Responding to emergencies in temporary traffic management

Plan for emergencies

Employers should plan for emergencies in all workplaces they manage or control.

As an employer, you have a duty to provide the necessary information, instruction and training employees need to do their work safely. In fulfilling this duty, you should consider and document what emergency procedures may be necessary in your workplace. Doing this can help you plan for emergencies. It can help keep employees and others safe.

Provide your employees with information, instruction and training in how to respond in emergencies. This is particularly important for employees with roles in emergencies. For example, fire wardens.

You, or those with management or control of the workplace, may also need to consider providing emergency response items. This includes, for example, firefighting equipment.

Emergency management plans

You should ensure all workplaces under your management and control have an emergency management plan. The plan will clearly tell employees what they need to do in an emergency. Ensure employees can access the plan at all times. The plan needs to:

• give employees the tools to respond safely to emergencies that could threaten life, health or property
• include the controlled exit of people from the workplace
• expand on action required under Victorian legislation, regulations and guidelines.

There are different kinds of emergencies. They include incidents that could pose a threat to life, health or property. Make sure your plan tells you and your employees how to respond safely to such incidents.

The plan needs to be based on the hazards in the work or workplace and the possible consequences of those hazards. Hazards near the site can also affect the safety of the workplace. Consider these hazards when creating the plan. The plan needs to suit the size of the worksite, the hazards and the number and type of occupants at the worksite.

The plan should identify and list key emergency personnel, such as fire wardens and first aid staff. Include photographs and contact details of emergency personnel, where possible.

Ensure that the plan is written down. The processes in the plan need to be simple, clear and flexible. All employees must be able to access the plan at any time.

Ensure the emergency management plan is included in the induction process for new employees entering the site.

Also ensure employees, managers and supervisors are taught and trained in how to respond in an emergency. Have regular practice runs for relevant emergency procedures.

The Victorian Government’s Business website can help with your emergency planning. Resources on the website include downloadable checklists and toolkits to help respond to a range of disasters.