You wouldn’t dream of running a workplace without a fire extinguisher - but most still do without a defibrillator (AED), the only device that can restore a normal heart rhythm in the event of sudden cardiac arrest. While fire safety is heavily regulated and universally understood, cardiac emergencies remain an overlooked risk — even though they strike unexpectedly and can happen in any setting, including the workplace.

Cardiac arrest is more common than you think

Each year, around 30,000 Australians suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest – roughly 70 people every day. With survival rates as low as 10 percent, only about 1 in 10 people survive. In New South Wales alone, more than 8,5000 OHCAs occur each year. In 2021, 9,273 cardiac arrest patents were attended to in NSW.¹

When a cardiac arrest strikes, every minute without CPR or defibrillation reduces the chance of survival by 10%, making access to a defibrillator (AED) a critical factor in whether someone lives or dies.²

Despite these stark numbers, awareness and preparedness remain low.

Cardiac arrest vs fire: A stark risk imbalance

In contrast, Fire and Rescue NSW report responding to just over 6,000 structure fires each year. These incidents include fires in homes, commercial buildings, industrial facilities, and public venues – essentially any building with walls and a roof. While these events are serious and sometimes deadly, fatalities from structure fires in NSW typically range between 15 and 20 per year, even when residential buildings are included, according to Fire and Rescue NSW data.³

According to the FRNSW Adverse Structure Fire Outcomes report covering 2016–2021, there

were 88 fatalities resulting from structure fires over this six-year period, averaging approximately 15 deaths per year.⁴

Fire extinguishers are rightly mandated in nearly all public buildings and workplaces. Regulations require specific placement, signage, maintenance, and staff training. This level of readiness is accepted as standard safety practice.⁵

Yet AEDs, which address a far more frequent life-threatening emergency, are still not required by law in most Australian workplaces. This imbalance points to a broader issue: we’ve normalised being ready for fire, but not for cardiac arrest, despite clear evidence that both deserve equal urgency.

Fire extinguishers: Universally required and regulated

Under the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and Australian Standard AS 2444, fire extinguishers must be installed in all public buildings and workplaces. At a minimum, one extinguisher is required per building, with specific placement rules - for example, Class A units must be within 15 meters of any point in a building, and Class E within 20 meters.⁶

They must be mounted at a height of 0.1 to 1.2 meters and clearly marked with signage visible from at least 20 meters away. Certified professionals must inspect them every six or twelve months, and staff must be trained in their use. These comprehensive, enforceable regulations make fire extinguishers a universal and essential part of workplace safety.

AEDs: Life-saving but optional?

Emerging legislation: South Australia leads the way

In 2022, South Australia became the first Australian state to mandate public access to defibrillators, passing the Automated External Defibrillators (Public Access) Act. The legislation requires AEDs to be installed in high-traffic and high-risk locations such as shopping centres, aged-care facilities, sporting venues, schools, and gyms. It also mandates that AEDs be registered, accessible to the public, and regularly maintained, with penalties for non-compliance — setting a national benchmark for cardiac emergency preparedness.⁸

comparable public settings, including shopping centres, sporting facilities, community venues, and potentially public transport. It also called for a central registry and requirements to ensure AEDs were properly maintained and accessible during emergencies.

However, the bill lapsed in April 2024 after failing to progress through Parliament within the required timeframe. It would need to be reintroduced in a future sitting to be reconsidered.⁹ As of June 2025, no updates have been announced. While not yet law, the bill reflects growing momentum toward nationwide consistency in AED access.

Other states, including Western Australia and Victoria, are reportedly exploring similar legislation.¹⁰

Public perception vs reality

Despite the prevalence of cardiac arrest, awareness and access to AEDs remain low.

A 2023 survey found that nearly 60% of Australian workers didn’t know where the nearest AED was in their workplace — even though 1 in 5 had been in a situation where one was needed for themselves or someone they knew.¹¹ Alarmingly, almost half of workers said their workplace didn’t have an AED at all.

Public support is strong: 96% of Australians believe AEDs should be publicly available, according to a 2023 survey by St John Ambulance.¹² While over 2,000 AEDs have been installed in NSW community sports venues through government grants,¹³ many workplaces and public buildings still lack them.

This highlights a serious gap in workplace emergency preparedness — especially when compared with the strong regulatory framework surrounding fire safety. AEDs, like fire extinguishers, can save lives. But until they are treated with equal urgency, avoidable deaths will continue.

Busting Myths

“AEDs are too expensive.”
Modern AEDs cost roughly $2,000–$3,000, comparable to other safety equipment like fire extinguishers or smoke alarms.

“There’s no need – cardiac arrest won’t happen here.”
Sudden cardiac arrest can strike anyone, anywhere, anytime, including healthy individuals in office, retail, warehouse or community settings.

“I might shock someone by accident.”
AEDs analyse the heart rhythm and only deliver a shock if it’s medically necessary; you can’t harm someone by using one incorrectly.

“We’ll wait for the ambulance.”
Every minute without defibrillation reduces survival by 10%. Ambulance response times often exceed this critical window

“You need medical training to use one.”
AEDs are designed for untrained bystanders. They give clear, step-by-step voice instructions and are safe for anyone to use.

“We already have a first aid kit – that’s enough.”
AEDs treat cardiac arrest, which a first aid kit cannot. They're a critical tool that complements CPR, not replaces it.