Safe Work Australia has developed a new information sheet to assist PCBUs to use the national fire danger rating and warning systems to identify and assess the risks of bushfires at work.
If you are a PCBU, you must eliminate risks in the workplace, or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risks so far as is reasonably practicable. This includes the risks of bushfires. Bushfires can occur at any time of the year but are more likely during warmer weather and the local bushfire season.
Conducting a risk assessment will assist you in:
- identifying any hazards that could have an impact on your workers and others in the workplace
- assessing the risks, and
- determining the most effective control measures to manage the risks.
All states and territories have now implemented the:
- Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS), which provides information about the risks of bushfires in the local area, and
- Australian Warning System (AWS), which provides warnings during emergencies such as bushfires.
The AFDRS and AWS can be useful resources when conducting your risk assessment for bushfires.
Visit the Bushfire smoke in the workplace and Working near bushfires webpages for further information.