According to the New Zealand Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, employers are required to have an emergency response plan in place to ensure their employees safety in the event of an emergency. An emergency response plan is designed to provide guidance for employers and their staff on how to respond efficiently and effectively during emergencies that take place on the workplace premises.

The Plan should include:

• A plan of action which outlines the specific roles and responsibilities of each employee in different types of emergencies;

• The type of equipment needed for each type of emergency;

• Emergency evacuation routes and points;

• Procedures for contacting emergency services;

• Procedures for providing first aid and medical assistance;

• Procedures for notifying family members or guardians in the event of a serious injury or death;

• A list of personnel responsible for managing the emergency situation (e.g. designated fire warden, first aider);

• A list of contact numbers for relevant services (e.g. local police, local fire department, ambulance services).

The plan should also include information on how to handle specific types of emergencies such as fires, chemical spills, hazardous materials exposure, pandemics, workplace violence, natural disasters, explosions, power outages etc., as well as any other potential hazards associated with your workplace. It is important that all personnel are made aware of their respective roles in any potential emergency situation, so regular training should be provided on understanding the Plan’s procedures.

An employer should ensure that employees are aware not only of the Plan itself but also its implementation process – this includes informing employees about what they must do if an emergency arises (such as following evacuation routes), where they must go once they have left the premises (such as a safe zone) and who they should contact in order to receive further instructions or support during an incident (such as calling 111). This will help to ensure that all personnel involved have a clear understanding of what steps need to be taken if faced with an unexpected situation.

In addition to ensuring that procedures are outlined within a written Plan, it is also important that these are communicated clearly throughout the organisation by means such as verbal instructions included during safety briefings or meetings. Education and awareness surrounding health and safety practices should be shared across all levels including management alike – this could involve organising seminars where expert health and safety advisors come in and demonstrate effective practices when dealing with hazardous situations.

Lastly, it is important that employers review their Plans regularly – updating them when necessary based on changes within their work environment or when new potential risks arise from changes in legislation or technology etc., In doing so they can continue to protect both their staffs’ health & wellbeing as well as minimise their liability when faced with tricky legal issues down the line due to negligence regarding safety matters onsite.