The Fire Danger Season is officially here, when bushfires can occur anywhere at any time and without warning in regional and peri-urban areas in South Australia. All businesses, organisations and individuals who work in or visit bushfire-risk areas need to develop and implement their own Bushfire Safety and Survival policies, plans and procedures.
The risk of bushfire to life, assets and business continuity is a real threat and needs to be addressed.
Bushfire safety plans and procedures need to be integral components of your daily operations. They can be included in your Integrated management system, work health and safety system and/or emergency management systems. They should be tailored to suit your operations and include simple things that can be acted upon. Before the plan is written it is critical to understand your level of bushfire risk, the Fire Danger Ratings, what type of fire could be expected and what actions are the most appropriate to suit the risk.
You also need to understand how the Fire Danger Season and Total Fire Bans will impact on your operations through legislative requirements for operation of machinery and equipment and the use of fire for cooking, personal comfort, fuel reduction or burn-offs.
The plan should reflect the needs of your business, staff, volunteers and clients. Once a plan has been prepared it must be practised to make sure it works and that all involved are familiar with their roles.
A written plan details what you need to help safeguard your people and your assets during the Fire Danger Season, on days of high-fire danger and if a fire threatens. Practising your plan clarifies what actions each member of your team will take and how you will monitor and communicate fire danger and emergency warnings, given different scenarios.
The Country Fire Service outlines
six key steps to prepare you and your business for the Fire Danger Season. The CFS recommended you follow each step and apply it to your own circumstances to prepare a Bushfire Safety and Survival Plan which addresses the needs of your business. The six key steps are:
- Understand bushfire danger
- Determine your bushfire risk
- Prepare your business
- Prepare your people
- Prepare your worksite
- Document and practise your plan
Regardless of where your business resides restrictions are in place from November to April for all South Australian residents. To avoid harsh penalties,
click here to download the CFS guide outlining all restrictions.