Use our guide to creating a resilient bushfire safety plan to protect employees, and assets, and ensure operational continuity.
With another summer on the horizon, concerns that bushfires may swiftly turn dangerous in New South Wales are rising. Reports say the Rural Fire Service will complete only 44 per cent of the targeted hazard reduction burns in NSW before October. Windy, wet, and warm conditions have delayed progress. This year’s limited rainfall may also create a tough summer ahead. Small businesses must prepare now in response to these intensified threats.
Australian businesses must prepare a resilient bushfire safety plan to protect employees, and assets, and ensure operational continuity. Bushfires can impact businesses, extending beyond property damage. Supply chain interruptions, road closures, and power outages can suspend operations. Your business may not be in a high-risk area, but you must prepare for indirect disruptions.
In this article, you’ll find critical steps to improve your bushfire readiness. You’ll learn about risk assessment, employee safety measures, and strengthening supply chain resilience. ISO 45001 certified businesses, or those considering certification, will find out how comprehensive HSEQ (Health, Safety, Environment, and Quality) management can enhance bushfire preparedness.
Assessing Bushfire Risks for Your Business
A bushfire safety plan begins with a comprehensive risk assessment. This entails assessing direct threats, like proximate fire hazards, and indirect threats, including road closures, supply chain disruptions, or communication failures that may affect business operations. Use the checklist below to conduct a thorough evaluation.
Bushfire Risk Assessment Checklist
Risk Area | Checklist Item | Action |
Fire Hazards | Identify nearby vegetation and bushland | Assess the risk of fire spread from surrounding areas |
Review any flammable materials stored on-site | Ensure these are stored safely and away from ignition sources | |
Establish a defensible space around buildings | Remove excess vegetation, debris, and other fuel sources from around buildings | |
Infrastructure Vulnerability | Inspect building materials for fire resistance | Prioritise fire-resistant materials for walls, doors, and windows |
Test fire suppression systems (sprinklers, fire extinguishers) | Schedule regular maintenance and staff training | |
Identify backup access routes for emergency response teams | Mark emergency routes and ensure they are accessible and clear | |
Operational Disruptions | Prepare for power outages and communication failures | Invest in backup power sources, such as generators or batteries |
Test communication channels for emergency updates | Use reliable methods (radio, phone trees, apps) to keep employees informed | |
Ensure on-site communication tools are available (e.g., radios, apps) | Equip key staff with devices for ongoing contact during emergencies | |
Supply Chain Resilience | Confirm supplier contingency plans | Work with suppliers who have alternative options for bushfire-related disruptions |
Identify critical supplies at risk of delay | Stock up on essentials to prevent shortages during road closures | |
Map out alternate delivery routes for incoming and outgoing supplies | Plan for transportation alternatives to avoid affected routes |
A thorough bushfire risk assessment can help you protect your workers, resources, infrastructure, and business operations. Using a unified HSEQ management platform can make risk assessments easier and ensure ISO 45001 compliance.
Building a Comprehensive Business Continuity Plan
Your bushfire safety plan must include a business continuity plan. Given Australia’s significant bushfire risk, having a continuity plan is essential for minimising disruptions and facilitating quicker recovery. Consider these three important areas to concentrate on:
Creating a Clear Evacuation and Safety Protocol
Businesses must establish clear and designated evacuation routes along with safety procedures. Evacuation plans must consider staff locations, site layout, and potential hazards. All evacuation routes must be kept clear and accessible. Alternative paths must be ready in case smoke or fire affects primary routes.
Regular safety drills are a crucial component of these protocols. Drills help ensure all employees understand the evacuation process, know the appropriate locations to go during emergencies, and are confident about their actions. Regularly reinforcing these protocols is essential for an effective bushfire safety plan.
Ensuring Communication Channels are in Place
Communication is a key part of a good business continuity plan. Reliable channels with employees, suppliers, and customers enable real-time updates and minimise confusion during bushfire emergencies. Organisations should implement multi-channel alerts like SMS, email, and in-app notifications to ensure updates reach everyone quickly, even if some communication lines are down. This communication helps reduce delays, especially during transportation or supply chain issues.
The Planning and Communication module in FocusIMS streamlines the process by providing a central platform for updates and tracking responses. Businesses in bushfire-prone areas should have contact lists and pre-drafted messages for quick and clear communication.
Keeping Insurance and Compliance Up-to-Date
Updating insurance policies is crucial for bushfire preparedness. Insurance policies must cover property damage, equipment loss, and business interruption related to bushfire risks. Before bushfire season, check with insurance providers to confirm coverage and update policies to support continuity and recovery.
Staying current with ISO 45001 requirements can improve workplace health and safety during bushfire season. ISO 45001 encourages risk assessment and hazard prevention, supporting a strong bushfire safety plan.
Using FocusIMS Modules to Support Bushfire Preparedness
FocusIMS provides a unified solution to simplify and enhance essential elements of a bushfire safety plan. Our software allows businesses to assess risks, communicate with teams, and protect assets—all in one location.
The table below shows how FocusIMS modules can help your business prepare for bushfires:
FocusIMS Module | Function in Bushfire Preparedness | How It Supports Health and Safety Goals |
Risk Management | Identifies and assesses bushfire-related risks at each site, integrating with your safety protocols. | Ensures systematic risk assessment and regular updates to meet ISO 45001 requirements. |
Planning & Communication | Helps manage emergency communication channels and automate alerts for real-time updates on bushfire conditions. | Facilitates consistent, rapid communication with employees, reducing delays in action. |
Asset Management | Tracks all site assets and equipment to support safe evacuation and rapid replacement if assets are damaged or lost. | Maintains up-to-date asset records, supporting site preparedness and insurance claims. |
Supplier Management | Manages supplier relationships, allowing businesses to identify alternate suppliers in case of supply chain disruption. | Reduces downtime by preparing for potential supply issues, keeping site operations running smoothly. |
Personnel Management | Monitors staff safety and keeps an active log of employee locations, certifications, and contact information during emergencies. | Supports employee health and safety by ensuring accurate information for evacuation and response. |
Field Service | Facilitates on-site checks, allowing for immediate status updates on equipment, site conditions, and accessibility. | Enables businesses to monitor and respond to site conditions efficiently, preventing on-site hazards. |
Safeguarding Employee Health and Safety
Bushfires create flames, smoke, and toxins that can spread far from the source. Prolonged smoke exposure can worsen respiratory conditions, lower air quality, and pose serious health risks. Create a plan to monitor air quality at equipment sites with real-time tools and consider portable air filtration systems in work areas. In high-risk areas, supply N95 respirators and ensure employees know how to use them properly. Plan non-essential outdoor tasks for times with low smoke concentration to ensure health and safety.
Furthermore, bushfire season can increase stress and trauma for employees, especially those near fire-prone areas or impacted by recent fires. Psychosocial risk management is essential to ISO 45001’s approach to risk management and can lead to a healthier workplace.
Provide access to mental health resources, like counselling services or employee assistance programmes (EAPs). Team check-ins, stress management workshops, and resilience training offer support during high-risk times and ensure psychological safety in small businesses. Encouraging open discussions about mental health helps employees feel supported. This leads to faster recovery after crises and a more resilient workforce against bushfire threats.
Strengthening Your Supply Chain Resilience
A solid bushfire safety plan should have strategies to handle supply chain disruptions, as bushfires can suddenly block transport routes or delay deliveries. Equipment disruptions at project sites can significantly affect timelines and client trust for businesses.
Prepare by creating contingency plans for alternative suppliers, routes, or temporary equipment storage. Multiple, geographically diverse suppliers lessen the effects of regional disruptions like bushfires. Build relationships with suppliers that show bushfire resilience, such as alternative stock locations or backup delivery options.
The Client and Project Management modules in FocusIMS can enhance supply chain resilience. These modules improve communication with suppliers, providing real-time delivery updates and allowing quick changes to project timelines. Consistent supplier communication is crucial for ISO 45001-certified businesses, enhancing safety on project sites. FocusIMS allows businesses to monitor their supply chain in one system, reducing reliance on separate forms and spreadsheets for a safer, more resilient operation.
Conclusion
A bushfire safety plan includes assessing risks, developing evacuation protocols, and ensuring communication with employees and suppliers. It can reduce the impact of bushfires and support business continuity. An organised team can bounce back faster from disruptions, minimising downtime and financial losses.
FocusIMS helps businesses improve safety, manage risks, and plan for continuity with our ISO-certified solutions. Our modules replace outdated spreadsheets and disjointed systems, making your bushfire safety plan effective and accessible.
Book a discovery meeting with us to see how FocusIMS can improve your workplace health and safety for bushfire season and beyond.