Is a site emergency plan legally required?

Yes. Under the WHS Regulations 2011 (Regulation 43), PCBUs must prepare an emergency plan for the workplace that provides for emergency procedures, testing of procedures, and information, training and instruction to workers about the plan. The plan must be maintained and readily accessible. Failure to have an emergency plan is a breach of WHS Regulations.

How often should emergency drills be conducted?

Australian Standards and Safe Work Australia recommend conducting evacuation drills at least every six months. High-risk workplaces such as construction sites, chemical facilities and mining operations should conduct drills more frequently. Different drill types (evacuation, fire, spill response, medical emergency) should be rotated throughout the year to test all aspects of the plan.

Who is responsible for the emergency plan?

The PCBU has overall responsibility for ensuring an emergency plan is developed, implemented and maintained. In practice, the site manager or safety manager typically coordinates the plan. However, every worker has a role to play. Area wardens, first aid officers and the chief warden have specific emergency responsibilities that must be trained and practised.

Is this site emergency plan template free?

Yes. This site emergency plan template is completely free to download and use. Open the HTML file in any browser and print to PDF. Customise it for your site-specific hazards and layout. No MapTrack account is required.

Free site emergency plan template

Jump to download form ↓

Enter your email below to download this site emergency plan template as a ready-to-use PDF.

Download a free site emergency plan template. Document evacuation routes, assembly points, contacts and response procedures. PDF download.

Jarrod Milford

Commercial Director

Updated 3 May 2026

How to use: download the PDF, print or complete digitally on any device.

✓PDF format, ready to print or fill on screen
✓Use as-is or customise to suit your operation
✓Go digital in MapTrack for photos, alerts and audit trails

See template in action →

Download free PDF template

Trusted by teams across Australia and New Zealand

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.

Preview the template

See the first part of the site emergency plan template below. Download the full version above.

Download to get full template →

What is a site emergency plan template?

A site emergency plan template is a structured document for developing and communicating emergency response procedures for a workplace. The plan covers emergency types (fire, chemical spill, medical emergency, severe weather, structural collapse), evacuation routes and procedures, assembly points, emergency contacts, roles and responsibilities, communication protocols and post-emergency actions. Under the WHS Regulations 2011, PCBUs must prepare, maintain and implement emergency plans for the workplace.

Emergencies by definition are unexpected, and the quality of the response depends almost entirely on the quality of the preparation. A site emergency plan ensures that every worker knows what to do, where to go and who to contact in an emergency. The plan must be tested through regular drills and updated whenever site conditions change. Section 43 of the WHS Regulations requires that emergency plans are tested regularly and that workers are informed about the plan. This template provides a structured framework for developing a site-specific emergency plan that meets regulatory requirements and protects workers, visitors and the surrounding community.

Learn more about compliance and inspections in MapTrack.

Benefits of using this site emergency plan template

Worker safety: clear evacuation procedures and assembly points ensure workers can exit safely in an emergency.
Regulatory compliance: meet WHS Regulation requirements for workplace emergency plans.
Response speed: pre-defined roles, contacts and procedures enable a faster, more coordinated emergency response.
Communication clarity: the plan establishes who communicates with emergency services, management and neighbouring properties.
Drill framework: the plan provides the basis for regular emergency drills and training exercises.
Business continuity: a well-prepared emergency plan reduces the impact of emergencies on operations and recovery time.

Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack

When you move your plans from paper to MapTrack, you get:

Field users can easily scan a QR code to complete a form on mobile. Unlimited users.
Automatically get alerts when faults are identified.
Link every form digitally as a PDF to the relevant asset, location or person.
Receive a digital PDF copy with every submission to your email.
Ability to share forms digitally.
Build conditional logic (show or hide questions based on answers).
Take pictures or attach photos. Not possible with a paper-based form.
Electronic signatures.
Edit forms later without reprinting.
Restrict permissions (who can view, complete or approve).
Build forms with AI (describe what you need and MapTrack suggests the form).
Escalate critical hazards instantly to safety managers via push notification.
Maintain an auditable safety register that satisfies WHS regulator requests.
Correlate incident trends across sites with built-in safety analytics.

Book a demo to see how MapTrack handles plans.

Try MapTrack free for 30 days

Full access to every feature. No credit card required. Per-asset pricing so you scale as your fleet grows.

Start free trial

No credit card required
30 days free trial
Cancel anytime

What to include in a site emergency plan template

This site emergency plan template covers 10 key areas:

Site details: site address, site plan with building layout, access roads and emergency vehicle access points.
Emergency types covered: fire, explosion, chemical or hazardous substance spill, medical emergency, severe weather, structural collapse, security threat, utility failure.
Evacuation procedures: primary and secondary evacuation routes, evacuation wardens and their zones, sweep procedures, mobility-impaired persons assistance.
Assembly points: locations marked on site plan, roll call procedures, headcount reconciliation.
Emergency contacts: internal (site manager, first aid officers, fire wardens) and external (000, fire brigade, ambulance, poison information, EPA).
Roles and responsibilities: chief warden, area wardens, first aid officers, communications officer.
Emergency equipment locations: fire extinguishers, hose reels, spill kits, first aid stations, defibrillators, emergency showers, eyewash stations.
Communication protocols: alarm types (evacuation tone vs alert tone), PA system, two-way radio channels, mobile phone tree.
Post-emergency actions: all-clear signal, incident reporting, return-to-work procedures, debriefing, plan review.
Testing and review: drill schedule, drill records, plan review frequency.

How to use this site emergency plan template

Identify the emergency types relevant to your site and the associated risks.: Consider the site location, activities conducted, hazardous substances stored, number of workers and visitors, and proximity to neighbours. Identify which emergency types are most likely and most consequential for your site. This determines the scope of the plan.
Map evacuation routes, assembly points and emergency equipment locations on a site plan.: Use the site layout to plot primary and secondary evacuation routes from every area. Mark assembly points in safe locations away from buildings, driveways and hazard zones. Mark the locations of all fire extinguishers, first aid kits, spill kits and other emergency equipment.
Assign emergency roles and compile contact details.: Appoint a chief warden, area wardens, first aid officers and a communications officer. Ensure deputies are nominated for each role. Compile all internal and external emergency contact numbers. Post the contacts prominently on site.
Write the emergency procedures for each emergency type.: For each emergency type, document the step-by-step response procedure. Include who raises the alarm, who calls emergency services, evacuation actions, specific hazard controls (such as shutting off gas or isolating power) and headcount procedures at the assembly point.
Test the plan through drills and review at least annually.: Conduct evacuation drills at least every six months, or more frequently on high-risk sites. After each drill, debrief participants, document lessons learned and update the plan. Review the full plan at least annually or whenever there are significant changes to the site, activities or personnel.

In MapTrack, you can digitise safety inspections and compliance forms. Each submission is stored as a timestamped PDF against the asset record.

Get the free template

Enter your email above to download the full site emergency plan template as a PDF.

Back to download form

How often should you complete this plan?

The site emergency plan should be reviewed and updated at least annually, or whenever there are significant changes to the site layout, activities, hazards or personnel. Evacuation drills should be conducted at least every six months. The plan should also be reviewed after every actual emergency and after every drill.

Frequently asked questions

Is a site emergency plan legally required?: Yes. Under the WHS Regulations 2011 (Regulation 43), PCBUs must prepare an emergency plan for the workplace that provides for emergency procedures, testing of procedures, and information, training and instruction to workers about the plan. The plan must be maintained and readily accessible. Failure to have an emergency plan is a breach of WHS Regulations.
How often should emergency drills be conducted?: Australian Standards and Safe Work Australia recommend conducting evacuation drills at least every six months. High-risk workplaces such as construction sites, chemical facilities and mining operations should conduct drills more frequently. Different drill types (evacuation, fire, spill response, medical emergency) should be rotated throughout the year to test all aspects of the plan.
Who is responsible for the emergency plan?: The PCBU has overall responsibility for ensuring an emergency plan is developed, implemented and maintained. In practice, the site manager or safety manager typically coordinates the plan. However, every worker has a role to play. Area wardens, first aid officers and the chief warden have specific emergency responsibilities that must be trained and practised.
Is this site emergency plan template free?: Yes. This site emergency plan template is completely free to download and use. Open the HTML file in any browser and print to PDF. Customise it for your site-specific hazards and layout. No MapTrack account is required.

Applicable regulatory standards

This template aligns with the following regulations and standards:

WHS Regulations 2011, Regulation 43 - Emergency plans
WHS Act 2011, Section 19 - Primary duty of care
AS 3745 - Planning for emergencies in facilities

Need to digitise safety inspections and compliance forms?

Register every asset in MapTrack, attach digital forms, and get a complete history of every inspection, service and compliance record.

Start free trial Book a demo

Compliance and inspections · All templates · Pricing · Book a demo