Bushfire Is a Real Risk In Australia

Australia is one of the most bushfire prone countries in the world. This means that across a range of industries workers may be affected by bush fires while commuting to or from work or their home location. Have you considered this when reviewing risks and implementing policies?

Job roles which may be affected are highly varied and include workers who travel near forest or grass land areas including the urban fringe, rural and regional areas. Even major freeways may be at risk of impact by bushfire.

Organisations are required to ensure that the risk of wildfire on workers is controlled as far as reasonably practicable.  In applying the hierarchy of control to managing the risk of worker interaction with wildfire the following should be considered;

Elimination

• Schedule work in bushfire risk areas for days of low bushfire risk
• Don’t conduct work which may cause a bushfire on high fire risk days
• Consider closing offices or implementing flexible work arrangements on extreme or catastrophic fire danger days to limit worker travel (even to and from work)

Substitution

• Consider alternative routes that have a lower bushfire risk

Engineering

• Ensure plant and vehicles are fitted with adequate spark arrestors and equipment is in good order
• Maintain fire suppression equipment such as fire extinguishers