Emergency Response Planning (ERP)

Any person that conducts a business or undertaking (otherwise known an PCBUs) must make sure that an Emergency Plan is prepared for the workplace. It must also cater to workers that might be working in at a number of different sites. It doesn’t matter if the PCBU is for profit or not for profit.

– Public and private companies
– Partners in a partnership
– Sole traders and self employed people
– Government departments and authorities
– Associations if they have one or more employees
– Local government councils
– Independent schools
– Cooperatives
– Universities

According to Safe Work Australia, a PCBU must make, test, maintain, implement and arrange training for the emergency plan.

As a business owner, you want to protect the safety of your workers, visitors and tenants as if you would for your own home. It is not just legally required, but it is your duty to adequately maintain your business in the best interest of your workforce and yourself.

In a situation where there are a number of different PCBUs, like in a shared workplace like a shopping centre or construction site, all the PCBUs must collectively coordinate to perform their work health and safety duties to the best of their abilities given the reasonable practical limitations.

A Master Emergency Plan can be prepared to eliminate some of the confusion and to make sure that everyone is on the same page. In order to comply with WHS Regulations, it is essential that nothing slips through the gaps.

An emergency plan may include practical information for workers such as:

• Internal Emergency Contact Details – This includes the phone numbers of key personnel who have specific roles or responsibilities under the emergency plan like fire wardens, floor wardens and first aid officers.

• External Contact Details – The information of local emergency services, such as the police, the fire brigade and poison information centre.

• Explanation of Alerts – a description of the mechanisms for alerting people at the workplace to an emergency or possible emergency, for example, the siren or bell alarm used in an emergency evacuation.

• Evacuation Procedure – The steps in the evacuation procedure including arrangements for assisting any hearing, vision or people with mobility impairments.

• The Map – The map of the workplace illustrating the location of fire protection equipment, emergency exits, assembly points in the workplace.

• Post-Incident Procedures – The triggers and processes for advising neighbouring businesses about emergencies, and the post-incident follow-up process, for example, notifying the regulator, organising trauma counselling or handling medical treatment. The procedures for testing the emergency plan including the frequency of testing must be included.