Emergency planning & response
Employers are responsible for planning and preparing for potential emergencies. The more prepared you are, the better you will be able to act to keep workers safe.
- Types of emergencies
- Elements of your emergency plan
- Involve workers in planning
Types of emergencies
As an employer you are responsible for planning and preparing for any type of emergency that could affect workers’ health and safety, or where you need to evacuate or rescue workers. The following questions will help you identify potential emergency situations:
- What environmental emergencies are likely for your area, such as wildfires, flooding, earthquakes, or avalanches?
- What are the potential emergency situations related to nearby infrastructure or industry? For example, could a railway derailment or industrial chemical release affect your workplace?
- Do you have any hazardous substances at your workplace that could result in an emergency or that could cause harm in the event of an emergency? Could the harms from an incident at your worksite extend offsite, and who could be affected?
See sections 4.13 to 4.18 of the OHS Regulation, and the corresponding OHS Guidelines, for more information on the requirements for emergency preparedness. In addition, see sections 5.97 to 5.104 of the OHS Regulation, as well as the related OHS Guidelines, for the requirements of emergency planning related to hazardous substances.
Elements of your emergency plan
What to include in your emergency plan depends on your specific workplace, but the following points will help you get started.
- Think about how your workers will need to respond to emergencies. Will workers need to evacuate or shelter in place? Will some workers be expected to respond to and/or control an emergency situation, such as fight a fire or contain a chemical spill?
- Consider how you will notify workers about an emergency and the need to evacuate or shelter in place.
- Ensure your emergency plan includes:
- How to contact emergency services, including internal and external emergency responders
- Evacuation routes and procedures
- List of emergency supplies and where they’re stored
- Work processes that will need be factored into your emergency plan, such as equipment shutdown
- Names of people or roles responsible for elements of the plan (e.g., designated emergency wardens)
- Review your first aid procedures and make sure they include emergency response situations.
- Review your local municipality and/or regional district’s emergency response provisions, and adjust your plan if needed to align with those provisions.
- Train all workers, including temporary and part-time workers, in your emergency response procedures. Make sure the procedures are included in your orientation and training for new workers.
- Conduct drills at least once a year or when workplace circumstances change. Use the drills as an opportunity to review the effectiveness of your plan, and revise your procedures if needed.
Involve workers in planning
Under the OHS Regulation, you’re required to consult with your joint health and safety committee, worker representative, or other workers when you develop certain elements of your emergency response plan (including your plan related to hazardous substances).
Your workers have first-hand experience about the risks and procedures in your workplace. Inviting their input, and having meaningful conversations about all aspects of managing risk, helps you make your emergency plan more effective.
Resources
Emergency evacuation planning for your workplace
Emergencies and disasters can happen any time and without warning. The more prepared you are for them, the better you'll be able to respond. This resource for employers will help you plan for emergencies...
Wildfire Evacuation Planning
If you needed to evacuate your crew, would you be ready? This resource lists items that employers who operate in remote locations should consider as part of an Emergency Evacuation Plan.
Emergency planning for hazardous substances: Risk assessment template
If you’re an employer, you’re required to assess the risk that any hazardous substances would pose in your workplace if there was an emergency. This modifiable template includes key questions...
Highlights
- New templates are available to help with emergency planning for hazardous substances Published on: February 06, 2025