Preparing a Bushfire Response Plan

As a business owner it is your responsibility to make sure you, your staff and clients are safe in the event of a fire. A clear and concise bushfire response and emergency plan that your staff know how to use will go a long way to making sure they are safe. The Melbourne Fire and Emergency Services Board (MFB) provides training courses in emergency planning for businesses. Visit the MFB website for further details.

If you live in any at-risk area, join your local Community Fireguard group or attend a Fire Ready meeting in your local community. Meeting information is available from the Country Fire Authority (CFA) website.

Write down your bushfire response and emergency plan and practice it. Make sure to include a back-up plan. Use the following checklist to prepare a plan for your business:

Decisions to make

• decide how to prepare the property for a bushfire. (review the MFB's Workplace safety information vist the CFA website)
• decide who will be in charge during a fire or an evacuation
• decide on evacuation routes and emergency assembly sites. Make sure to include routes and information for special needs and culturally and linguistically diverse groups, including visitors or tourists
• decide how and who will communicate with employees and visitors during a fire
• decide how and who will check that records and other business assets are safe
• discuss with employees pay entitlements and leave arrangements should they be stood down or told not to report to work because of a fire threat. Find out more from the frequently asked question about pay and leave during a fire emergency  

Things to do

• have an emergency kit which includes first-aid and supplies for up to three days. Make sure employees know where it is
• identify staff who have first-aid qualifications and train further staff if needed
• have a list of contact details for staff members, including their emergency contact person
• identify which staff have the skills to help in an emergency, e.g. able to keep calm in a crisis
• talk to emergency service providers such as police, fire and ambulance services along with and other agencies such as VICSES and VicRoads to find out what they will want you to do during a fire

Visit the Emergency Contingency Plan page in this section for help with developing a plan for your business. Work Safe Victoria also have information and tips on developing an Emergency Management Plan (see external links on the right).

Tip: Insurance helps protect your business against risk. Talk to an insurance broker or financial adviser about cover for property, vehicles, income and business protection. The right insurance can be the difference between quick recovery and going under after a bushfire.

	Staff Details Form (DOC 50Kb)
	This template offers a formal process to record each staff member’s personal details, including their emergency contact person.