Product Overview

Summary: This Emergency Preparedness Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, step-by-step framework for planning, responding to, and recovering from workplace emergencies in line with Australian WHS requirements. It helps businesses coordinate people, systems and resources so that when an incident occurs, everyone knows exactly what to do, reducing confusion, downtime and risk to life.

Emergencies in the workplace rarely give warning, and when they do occur, the way your people respond in the first few minutes can be the difference between a controlled incident and a serious catastrophe. This Emergency Preparedness Safe Operating Procedure sets out a structured, repeatable system for identifying likely emergency scenarios, planning the response, training staff, and coordinating evacuation and communication. It is designed for Australian workplaces across industries, from offices and retail through to construction, manufacturing, warehousing and remote operations.

The SOP translates WHS legislative duties into practical, day-to-day actions: how to establish and maintain an emergency control organisation, how to run drills and warden training, how to manage visitors and contractors, and how to interface with emergency services. It addresses a wide range of potential emergencies including fire, medical incidents, chemical spills, bomb threats, extreme weather and loss of essential services. By implementing this procedure, businesses can demonstrate due diligence, protect workers and the public, and minimise operational disruption and reputational damage when things go wrong.

Beyond immediate response, the document also covers business continuity considerations such as incident documentation, debriefing, and improvement actions. This ensures each event or drill strengthens your overall resilience, rather than being treated as a one-off occurrence. The result is a confident workforce, a safer workplace, and a clear line of sight between your emergency planning and your broader WHS management system.

Key Benefits

• Ensure a consistent, site-specific approach to emergency planning and response across your organisation.
• Reduce the risk of injury, fatality and property damage by clearly defining roles, responsibilities and communication pathways.
• Demonstrate compliance with Australian WHS legislation and fire safety requirements through documented procedures and records.
• Improve staff confidence and competence in emergencies via structured drills, training and induction processes.
• Minimise business interruption and reputational damage by integrating emergency response with incident reporting and recovery processes.

Who is this for?

• WHS Managers
• Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)
• Business Owners and Directors
• Site and Operations Managers
• Facility Managers
• Emergency Wardens and Chief Wardens
• HR Managers
• Office Managers
• Construction Project Managers
• Manufacturing Supervisors

Hazards Addressed

• Fire and explosion incidents
• Smoke inhalation and burns
• Medical emergencies (cardiac events, serious injury, anaphylaxis)
• Chemical spills and hazardous substance exposure
• Gas leaks and loss of containment of hazardous atmospheres
• Natural disasters and severe weather events (flood, bushfire, storm)
• Electrical emergencies and loss of power
• Violence, threats and security-related incidents (bomb threats, armed intruders)
• Evacuation risks such as slips, trips, falls and crowd crush during egress
• Psychological harm and stress associated with emergency events

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Legal and Other Requirements
• 4.0 Roles and Responsibilities (PCBU, Officers, Managers, Wardens, Workers)
• 5.0 Emergency Risk Assessment and Scenario Identification
• 6.0 Emergency Control Organisation (Wardens and Chief Warden Structure)
• 7.0 Communication Systems and Emergency Contact Details
• 8.0 Emergency Equipment and Facilities (alarms, extinguishers, first aid, spill kits)
• 9.0 General Emergency Response Principles
• 10.0 Fire and Evacuation Procedures
• 11.0 Medical Emergency Response Procedures
• 12.0 Hazardous Chemical Spill and Gas Leak Procedures
• 13.0 Bomb Threat, Suspicious Package and Security Incident Procedures
• 14.0 Extreme Weather and Natural Disaster Procedures
• 15.0 Evacuation of Persons Requiring Assistance (PEEPs)
• 16.0 Training, Drills and Competency Requirements
• 17.0 Induction and Contractor/Visitor Information
• 18.0 Incident Reporting, Debriefing and Post‑Incident Review
• 19.0 Records, Documentation and Continuous Improvement
• 20.0 Document Control and Review

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and corresponding state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) – Emergency plans (Part 3.2, Regulation 43)
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities
• AS 3745: Planning for emergencies in facilities
• AS 4083: Planning for emergencies – Health care facilities (where applicable)
• AS 1851: Routine service of fire protection systems and equipment
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: First Aid in the Workplace