Product Overview

Summary: This Emergency Procedures and Evacuation SOP sets out clear, step-by-step instructions for managing workplace emergencies and safely evacuating people from your site. It helps Australian businesses meet their WHS obligations, minimise confusion during critical incidents, and protect workers, visitors, and contractors when every second counts.

When an emergency occurs, people do not rise to the occasion—they fall back on their training and the systems you have in place. This Emergency Procedures and Evacuation Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, easy-to-follow framework for responding to fires, medical incidents, chemical spills, security threats, loss of essential services and other foreseeable emergencies in Australian workplaces. It clearly defines who does what, how alarms are raised, when to evacuate or shelter in place, and how to account for all persons on site.

The SOP is designed to support compliance with Australian WHS legislation and relevant emergency planning standards, while remaining practical for day-to-day operations. It addresses common gaps such as unclear warden roles, inconsistent evacuation drills, confusion over assembly areas, and poor communication with emergency services. Whether you manage an office, warehouse, school, healthcare facility, construction site or mixed-use building, this document helps you embed a consistent, defensible emergency management process that can be easily communicated, trained and audited across your organisation.

Key Benefits

• Ensure a rapid, coordinated response to workplace emergencies, reducing panic and confusion.
• Reduce the risk of injury, fatality and property damage through clearly defined evacuation and emergency actions.
• Demonstrate due diligence and compliance with Australian WHS legislation and emergency planning standards.
• Standardise emergency roles, responsibilities and communication protocols across multiple sites or departments.
• Improve training effectiveness and drill outcomes with clear, repeatable procedures and checklists.

Who is this for?

• Business Owners and PCBU Representatives
• WHS Managers and WHS Advisors
• Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)
• Emergency Wardens and Chief Wardens
• Site and Facility Managers
• Operations Managers
• Human Resources Managers
• Office Managers and Practice Managers
• Construction Site Supervisors
• Warehouse and Logistics Managers
• School and Campus Administrators
• Aged Care and Healthcare Facility Managers
• Retail Store Managers
• Manufacturing and Plant Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Fire and smoke in buildings, warehouses and plant areas
• Explosion risks from flammable gases, vapours or combustible dusts
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals due to spills, leaks or releases
• Medical emergencies and sudden illness in the workplace
• Violence, armed intruder and security-related threats
• Loss of essential services (power, water, gas, communications) impacting safety systems
• Structural damage or collapse following impact or severe weather events
• Entrapment or inability to exit due to blocked or poorly managed escape routes
• Crowd crush, slips, trips and falls during rushed evacuations
• Psychological stress and trauma arising from unmanaged critical incidents

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Key Terms
• 3.0 Legal and Regulatory Requirements
• 4.0 Roles and Responsibilities (PCBU, Managers, Wardens, Workers, Visitors)
• 5.0 Emergency Planning Committee and Consultation with Workers
• 6.0 Types of Emergencies Covered (Fire, Medical, Chemical, Security, Utilities, Natural Events)
• 7.0 Emergency Communication and Alarm Systems
• 8.0 Initial Response and Incident Notification Procedures
• 9.0 Evacuation Triggers and Decision-Making Criteria
• 10.0 Step-by-Step Evacuation Procedure
• 11.0 Shelter-in-Place and Lockdown Procedures
• 12.0 Assembly Areas and Headcount Procedures
• 13.0 Assisting Persons with Disabilities or Special Needs
• 14.0 Coordination with Emergency Services (000) and Building Management
• 15.0 Post-Incident Actions, Debrief and Reporting
• 16.0 Training, Induction and Emergency Drills
• 17.0 Document Control, Review and Continuous Improvement
• Appendix A – Site-Specific Emergency Contact List
• Appendix B – Warden Structure and Role Descriptions
• Appendix C – Evacuation Maps and Assembly Point Diagrams
• Appendix D – Emergency Drill Checklist and Record Form
• Appendix E – Incident and Near Miss Reporting Form

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and relevant state/territory variants)
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth and relevant state/territory variants)
• Safe Work Australia – Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice
• AS 3745: Planning for emergencies in facilities
• AS 1851: Routine service of fire protection systems and equipment
• AS 2293.1: Emergency escape lighting and exit signs for buildings – System design, installation and operation
• AS 2419.1: Fire hydrant installations – System design, installation and commissioning
• State and territory fire and emergency service guidelines for workplace emergency planning