The FES Commissioner is the hazard management agency for emergency management of the following hazards for the whole of State:
a) injury or threat to life of persons trapped by the collapse of structure or landform;
b) cyclone;
c) earthquake;
d) flood;
e) storm;
f) tsunami;
g) actual or implending spillage, release or escape of a chemical, radiological or other substance that is capable of causing loss of life, injury to a person or damage to the health of a person, property or the environment;
h) fire.
Emergency situation declarations will appear on this page within three business days of being made. For more up to date information, please see Alerts and Warnings to check whether an emergency situation has been declared for a particular incident.
Information for Employers of Emergency Services Volunteers
An emergency services volunteer may be ‘called to action’ during work hours. While this is encouraged to increase the effectiveness of an emergency response, it is your decision if an employee can be released, even during a declaration of an ‘Emergency Situation’.
A declaration is prescribed under the Emergency Management Act 2005 and the Fair Work Act 2009 which means, as an employer, you have certain criteria that must be followed if you release your employee/s to help. This includes the legislative requirement to pay your employee/s their base salary or wage for days they are deployed under a declaration. A declaration may be raised by the Department once or twice a year. If a declaration is raised it will be loaded directly onto this page when it is created. More information for employers is provided in the Employer Supported Volunteering resource to explain the options around releasing employee volunteers during work hours and associated insurance arrangements etc.
