


Question 1. Where do I obtain information on Emergency Planning?

Information on Emergency Planning can be found in the News/Info page on this site listed under General.

Question 2. Why is it important to understand the capabilities, roles and responsibilities of emergency services?

In the event of an emergency situation at your workplace, personnel currently on scene will be responsible for specific emergency actions including evacuation if deemed necessary.  Upon arrival the of emergency services it will be necessary for a person to be designated to meet and brief these agencies on a range of matters.  These matters will include the status of people on the site (evacuated, sheltering in place, missing persons and their possible locations), the nature of the emergency, actions already taken and the location of building services isolation points (e.g. gas, electricity) etc.

Question 3. Is it mandatory to exercise Emergency Plans?

This will depend on the location of your business in Australia and the type of business you operate.  In some areas this requirement is legislated, however there are general provisions in the WH&S/OH&S Legislation regarding the health and safety of workers.  In addition to this the AS 3745—2010 Planning for emergencies in facilities and AS 4083-2010 Planning for emergencies- Health care facilities contain specific information.

Question 4. How do I exercise Emergency Plans?

Emergency Plans may be exercised in a variety of ways.  This may include an evacuation drill, discussion or tabletop exercise or more complex practical exercise.

Question 5. Is Emergency Preparedness a part of Business Continuity?

Business Continuity is the capability of the organization to continue delivery of products or services at acceptable predefined levels following a disruptive incident such as an emergency.  Emergency preparedness cannot be considered separately from the discipline of Business Continuity because Business Continuity forms an integral part of building capability to respond to, and recover from situations which are wider than an operational disruption.

Question 6. What is a resilient organisation?

A resilient organisation is forward thinking and able to adapt to changing circumstances which may have damaging effects on the organisation’s ability to survive.  These include such things as changes to the market in which the organisation operates, competitors, legislation, technology etc., as well as incidents that disrupt the organisation’s ability to deliver its products and services.  Business Continuity helps an organisation to build and improve resilience and provides the capability for an effective response to threatening events.  As such, Business Continuity is one of the key disciplines required in any organisation who aims to be a resilient organisation.

What is an evacuation diagram?

The Australian Standard AS 3745-2010 ‘Planning for emergencies in facilities’ defines an evacuation diagram as ‘emergency and evacuation information about the facility, comprising a pictorial representation of a floor or area and other relevant response information’.  The following image is an example of a building evacuation diagram.

Picture shows an example of an evacuation diagram that is normally displayed in a building to assist occupants to find exits in an emergency evacuation