A documented protocol that instructs employees on what to do in the event of an emergency is known as an emergency plan.This information sheet explains how to develop and manage an emergency plan for your workplace as a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU).
What should an emergency plan contain?
The following items must be included in any emergency plans:
Among the emergency protocols are:
an emergency reaction that is effective.
methods for evacuation.
protocols for alerting emergency services as soon as possible.
To ensure that the person you’ve designated to manage the emergency response and everyone else at work communicate effectively,
There are plans for putting the emergency procedures to the test, including how often they’ll be tested.
Relevant personnel will get knowledge, training, and guidance in order to carry out the emergency measures.
A thorough floor plan indicating where emergency equipment and first-aid supplies may be found, as well as the placement of utilities, should be included in your emergency plan.
What to think about while putting together an emergency plan
When developing your emergency plan, keep the following in mind:
The workplace’s size and location
The number of employees
The nature of the job being done and the dangers that may exist in the workplace
These are the sorts of emergency scenarios that may arise at your job. For example,
A fire or gas leak
electricity or water outage.
Natural disasters
robberies and bomb threats.
Workplace and industry-specific emergency plans should be developed. If the work is low-risk, emergency plans may not need to be extensive or elaborate. More extensive strategies will be necessary in higher-risk circumstances.
Everyone on the job should understand who is in charge of activating and coordinating emergency protocols, as well as what they must do to keep themselves and others safe in the event of an emergency.
Keeping emergency preparations up-to-date and putting them to the test
A well-kept emergency plan should be reviewed and updated on a regular basis.
When job activities or the physical workplace are altered,
If the employees in charge of emergency situations change,
If new dangers have been discovered,
At least once a year, emergency preparations should be evaluated. Testing can be as easy as imagining a situation (for example, a fire) and running it through the plan, or conducting a simulated emergency, such as a fire drill, to see how effectively the plan works.
A review should be done after any testing to identify areas for improvement or upgrading. This should entail soliciting and taking into account input from your employees.
Employee involvement
When making choices concerning emergency preparations or suggesting changes that may affect their health or safety, you must consult with your employees.