An emergency plan is a written instruction that outlines what workers and others at the workplace should do in an emergency.
WHS legislation states that an emergency plan must provide for the following:
- Emergency procedures, including an effective response to an emergency;
- Evacuation procedures;
- Notifying emergency service organisations at the earliest opportunity;
- Medical treatment and assistance;
- Effective communication between the person authorised to coordinate the emergency response and all people at the workplace;
- Testing of the emergency procedures—including the frequency of testing, and information, training and instruction to workers about the emergency procedures; and
- Training in emergency procedures.
- Workers must be adequately trained in emergency procedures. Arrangements for information, training and instruction of workers must be set out in the emergency plan itself. 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:
- Including the emergency procedure training in induction courses for new workers;
- Providing refresher training for existing workers;
- Providing training for short-term contractors or visitors at the workplace; and
- Providing specific training for people who have a formal role in an emergency for example fire wardens and first aid officers.
What types of emergencies should be covered?
The types of emergencies to plan for can include fire, explosion, medical emergency, rescues, incidents with hazardous chemicals, bomb threats, armed confrontations and natural disasters.
The emergency plan should be based on a practical assessment of hazards that are associated with the workplace. External hazards should also be considered in preparing an emergency plan, for example a chemical storage facility across the road.
What to include in an emergency plan
- An emergency plan may include practical information for workers such as:
- Emergency contact details for key personnel who have specific roles or responsibilities under the emergency plan, for example fire wardens and first aid officers;
- Contact details for local emergency services, for example police, fire brigade and poison information centre;
- A description of the mechanisms for alerting people at the workplace to an emergency or possible emergency, for example siren or bell alarm;
- Evacuation procedures including arrangements for assisting any hearing, vision or mobility-impaired people;
- A map of the workplace showing the location of fire protection equipment, emergency exits, assembly points;
- Triggers and processes for advising neighbouring businesses about emergencies;
- The post-incident follow-up process, for example notifying the regulator, organising trauma counselling or medical treatment; and
- Procedures for testing the emergency plan including the frequency of testing must be included.
Access to the emergency plan
Emergency plans, or a summary of key elements of emergency plans, should be readily accessible by workers or on display in the workplace, for example on a notice board.