Product Overview

Summary: This Fire Safety Safe Operating Procedure sets out clear, practical steps for preventing workplace fires and responding quickly and safely if one occurs. Designed for Australian businesses, it helps you meet WHS obligations, protect workers and visitors, and minimise damage, disruption and liability in the event of a fire.

Fire is one of the most serious and time‑critical emergencies a workplace can face. Even a small incident can escalate quickly, placing workers, visitors and first responders at risk, while causing costly damage and long‑term business interruption. This Fire Safety Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, step‑by‑step framework for how your organisation prevents, detects, responds to and recovers from fire events, tailored to Australian WHS expectations and building fire safety requirements.

The procedure translates legislative and technical fire safety obligations into clear, practical actions for everyday operations. It defines how to control ignition sources, manage flammable and combustible materials, maintain fire protection systems, and conduct orderly evacuations using your site’s Emergency Control Organisation and wardens. By implementing this SOP, you create a consistent, trainable process that supports your emergency plans, strengthens compliance with WHS legislation and relevant Australian Standards, and gives your people confidence to act quickly and safely under pressure.

For businesses of any size—from offices and retail through to warehouses, healthcare, education and light industrial—this SOP helps close the gap between having fire equipment on site and actually using it correctly when it counts. It clarifies roles and responsibilities, embeds regular drills and inspections, and provides defensible documentation that can be relied upon in regulator interactions, insurance discussions and post‑incident investigations.

Key Benefits

• Ensure a consistent, site‑specific approach to fire prevention, detection, evacuation and first response across your organisation.
• Reduce the likelihood and impact of workplace fires through structured hazard identification and control of ignition sources and fuel loads.
• Demonstrate due diligence and compliance with Australian WHS laws, building fire safety requirements and relevant Australian Standards.
• Strengthen worker competence and confidence through clear instructions for fire wardens, ECO members and general occupants.
• Minimise business disruption, property damage and potential liability by standardising emergency response, communication and post‑incident actions.

Who is this for?

• Business Owners
• PCBU Representatives
• WHS Managers
• Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)
• Facility and Building Managers
• Operations Managers
• Site Supervisors
• Fire Wardens and Emergency Control Organisation (ECO) Members
• HR and Training Managers
• Office Managers
• Warehouse and Logistics Managers
• School and Childcare Centre Directors
• Aged Care and Healthcare Managers
• Retail Store Managers
• Hospitality Venue Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Uncontrolled ignition sources (electrical faults, hot work, smoking, open flames)
• Accumulation of combustible materials (paper, packaging, waste, dust)
• Improper storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids and gases
• Blocked, locked or poorly signed emergency exits and egress routes
• Failure or misuse of portable fire extinguishers and fire blankets
• Inadequate maintenance or impairment of fire detection and alarm systems
• Smoke inhalation and exposure to toxic combustion products
• Panic, congestion and trip hazards during evacuation
• Re‑entry into unsafe areas and exposure to structural collapse or falling debris
• Lack of coordination with emergency services during an incident

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (PCBU, Officers, Workers, Fire Wardens, ECO)
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Fire Risk Assessment and Hazard Identification
• 6.0 Fire Prevention and Housekeeping Requirements
• 7.0 Control of Ignition Sources (Electrical, Hot Work, Smoking, Open Flames)
• 8.0 Management of Flammable and Combustible Materials
• 9.0 Fire Protection Systems and Equipment (Extinguishers, Blankets, Alarms, Sprinklers)
• 10.0 Pre‑Use Checks, Inspections and Maintenance Interface
• 11.0 Emergency Warning, Communication and Alarm Activation
• 12.0 Evacuation Procedures and Use of Assembly Areas
• 13.0 Fire Warden and ECO Procedures
• 14.0 Use of Portable Fire Extinguishers and Fire Blankets (First‑Attack Firefighting)
• 15.0 Coordination with Emergency Services (000) and Site Access
• 16.0 Special Considerations (Vulnerable Persons, After‑Hours, Contractors, Visitors)
• 17.0 Post‑Incident Actions, Debrief and Reporting
• 18.0 Training, Induction and Emergency Drills
• 19.0 Recordkeeping and Document Control
• 20.0 Review, Audit and Continuous Improvement

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and relevant state/territory variations)
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth and relevant state/territory variations)
• Safe Work Australia – Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice
• AS 3745: Planning for emergencies in facilities
• AS 1851: Routine service of fire protection systems and equipment
• AS 2444: Portable fire extinguishers and fire blankets – Selection and location
• AS 1670 series: Fire detection, warning, control and intercom systems
• National Construction Code (NCC) – Building Code of Australia (BCA) fire safety provisions