MEMBER LOGIN ERMS PORTAL
ARA Australian Retailers Association
ARA Australian Retailers Association
  • ABOUT
    ABOUT
    • About Us
    • Our History
    • Advisory Committees
    • Council
    • Leadership Team
    • Strategic Partners
    • Registered Training Organisation
  • JOIN THE ARA
  • SERVICES
    SERVICES
    • Advocacy & Policy
    • Employment Relations Advice
    • Human Resources (ERMS) Portal 
    • Legal Assistance
    • Tenancy Advice
    • Training & Education
    • Member Benefits Program
    • ARA Insurance
    • ARA Talent Registry
  • TRAINING
    TRAINING
    • Retail Ready Training
    • Career Upskilling
    • Leadership Training
    • Business Solutions
    • Industry Projects
    • Hire Talented Staff
    • Financial Literacy Education Program
  • RESOURCES
    RESOURCES
    • ARA Retail Review Report 2022
    • Business support
    • Covid-19 Resource Hub
    • Diversity, Equality & Inclusion
    • Media
    • News & Insights
    • Podcasts
    • Research Hub
    • Sustainability
  • EVENTS
    EVENTS
    • Upcoming Events
    • OnDemand Recordings
    • First Responders Day 2022
    • ARA Gala No.1
    • ARA Leaders Forum 2023
  • Contact Us
    Access our Covid-19 resource hub for up-to-date state and territory restrictions
    back to Retail News & Insights
    Australian Retailers Association
    Australian Retailers Association

    Protecting the health and safety of retail workers during the Australian bushfires

    • Tuesday 7 January 2020
    Bushfire Updates

    As bushfires continue to ravage parts of the country, retailers are being urged to ensure their workers are kept safe during this time by reviewing and enacting workplace emergency plans. 

    The impact of external emergencies, such as bushfires that may affect the health and safety of workers, should be taken into account in the plan.

    Retailers have a duty under health and safety legislation to protect the health and safety of workers while at work, this includes during emergencies. More specifically, retailers must ensure they have prepared an emergency plan for the workplace that provides for the following –

    Emergency procedures, including – declarations of extreme weather warnings, example: code red in the case of extreme bushfires (following relevant local authorities, for example, the fire services, SES and police)

    • an effective response to an emergency, including extreme weather conditions such as bushfires that impact the business
    • evacuation procedures, including:
    • safe exit routes
    • the identification and communication of roads that may be closed; and
    • a designated ‘safe place.’
    • notifying emergency service organisations at the earliest opportunity
    • medical treatment and assistance
    • effective communication between the person authorised by the business to coordinate the emergency response and all persons at the workplace (this includes those workers who work remotely)
    • Testing of the emergency procedures, including the frequency of testing (annually at a minimum)
    • Information, training, and instruction to relevant workers concerning implementing the emergency procedures.

    Important - A retailer must ensure that the emergency plan for the workplace is implemented in the event of an emergency, including during extreme weather conditions such as bushfires where the conditions impact, or have the potential to impact the health and safety of workers.

    For those retailers who may not be operating in a location that is close to the bushfires, it’s crucial to be aware that “bushfire smoke can travel hundreds of kilometres and pose a range of health issues, especially for those with pre-existing heart or lung conditions. Pregnant women, older people, and young children, as well as those with pre-existing heart or lung conditions, are most likely to be affected by bushfire smoke.” These factors should be considered when preparing and reviewing workplace emergency plans.

    Retailers are encouraged to review and if necessary, enact their emergency plans in response to the extreme weather conditions. Once enacted the emergency plan should be reviewed and revised daily, at a minimum, this includes communicating with workers.

    For guidance on workplace emergency plans, retailers can access Safe Work Australia’s Code of Practice: Managing the work environment and facilities and Emergency Plans Fact Sheet.

    Additional Resources

    Additional information on bushfires and associated work health and safety risks can be accessed via the following websites:

    • WorkSafe Victoria – Bushfire recovery: bushfire hazards
    • SafeWork NSW – Property hazards following a bushfire: fact sheet
    • BetterHealth Channel – Bushfire aftermath – safety tips

    Staying informed about bushfires

    Your state or territory fire service will keep you informed about local fire conditions, danger ratings, and warnings:

    • New South Wales – rfs.nsw.gov.au
    • Victoria – cfa.vic.gov.au
    • South Australia – cfs.sa.gov.au
    • Tasmania – fire.tas.gov.au
    • Queensland – ruralfire.qld.gov.au
    • ACT – esa.act.gov.au/actrfs/
    • Northern Territory – nt.gov.au/bushfires
    • Western Australia – dfes.wa.gov.au
    • ABC Emergency – abc.net.au/emergency

    There are also useful online resources and phone apps that can help you stay informed about fires, such as Fires Near Me and MyFireWatch.[1]

    The ARA’s Employment Relations Advisory Team provides a free telephone consulting service for members on all employment matters and offers free online resources such as contracts and templates, as well as member rates for legal services specialising in Employment matters. Please contact the ARA Employment Relations Advisory Team on 1300 368 041.

    1 Ryan, C. (2020). Even if you don't live near a bushfire, your health could be at risk. [online] ABC News. Available at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2019-11-19/bushfire-smoke-health-managing-risks/11699894 [Accessed 6 Jan. 2020].

    2 Healthdirect.gov.au. (2020). Bushfires and your health. [online] Available at: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/bushfires-and-your-health [Accessed 6 Jan. 2020].

    SHARE THIS ARTICLE
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Linkedin
    back to Retail News & Insights

    FURTHER READING

    Retail Voice CEO Message: 18 May 2022
    Paul Zahra

    Retail Voice CEO Message: 18 May 2022

    The Federal Election is just three days away and the ARA has been keeping a close track of the policy announcements of the major parties.

    READ MORE
    Three benefits digital identity can offer retailers
    Mastercard

    Three benefits digital identity can offer retailers

    Every day, thousands of Australians need to prove eligibility or verify their identity to carry out everyday transactions and interactions. Whether...

    READ MORE
    Think you’ve got the green box ticked? Think again
    Retail Directions

    Think you’ve got the green box ticked? Think again

    Consumers are becoming increasingly in-tune with the environmental impacts of their buying habits.  

    READ MORE
    LOAD MORE

    Sign up for ARA newsletters

    Strategic Partners

    • Afterpay white logo-1
    • Amex-logo-2
    • Deloitte-1
    • Fabric-logo-2
    • Hitch Advisory - Logo - white-2
    • mastercard-logo-white-2
    • QUT_SQUARE_MONO_REV-2
    • Rest-logo
    • Salesforce-1

    Partners

    • 1200px-Amazon_Web_Services_Logo_edited_edited
    • good360 logo
    • Meta_lockup_mono_white_RGB-1
    • mst marguee_edited_edited_edited
    • Officeworks_Logo_White_RGB
    • RM

    Supporters

    • NRF-logp
    • Australian-CCI-logo
    • Associations-forum-logo
    • FIRA-logo-1280x500 (1)_edited
    • GS1_Australia_Full-Transparency_White_827x436

    About

    • About
    • Member Benefits
    • Membership Application
    • Membership Terms & Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Code of Ethics
    • ARA COVIDSafe Retail Plan

    Training

    • RTO Policies & Procedures
    • Compliance
    • Nationally Recognised Training Officer

    Contact us

    phone-icon.png

    1300 368 041

    envelope-icon.png

    info@retail.org.au

    place-icon.png

    Level 1,  112 Wellington Pde

    East Melbourne 3002

    Join our community

    The ARA acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work, learn and live. We pay our respects to their elders past and present, and also recognise Australia’s First Nations’ peoples as Australia’s first traders with a sophisticated network of trading paths that have facilitated the exchange of goods, knowledge and culture for millennia

    Copyright Australian Retailers Association 2021

    ALREADY AN ARA MEMBER?

    Login to view member-only content:

    Login

    NOT AN ARA MEMBER YET?

    Join us today to access ARA member-only content and events.

    Register Now