Product Overview

Summary: This Adverse Weather Preparation SOP sets out clear, practical steps to protect workers, assets and operations before, during and after severe weather events. It helps Australian businesses anticipate and manage risks from storms, extreme heat, high winds, flooding and bushfire conditions, while maintaining compliance with WHS obligations and minimising disruption to work.

Across Australia, adverse weather is a predictable risk, not a surprise. Severe thunderstorms, cyclones, extreme heat, high winds, flooding and bushfire conditions can all create serious hazards for workers, contractors and the public. This Adverse Weather Preparation Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, step‑by‑step approach to planning for and responding to these events, tailored to the Australian climate and regulatory environment. It guides you through monitoring weather alerts, assessing site‑specific vulnerabilities, activating pre‑defined control measures, and making timely decisions about when to modify, suspend or resume work.

By implementing this SOP, businesses can demonstrate due diligence under WHS laws while reducing the likelihood of injuries, property damage, and costly operational downtime. The procedure supports a proactive safety culture by clearly defining roles and responsibilities, communication channels, escalation triggers, and documentation requirements. From securing loose materials and plant, to managing worker exposure to heat and lightning, to ensuring safe evacuation and re‑entry after an event, this SOP turns adverse weather from an unplanned emergency into a controlled, managed risk.

Key Benefits

• Ensure a consistent, defensible approach to managing severe weather risks across all sites and projects.
• Reduce the likelihood of weather‑related injuries, property damage and equipment loss.
• Improve decision‑making by setting clear triggers for work modification, suspension and resumption based on weather conditions.
• Strengthen WHS compliance by documenting risk assessments, control measures and communication during adverse weather events.
• Enhance workforce confidence through clear instructions on what to do before, during and after storms, heatwaves, high winds and other extreme conditions.

Who is this for?

• WHS Managers
• Health and Safety Advisors
• Operations Managers
• Site Supervisors
• Construction Project Managers
• Facilities Managers
• Warehouse and Logistics Managers
• Emergency Response Coordinators
• Farm and Agricultural Managers
• Local Government Works Supervisors

Hazards Addressed

• Worker exposure to extreme heat and heat stress, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke
• Slips, trips and falls on wet, muddy or debris‑strewn surfaces during and after storms
• Impact from flying debris and unsecured materials in high winds or cyclonic conditions
• Electrocution risks from lightning, damaged electrical infrastructure or water‑affected equipment
• Vehicle and mobile plant incidents due to reduced visibility, high winds, flooding or poor road conditions
• Structural instability or collapse of temporary works, scaffolds, hoardings and shelters under adverse weather loads
• Drowning or entrapment hazards associated with flash flooding, drains, pits and waterlogged excavations
• Smoke inhalation and reduced visibility associated with bushfires or hazard reduction burns
• Fatigue and impaired judgement due to extended shifts, emergency work and stressful conditions during severe weather events

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Weather Categories (Heatwaves, Storms, High Winds, Flooding, Bushfire Conditions)
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Authority to Suspend Work
• 4.0 Weather Monitoring and Early Warning Systems (BoM Alerts, Local Intelligence)
• 5.0 Risk Assessment for Adverse Weather (Site‑Specific and Task‑Specific)
• 6.0 Pre‑Event Preparation and Site Hardening (Securing Plant, Materials and Structures)
• 7.0 Controls for Extreme Heat and UV Exposure
• 8.0 Controls for Storms, Lightning and Heavy Rain
• 9.0 Controls for High Winds and Cyclonic Conditions
• 10.0 Controls for Flooding and Water‑Affected Areas
• 11.0 Controls for Bushfire Smoke, Ash and Nearby Fire Activity
• 12.0 Work Modification, Suspension and Evacuation Triggers
• 13.0 Communication, Consultation and Training Requirements
• 14.0 Emergency Response, First Aid and Incident Management During Adverse Weather
• 15.0 Post‑Event Inspection, Re‑Entry and Recovery of Operations
• 16.0 Documentation, Records and Continuous Improvement
• 17.0 References, Legislative Requirements and Related Procedures

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Regulations
• Safe Work Australia - Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia - Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia - Managing the Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia - Guide for Managing the Risks of Working in Heat
• AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems
• AS/NZS 1170.2: Structural design actions – Wind actions (for consideration of wind loads on temporary structures and site planning)
• Local State Emergency Service (SES) and Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) guidance for severe weather and flood warnings