Request an emergency plans report

Under section 43 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (WHS Reg.), every workplace must prepare, maintain and implement an emergency plan (EP). In most cases this is done in accordance with AS 3745–2010 Planning for emergencies in facilities.

However, in some cases the EP must satisfy additional requirements such as being developed in accordance with Hazardous Industry Planning Advisory Paper (HIPAP) No 1 Emergency Planning, or being provided with additional documentation such as an Emergency Services Information Package (ESIP).

MHF (determined)¹ or (licenced)², explosives site³, coal or underground mine,⁴ or imposed condition of consent⁵

When it is a mandatory requirement or condition for the workplace (i.e. site) to consult with FRNSW when preparing, developing, reviewing, or revising their EP, a request to prepare an emergency plans report must be made to FRNSW. FRNSW will assess the request to prepare emergency plans report and may provide written advice or recommendations on the EP and/or ESIP within the report.

Any written advice or recommendations provided by FRNSW must be incorporated into the final EP and ESIP.

Note: Where the revised EP and ESIP must be lodged with FRNSW, or is requested by FRNSW, no additional charge will be incurred.

MQW⁶ or workplace storing or handling 25,000kg or more of lithium batteries (incl. batteries contained within energy storage systems, electric vehicles or plant)⁷

When it is a mandatory requirement or condition for the workplace (i.e.) site to lodge a copy of the EP with FRNSW, a request to prepare an emergency plans report must be made to FRNSW.

FRNSW will assess the request to prepare emergency plans report and may provide written advice or recommendations on the EP and/or ESIP within the report.

Any written advice or recommendations provided by FRNSW must be incorporated into the final EP and ESIP.

Note: A revised or reviewed EP and ESIP must be lodged with FRNSW and will not incur any charge.

¹ Major hazard facility (determined):

• Under section 557(2) of the WHS Reg., operator of a determined MHF must consult with FRNSW in preparing and developing the site’s EP, and under section 559(3) in reviewing and revising the site’s EP.
• Under section 557(5) of the WHS Reg., operator must give a copy of the EP to FRNSW.

² Major hazard facility (licenced):

• Under section 569(4) of the WHS Reg., the operator of a licenced MHF must consult with FRNSW in reviewing and revising the site’s EP.
• Under section 567(4) and section 557(5) of the WHS Reg., operator must give a copy of the EP to FRNSW.

³ Explosives site:

• Under section 42(3) of the Explosives Regulation 2024, the licence holder must consult with FRNSW in developing or reviewing the EP for a site where more than 50kg NEQ of explosives or more than 50 tonnes of explosive precursors is stored and implement—so far as reasonably practicable)—written recommendations.
• Under section 42(5) of the Explosives Regulation 2024, the EP must be lodged with FRNSW where the site is in a fire district. FRNSW will request a copy of the EP where the site is located in a rural fire district.

⁴ Coal or underground mine: 

Note: Underground mines (not coal) with less than 5 workers and opal mines are excepted.

• Under section 92(1) of the Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2022, the operator of a coal or underground mine must consult with FRNSW in preparing the EP when FRNSW is the primary emergency service responsible for the area in which the mine is located, or may be required to participate in implementing the EP.
• Under section 94(2) of the Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2022, operator must give a copy of the EP to FRNSW.

⁵ Condition of consent:

Note: An ESIP is often imposed as a condition of consent on the owner or operator of a given site or building based on identified hazards and risks.

• Under section 4.17 of the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979, an authority may impose a condition, including by way of a statutory instrument, code or guide, that requires the owner or operator of a given workplace to consult with FRNSW when preparing, developing, reviewing, or revising their EP.

⁶ Manifest quantity workplace:

• Under section 361(2) of the WHS Reg., the person conducting business or undertaking must give a copy of the EP for the workplace to FRNSW.
• Under section 361(3) of the WHS Reg., where FRNSW make a written recommendation about the content or effectiveness of the plan, the EP must be revised in accordance with the recommendation.

⁷ 25,000kg lithium ion batteries:

• Under section 361(2) of the WHS Reg., the person conducting business or undertaking must give a copy of the EP for the workplace to FRNSW.
• Under section 361(3) of the WHS Reg., where FRNSW make a written recommendation about the content or effectiveness of the plan, the EP must be revised in accordance with the recommendation.

To request an emergency plans report, the following must be completed and submitted to firesafety@fire.nsw.gov.au:

1. Pay the upfront assessment fee on the Payment Portal
2. Request to prepare emergency plans report form, including the SAP customer number and assessment charge receipt number used to make the upfront payment
3. An emergency plan developed for the site in accordance with the Hazardous Industry Planning Advisory Paper (HIPAP) No 1 Emergency Planning
4. A hazardous chemicals manifest and site plan of the workplace developed in accordance with Schedule 12 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025. For examples of a manifest and site plan refer to Appendix D and E of the Notifications for Schedule 11 Hazardous chemicals and abandoned tanks
5. An Emergency Services Information Package (ESIP) prepared in accordance with FRNSW Fire safety guideline – Emergency services information package and tactical fire plans.

Note: Refer to Emergency planning for additional site-specific requirements.

FRNSW will acknowledge receipt of the emergency plan by email. If no acknowledgement email is received within 21 days, please contact (02) 9742 7434 to confirm the emergency plan was received. If being provided, FRNSW will endeavour to provide the emergency plans report within 40 business days.

Note: The application must include all relevant information necessary for the review. If any attachment exceeds 35 MB, please request a FRNSW SharePoint folder for uploading any large files.

Documents recommended to be revised after the provision of a FRNSW emergency plan report must be submitted with FRNSW.

To lodge revised documentation, email firesafety@fire.nsw.gov.au, quoting the FRNSW application reference number along with any additional relevant information required. Please ensure that any amended documentation is denoted appropriately by adding corresponding version control details.

FRNSW will acknowledge receipt of the revised documents by email. If no acknowledgement email is received within 21 days, please contact (02) 9742 7434 to confirm the documents were received.

Note: The application must include all relevant information necessary for the review. If any attachment exceeds 35 MB, please request a FRNSW SharePoint folder for uploading any large files.

Further information on process

• About FRNSW forms
• Submitting plans and specifications to FRNSW
• Emergency planning
• Fire safety guideline - Emergency services information package and tactical fire plans
• Fees and charges