Emergency evacuation plan template

Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, a PCBU must prepare an emergency plan for the workplace, and an evacuation procedure is its core. This template records who does what when the alarm sounds, where people go, and how you confirm everyone is out. It only works if people have practised it.

Who it's for: Site managers, WHS coordinators and wardens responsible for emergency preparedness at a site.

Free to use and adapt · Last updated 2026-07-27 · No email required

Plan details

Site name and address The exact address emergency services should be given

Plan owner (name and role)

Date prepared

Review date At least annually, and after any drill, incident or layout change

Normal occupancy Typical number of workers, plus peak visitor or customer numbers

Hours the site is occupied Include cleaners, early starters and after-hours workers

Emergency roles and contacts

In an emergency, call 000 first. The roles below manage the evacuation, not the emergency itself. Every role needs a named deputy for days the primary is absent.

Role	Name	Deputy	Contact number
Chief warden (decides to evacuate, liaises with emergency services)
Area warden(s) (sweep their area, report it clear)
First aid officer(s)
Roll call coordinator (accounts for everyone at the assembly area)
After-hours or lone worker contact

When the alarm sounds

Post this procedure at exits and cover it in every induction.

1. Stop work immediately. Do not finish the task, the call or the transaction.

2. If safe, make your immediate area safe: switch off equipment you are operating, close doors behind you.

3. Leave by the nearest safe exit. Walk, do not run. Do not use lifts. Do not collect belongings.

4. Assist visitors, customers and anyone near you who needs help, if you can do so without endangering yourself.

5. Go directly to the assembly area and report to the roll call coordinator.

6. Stay at the assembly area. Do not leave and do not re-enter the building for any reason until the chief warden declares it safe.

Assembly area and roll call

Primary assembly area Far enough from the building to be clear of smoke, glass and emergency vehicles

Alternative assembly area For when the primary is unusable, such as being upwind of a chemical release

How attendance is confirmed Sign-in sheet, staff list, visitor log, headcount method

How visitors and contractors are accounted for The visitor sign-in book goes to the assembly area with the roll call coordinator

How offsite and lone workers are accounted for Phone tree, or check via monitored safety device or app

Workers needing assistance

List roles or situations, and agree the arrangement with the individual in advance. A personal emergency evacuation plan is written with the person, not about them.

Workers with mobility, vision, hearing or other needs Record the agreed assistance arrangement and who provides it, including a backup

Refuge points Where a safe waiting area exists, record its location and how the person there communicates with wardens

Visitors with assistance needs Who checks, and what the default arrangement is

Drills and review

Full evacuation drill completed at least annually, twice for higher-risk sites
Drill includes at least one scenario variation, such as a blocked primary exit
Time to clear the building recorded each drill
Roll call completed and discrepancies investigated
Wardens debriefed and issues logged within a week of each drill
Plan, diagrams and warden lists updated after every drill, incident, layout change or turnover of warden staff
New workers shown exits and assembly area during induction, before their first solo shift
Evacuation diagrams at exits match the current floor layout

How to use it

Getting the most out of this template

Fill in the roles table first. A plan without named wardens and deputies is a document, not a capability.
Walk the routes. Check every exit opens, every path is clear, and the assembly area is genuinely clear of the building.
Agree assistance arrangements individually with any worker who needs them, before the first drill.
Run a drill within three months of finishing the plan, record the clearance time, and fix what the drill exposes.
Re-issue the plan after every change of layout, wardens or occupancy. An out-of-date plan fails exactly when it is needed.

This template is general information, not legal advice. Requirements differ by jurisdiction and industry; check the guidance published by Safe Work Australia and your state WHS regulator and seek advice for your specific circumstances.

Questions

Frequently asked

How often should we run evacuation drills?

At least annually for most workplaces, and every six months where the risk or turnover is higher, such as healthcare, education or sites with large visitor numbers. Vary the scenario occasionally, for example a blocked main exit, because a drill that always runs the same way only tests one path.

Who should be the chief warden?

Someone reliably on site with the authority to order an evacuation without seeking approval, often a site or office manager. Capability matters more than seniority, and the deputy matters as much as the primary because emergencies do not check the leave calendar.

What about people who cannot use stairs during an evacuation?

Agree a personal emergency evacuation plan with each person in advance, covering who assists, the route or refuge point used, and how they communicate with wardens. Never improvise this during a real event, and never plan for lifts, which shut down in most alarm activations.

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The template covers the paperwork. Duress covers the response.

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