Emergency Plans – Every Workplace Needs One

What is an Emergency Plan?

An Emergency Plan is a written document that outlines what workers and visitors to a workplace should do in an emergency. An Emergency Plan must provide for emergency procedures, responses to an emergency, evacuation procedures, notification to emergency services, medical treatment and assistance and effective communication during an emergency. It will include testing of the emergency procedures, frequency of testing and training and instruction about implementing the emergency procedures.

The Emergency Plan will take into consideration the size, risk factors, systems, procedures occupant numbers and hours of occupation of the facility. All occupants should have access to the Emergency Plan and according to Australian Standard 1851 Emergency Evacuation Procedures, it is a requirement that the Emergency plan is reviewed annually

Australian Standard 3745-2010 – Planning for Emergencies in facilities – Section 3 stipulates that every workplace requires an Emergency Plan. The Emergency Plan will document how the facility responds to and manages emergency situations.

Who is responsible for preparing an Emergency Plan?

The Emergency Planning Committee, generally in combination with the Emergency Control Organisation or Wardens will oversee the preparation and the maintenance of the Emergency Plan for your facility. They will determine the types of emergencies specific to the facility that require emergency response procedures within the Emergency Plan. Often, facilities will enlist the assistance of qualified consultants to help prepare their Emergency Plan. Workplace Emergency Management offers this service and our qualified consultants have extensive experience in preparing site specific Emergency Plans.

When developing an Emergency Plan, facilities need to consider:

• Prevention – steps taken to eliminate the risk of emergencies.
• Preparation – steps taken to ensure resources and processes are in place to handle an emergency situation, should it occur in the workplace.
• Risk Reduction – steps taken to reduce the likelihood of emergencies occurring.
• Preparation – steps taken to prepare for an emergency such as training and equipment maintenance.
• Emergency response procedures.
• Roles and responsibilities of the facility occupants including Wardens and staff.

What must an Emergency Plan include?

There are a number of essential requirements for an Emergency Plan. Workplace Emergency Management will ensure that your Emergency Plan which will include as a minimum:

• A purpose and scope.
• Details of the structure and purpose of the EPC.
• Specification of the relevant facilities.
• Descriptions of the emergency features (safety, fire and security).
• The organisational arrangements for the facility.
• The emergency identification outcomes.
• The emergency response procedures.
• Copy of evacuation diagram/s.
• Training arrangements.
• Emergency response and evacuation exercises.
• Review and amendment provisions.
• A distribution record.
• Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) for people with disabilities.
• Facility hours of occupancy.
• The nominated validity period.
• The date of issue or amendment on each page.

What does a Workplace Emergency Management Emergency Plan include?

In addition to the essential requirements of your site-specific Emergency Plan, Workplace Emergency Management can incorporate a number of key elements that will ensure compliance and put your facility in a position of complete preparedness. We can include:

• Detailed site information.
• Detailed emergency equipment information.
• Emergency locations and Assembly Areas.
• After hours procedures.

We can also customise you Emergency Plan to include any other information relevant to your facility.

Need Help with your Workplace Emergency Plan?

Preparing an Emergency Plan is not an easy task and it requires a lot of detail. Workplace Emergency Management have years of experience preparing Emergency Plans for a broad range of facilities across many industries. We take the stress out of the process and provide qualified consultants to guide you through the process and take on the bulk of the hard work.

Your Consultant will contact you for information on your facility and obtain all the relevant facility information, contact numbers and designated Emergency Personnel. Where necessary, your consultant will visit your site at a time that is suitable to you to check your facility for site specific hazards that could be of danger in an emergency.

Once the phone consultation or site visit is completed, your consultant will create a complete plan for all the types of Emergencies that could affect your facility incorporating the organisation’s arrangements, systems, strategies and procedures relating to the response to and management of emergencies.

A draft plan will be created using the information gathered about your facility and be sent to you electronically to review. If any changes are required, they will be corrected and sent back to you. Once the draft is approved by you, the final copy will be forwarded to you electronically.

Our friendly staff are available and awaiting your call on 1300 831 694