Product Overview

Summary: This Emergency Procedures Safe Operating Procedure sets out clear, step-by-step actions for responding to incidents such as fire, medical emergencies, chemical spills, natural disasters and security threats in Australian workplaces. It provides a structured, legally defensible approach so your people know exactly what to do in the first critical minutes, reducing harm, confusion and downtime.

When an emergency occurs, the first few minutes can determine whether an incident is contained and controlled, or escalates into a serious event with injuries, property damage and regulatory scrutiny. This Emergency Procedures Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, practical framework for identifying emergencies, raising the alarm, evacuating or sheltering in place, and coordinating with emergency services. It is designed specifically for Australian workplaces and aligns with WHS legislation, emergency planning guidance and industry best practice.

The SOP turns what is often an informal or ad-hoc approach into a documented, repeatable system that can be easily trained, tested and improved over time. It addresses common emergency scenarios such as fire, medical events, hazardous substance spills, loss of essential services, bomb threats, violence or armed intruders, and extreme weather. By implementing this procedure, businesses can demonstrate due diligence, support their duty of care, and give workers confidence that there is a well-rehearsed plan for getting everyone to safety and restoring normal operations as quickly as possible.

Key Benefits

• Ensure a consistent, rehearsed response to fires, medical incidents, spills and other emergencies across all work areas.
• Reduce confusion, panic and delays during critical moments by clearly defining roles, responsibilities and communication channels.
• Demonstrate compliance with Australian WHS duties and emergency planning requirements, supporting a strong safety culture.
• Minimise injury, property damage and business disruption through structured evacuation, containment and recovery actions.
• Streamline induction and refresher training with a single, documented reference for all workplace emergency procedures.

Who is this for?

• Business Owners
• PCBU Representatives
• WHS Managers
• Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)
• Site Supervisors
• Emergency Wardens and Chief Wardens
• Facilities and Building Managers
• HR Managers
• Operations Managers
• Office Managers
• School Principals and Administrators
• Aged Care and Healthcare Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Fire and explosion risks
• Medical emergencies (e.g. cardiac events, serious injury, anaphylaxis)
• Hazardous chemical spills and releases
• Electrical faults and loss of essential services
• Violence, aggression and security threats (including armed intruder scenarios)
• Natural disasters and extreme weather events (e.g. bushfire, flood, cyclone, severe storms)
• Smoke inhalation and exposure to toxic atmospheres during incidents
• Slips, trips and falls during evacuations or emergency movements
• Crowd crush and congestion at exits during building evacuations

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Key Terms
• 3.0 Legal and Other Requirements
• 4.0 Roles and Responsibilities (PCBU, Managers, Wardens, First Aiders, Workers)
• 5.0 Emergency Preparedness and Planning
• 6.0 Emergency Communication and Alarm Systems
• 7.0 General Emergency Response Principles
• 8.0 Fire and Smoke Emergency Procedures
• 9.0 Medical Emergency and First Aid Procedures
• 10.0 Hazardous Substance Spill and Gas Release Procedures
• 11.0 Bomb Threat, Suspicious Package and Security Incident Procedures
• 12.0 Armed Intruder or Occupational Violence Procedures
• 13.0 Natural Disaster and Extreme Weather Procedures
• 14.0 Evacuation Procedures and Assembly Area Management
• 15.0 Shelter-in-Place Procedures
• 16.0 Assisting Visitors and Persons Requiring Support (e.g. mobility, sensory or cognitive needs)
• 17.0 Interaction with Emergency Services and Incident Handover
• 18.0 Post-Incident Recovery, Debrief and Reporting
• 19.0 Training, Drills and Competency Requirements
• 20.0 Document Control, Review and Continuous Improvement

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and corresponding state/territory legislation)
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (and state/territory equivalents) – Emergency plans
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities
• Safe Work Australia – General Guide for Workplace Traffic Management (for evacuation routes and assembly areas)
• AS 3745:2010 Planning for emergencies in facilities
• AS 1851:2012 Routine service of fire protection systems and equipment
• AS 1670.1:2018 Fire detection, warning, control and intercom systems
• AS 4083:2010 Planning for emergencies – Health care facilities (where applicable)