Emergency Plan Testing

As someone controlling a workplace or business you are responsible for emergency plans and their testing. But how often should you test? There used to be clear guidance, but for most the requirements are now less prescriptive and suggest risk as the critical driver. This article which focuses on NSW requirements, will help you work out what is appropriate for your organisation.

Legislation and Codes of Practice

According to the Safework Code of Practice for Managing the Work Environment and Facilities, the NSW 2017 Regulations and a NSW SafeWork factsheet the frequency must be planned and documented, but nothing indicates how frequently.

SafeWork NSW

The SafeWork NSW site states that emergency plans should be tested frequently which is less prescriptive than the other SafeWork guidance. See Emergency plans | SafeWork NSW). 

However, the NSW Code of Practice for Managing the Work Environment and Facilities stipulates that the frequency of evacuations must be “at least every 12 months”, but doesn’t specify any frequencies for other emergency testing.

NSW Fire and Rescue

Interestingly, there are still some sources recommending 6 monthly testing. See Small business fire safety – Fire and Rescue NSW

Australian Standards

AS 3745:2010 Planning for Emergencies in Facilities specifies that a test of the emergency plans shall occur within 12 months of documenting it and then to have all occupants participate in at least one exercise per year consistent with the nature of the facility and its identified emergencies.

High-risk Operations

NSW Code of Practice for Emergency planning for mines states that testing shall occur at least every 12 months or after revision. That is a surprising requirement when you consider the Guidance for Emergency planning in Major Hazard Facilities 2012 also allows you to set your own frequency.

High-risk considerations

Obviously, the major consideration should be risk. Here are a few suggested risks which are likely to increase the frequency of testing:

• a high level of training and / or special knowledge is necessary to undertake the plan.
• there are physical, environmental or location risks which hinder the emergency plan.
• the persons involved in the emergency plan are infirm, young or are in some way less capable.
• there are changes to the people who will be implementing the emergency plan.
• the emergency plan relies on the use of specialised plant or equipment.
• there have been or are likely to be significant changes to any of the above.

Conclusion

For NSW workplaces, the law requires emergency procedures to be tested and requires the emergency plan to state the frequency of testing. It seems a prudent interval would be every 6 months, particularly for situations which are of higher risk. A defensible interval without justification would be annual, providing the plan had no high-risk considerations (see above). Whatever interval you choose, remember the testing interval must be supported by a documented risk-based rationale and reviewed after drills, workplace changes, incidents or changes to emergency arrangements.

Emergency plans which are dealing with high-risk situations will need careful assessment. The frequency these plans are tested will need to be related to the risk. When considering the testing frequency, always remember the term ‘practicable’. Practicable, makes a big difference – when was the last time you did a test evacuation of a domestic aircraft?

Update Jun 2026:

NSW Resources Code of Practice for emergency planning for Mines (May 2025) was released, but doesn’t impact the frequency, although there are some minor amendments to wording and emergency service consultation.

The NSW Regulations have been updated to 2025 version, however this does not impact the emergency testing frequencies.