Product Overview

This Bushfire Safety Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is designed to identify, control, and manage the risks associated with working in areas exposed to bushfire and wildfire hazards, helping your team maintain strong WHS compliance. It is a comprehensive document that covers multiple aspects of Bushfire Safety SWMS, from prevention and preparedness through to emergency response and safe evacuation procedures.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Planning and implementing procedures to safely evacuate in case of a bushfire in the vicinity of the worksite
• Identification, assessment, and ongoing management of bushfire risks in and around the workplace
• Coordination of wildfire response activities, including communication, reporting, and liaison with emergency services
• Establishing and maintaining defendable space, asset protection zones, and clear access/egress routes
• Selection, inspection, and use of fire-fighting equipment such as extinguishers, fire blankets, and hose reels
• Development and practice of site-specific bushfire emergency response plans and drills
• Management of hot works (grinding, welding, cutting) and ignition sources during periods of elevated fire danger
• Control of vegetation, fuel loads, and combustible materials around structures, plant, and storage areas
• Safe operation and shutdown procedures for plant, machinery, and vehicles during bushfire events
• Communication protocols, including use of radios, mobile phones, and alert systems during bushfire conditions
• Worker training, induction, and competency requirements for operating in bushfire-prone environments
• Health and safety controls for exposure to smoke, heat stress, reduced visibility, and poor air quality
• Traffic management and public interface controls when evacuating or moving vehicles in smoky or low-visibility conditions

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for construction and civil contractors, land management crews, utilities and infrastructure workers, facility managers, and site supervisors operating in bushfire-prone or wildfire-affected areas.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017
• Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice: Relevant where evacuation or access involves work at heights or elevated structures
• Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice: Guidance on providing safe access, egress, and amenities during bushfire conditions
• How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice: Framework for identifying, assessing, and controlling bushfire-related hazards
• Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice: Applicable where emergency sirens, plant, and machinery are used in wildfire response
• Safe Work Australia – Guide for Managing the Risks of Working in Heat: Controls for heat stress and thermal exposure during bushfire events
• Safe Work Australia – Guidance on Air Pollution and Smoke from Bushfires: Controls for worker exposure to smoke and reduced air quality