Workplace Emergency Plans

Emergency planning

Under section 43 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (WHS Reg.), every workplace must prepare, maintain and implement an emergency plan (EP). 

In most cases, a workplace should prepare, maintain and implement their emergency plan (EP) in accordance with AS 3745–2010 Planning for Emergencies in Facilities. 

An Emergency Planning Committee’s role is to identify events that could reasonably produce emergency situations and to develop corresponding plans dealing with each emergency. An emergency planning consultant with relevant training, qualification and experience can assist with developing, reviewing and implementing the EP.

Emergency planning must be commensurate to the risks and hazards associated with each workplace, facility or industry. Depending on the case, emergency planning requirements may include the following:

Every Workplace

Every workplace must prepare, maintain and implement an EP appropriate for the workplace in accordance with section 43 of the WHS Reg. ACTF&R strongly recommends the EP be developed in accordance with AS 3745–2010.

Any additional standards, prescribed codes of practice, or other guidance materials applicable to a workplace will vary on a case-by-case basis, commensurate with identified risks and hazards. These are outlined in each section below, for the applicable site type or use.

Manifest Quantity Workplace

A workplace that uses, handles, generates or stores hazardous chemicals that exceeds the manifest quantity for that hazardous chemical (i.e. Schedule 11 of the WHS Reg.) must:

• prepare, maintain and implement an EP in accordance with section 43 of the WHS Reg.
• Provide a copy of the EP with ACTF&R in accordance with section 361 of the WHS Reg.
• revise the EP in accordance with recommendations, if provided by ACTF&R in accordance with section 361(3) of the WHS Reg.
• prepare a manifest of hazardous chemicals in accordance with section 347 of the WHS Reg. and keep the manifest in a readily accessible location.

Further information can be found in the Work Health and Safety (Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice) Approval 2022 

Major hazard facility – determined 

The operator of a facility that is determined by the regulator under Part 9.2 to be a major hazard facility (i.e. a determined MHF) must.

• develop the EP in accordance with the Safe Work Australia Guide for major hazard facilities – Emergency plans
• develop an Emergency Services Information Package (ESIP) in conjunction with the EP as required by the Safe Work Australia Guide for major hazard facilities – Emergency plans. For guidance on development of an ESIP contact ACTFR.FireSafety@act.gov.au
• consult with ACTF&R when preparing and developing the EP, in accordance with section 557(2) of the WHS Reg.
• consult with ACTF&R when reviewing and revising the EP, in accordance with section 559(3) of the WHS Reg.
• lodge a copy of the EP with ACTF&R in accordance with section 557(5) of the WHS Reg.

Major Hazard Facilities – licenced

The operator of a facility at which Schedule 15 chemicals are present or likely to be present in a quantity that exceeds their threshold quantity (i.e. a licenced MHF) must:

• develop the EP in accordance with the Safe Work Australia Guide for major hazard facilities – Emergency plans
• develop an Emergency Services Information Package (ESIP) in conjunction with the EP as required by the Safe Work Australia. For guidance on development of an ESIP contact ACTFR.FireSafety@act.gov.au
• consult with ACTF&R when preparing and developing the EP under section 557(2), in accordance with section 567(1) of the WHS Reg.
• lodge a copy of the EP with ACTF&R under section 557(5), in accordance with section 567(1) of the WHS Reg.
• test the emergency plan in accordance with the recommendations made by ACTF&R in accordance with section 567(2) of the WHS Reg.
• consult with ACTF&R when reviewing and revising the EP, in accordance with section 569(4) of the WHS Reg.

To lodge an Emergency Plan with ACT Fire & Rescue for review, send the plan to ACTFR.FireSafety@act.gov.au