirements, the following should be considered:
inclusion of emergency procedure training in induction courses for new workers
provision of refresher training for existing workers
provision of training for short-term contractors or visitors at the workplace (this may not need
to be as extensive as may be required for workers), and
provision of specific training for individuals who have a formal role in an emergency for
example fire wardens, floor wardens, first aid officers.
Shared workplaces
In shared workplaces PCBUs must consult, cooperate and coordinate activities with all other
persons who have a work health or safety duty in relation to the same matter, so far as is
reasonably practicable.
In shared workplaces where there are multiple PCBUs, a master emergency plan could be
prepared that all relevant duty holders use. Examples of shared workplaces include shopping
centres, construction sites or office buildings.
More information and guidance on consultation is available in the Code of Practice Work Health
and Safety Consultation, Cooperation and Coordination.
Further information
More work health and safety resources are available on the Safe Work Australia website.
Note: this fact sheet provides general information only and should not be used as a substitute for seeking
professional legal advice for your specific circumstances. The contents of this fact sheet are correct and
based on available information at the time of writing. However, there may be subsequent decisions of
courts or tribunals on the matter covered by this fact sheet which mean that the contents are no longer
accurate.
Yes No
CHECKLIST—EMERGENCY
Responsibilities
PLANS
Has someone with appropriate skills been made responsible for
specific actions in an emergency, for example managing an
evacuation or assigning area wardens?
Is someone responsible for making sure all workers and others in
the workplace, for example contractors, customers and visitors are
accounted for in an evacuation?
Do workers working alone know what to do in an emergency?
Are specific procedures in place for critical functions, for example
power shut-downs?
Evacuations
Have all emergencies requiring an evacuation at the workplace been
identified?
Has an evacuation procedure been prepared (if applicable)?
Does the procedure: address all types of situations and hazards
which may arise at the workplace
cover everyone who may be present at the workplace
allow for quick and safe evacuation when needed
clearly identify routes to safe assembly areas consider special
assistance for hearing, vision or mobility-impaired people, and
include a process for accounting for persons?
Chemical safety
Are current safety data sheets available for all hazardous chemicals
on site?
Are all hazardous chemicals labelled and stored in a safe manner?
Is appropriate equipment available to initially respond to a chemical
incident, for example absorbent material to contain a liquid spill?
Is appropriate personal protective equipment and training provided
to protect workers who are called on to deal with an unplanned
chemical release?
First aid
Has a first aid assessment been conducted?
Does the workplace have trained first aiders and suitable first aid
facilities?
Are workers aware of where first aid facilities are kept and who first
aiders are?
Neighbouring businesses
Have neighbouring businesses been considered if an emergency
occurs? How would they be advised of an emergency situation
arises (if applicable)?
Should they be consulted about the preparation and coordination of
emergency plans?
Have the risks from neighbouring businesses been considered, for
example fire from restaurant/takeaway food outlets, Q fever from
cattle yards or vehicle accidents on major roads?
Review
Are emergency plan practice runs undertaken to assess the
effectiveness of the emergency plan, for example evacuation drills?
Is someone responsible for documenting and retaining the results of
emergency plan practice runs?
Is someone responsible for reviewing the emergency plan and
informing workers of any revisions?