Bushfire preparation checklist

This bushfire preparation checklist will help you prepare your business for a bushfire.

Knowing your business has strategies in place to help cope with a natural disaster like a bushfire should make it easier for your business to minimise losses, maintain business continuity and recover quickly.

Read through this bushfire preparation checklist and click 'Yes' or 'No' to find out if your business is prepared. Any questions you answer 'No' to will be the actions you need to complete to ensure your business is as prepared for a severe bushfire as possible.

You can customise this checklist to include information specific to your business by typing into the 'Other' section.

Infrastructure

Have you:

Removed the rubbish, leaf litter and native shrubs located close to your building(s)?
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Formed a wide firebreak around your buildings (e.g. cut grass, trimmed branches clear of buildings, cleared gutters) and obtained any necessary approvals?
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Fitted wire screens to doors, windows and vents, and enclosed all gaps, if applicable?
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Stored flammable materials such as wood, gas, petrol and paint well clear of buildings?
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Kept ladders handy for roof access (inside and out)?
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Fitted hoses to reach all parts of the building and gardens? (If mains pressure water is not connected, obtain a high-pressure pump.)
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Staff preparedness

Have you:

Developed a task list for your staff to carry out in the event of a bushfire and ensured that this is regularly reviewed?
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Consulted with your staff and developed an evacuation plan to protect your business in the event of a bushfire?
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Insurance

Have you:

Checked whether there is adequate insurance to cover you in the event of a bushfire?
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Contacted your insurance company to check if there are any specific preparations you need to make prior to the event?
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Business documentation and records

Have you:

Located and packed your critical documentation (e.g. insurance, financial, legal and identification documents) in a portable waterproof/fireproof container?
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Backed up your critical data to a portable storage device and stored it in a secure off-site location?
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Business continuity

Have you:

Developed your business continuity plan?
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Clearly identified and analysed the possible risks to your business from a bushfire?
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Consulted with local authorities (e.g. fire brigade) to obtain relevant and critical information to include in your plan?
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Developed regular maintenance and reviewed strategies and updated your plan as required?
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Stored a copy of your business continuity plan off-site in a safe, disaster-proof location?
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Other

Have you:

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Also consider...