What My Time in the Defence Force Taught Me About the Power of Proper Planning

If my time serving in the Army made anything abundantly clear, it would have to be this: a failure to plan is a plan to fail.

Whether on deployment or in a warehouse, in a training exercise or on a high-risk worksite, the cost of poor planning is the same. Confusion. Mistakes. Chaos. Injuries. In high-risk industries, the consequences can be catastrophic. In business more broadly, they show up as inefficiencies, delays, and avoidable risks that chip away at productivity and safety culture.

It can be easy to become complacent when it comes to WHS. Sometimes we tend to think we have our piece of paper or checklist in a folder somewhere, it’s compliant and so it’s good enough. We’ll probably never have to even use it right? A good plan isn’t just a dusty document in a folder, it’s something that is completely understood by your entire team, tested and clear. And so under pressure, you know your team can confidently follow the plan without having to run and find it. Because when things go wrong—and they will—it’s not time to freeze or figure it out on the spot.

Where Planning Matters Most

Effective WHS planning is about anticipating risk, assigning responsibility, and building a team that can respond, not just react. Here are five areas where planning moves from important to critical — and where the absence of a plan could spell disaster:

Emergency Plans

Whether it’s a fire, medical emergency, or natural disaster, every second counts. Your team should know exactly what to do, where to go, who’s in charge, and how to communicate. Without a well understood plan it’s easy for people to panic and that’s when mistakes actually do happen. Seconds matter, and hesitation can be deadly.

High-Risk Tasks

Jobs like working at heights, entering confined spaces, or handling hazardous substances demand more than good intentions. They need detailed procedures, properly trained workers, and clearly communicated contingency plans. Winging it shouldn’t be an option when the stakes are high. Planning here includes everything from PPE requirements to step-by-step task breakdowns and contingency planning.

Incident Response

If someone is injured, is there a trained first aider nearby? Do workers know how to report and document the incident? Can the team respond quickly to contain the hazard and prevent future harm? When someone is injured at work, your response can determine whether the situation escalates or is effectively managed.

Evacuations & Lockdowns

In an emergency, hesitation is dangerous. Your team should not be wondering whether they should leave their station or who is responsible for roll call. If your evacuation or lockdown plans are unclear or untested, they won’t work when it matters most.

Equipment Failures & Power Outages

Do you have a plan in place if key machinery breaks down? If there’s a site-wide power outage? If your communication systems go offline? These things happen — the question is whether your team knows how to respond without scrambling.

Planning = Ownership (Not micromanaging)

When you plan properly, you create clarity and confidence. You reduce guesswork. You empower your people to make smart decisions under pressure. And you eliminate the kinds of avoidable risks that derail teams and damage reputations.

When you plan properly, you create:

Freedom from unnecessary risk

Confidence in uncertain situations

Reduced downtime and disruption

A culture where safety is a shared responsibility

This isn’t about controlling every move and constantly looking over shoulders. By creating the foundations for safe, efficient work and confident employees, you actually reduce the need to micromanage.

How Life International Training Can Help

At Life International Training, we bring real-world experience and nationally recognised training to help businesses develop solid, actionable WHS plans. From emergency preparedness and incident response to high-risk task procedures and evacuation strategies, we work with you to create systems your team can rely on.

We help businesses:

Develop tailored emergency and high-risk task procedures

Deliver nationally recognised training that prepares workers to act, not react

Conduct WHS audits to identify gaps and recommend practical improvements

Build a strong culture of preparedness, ownership, and safety

We also offer audits and reviews of your current WHS practices—helping you identify gaps, meet compliance standards, and implement best practice solutions tailored to your team and industry.