PLAN AND CONDUCT AN EVACUATION OF PREMISES

Unit Code: D1.HSS.CL4.10 PLAN AND CONDUCT AN EVACUATION OF PREMISES

Plan and conduct an evacuation of premises This unit comprises five Elements : • Prepare evacuation policies and procedures • Prepare for evacuation situations • Update evacuation/Emergency Management Plans • Conduct evacuations • Review evacuation/Emergency Management Plan after actual implementation.

Assessment Assessment for this unit may include: • Oral questions • Written questions • Work projects • Workplace observation of practical skills • Practical exercises • Formal report from employer or supervisor.

Prepare evacuation policies and procedures Performance Criteria for this Element are: • Involve relevant personnel in the planning process • Identify the legal implications in relation to planning for an evacuation • Identify potential threats and risks facing the establishment (Continued)

Prepare evacuation policies and procedures • Develop a written set of evacuation and Emergency Management Plans • Acquire necessary equipment to support implementation of the evacuation and Emergency Management Plans • Locate evacuation and Emergency Management Plan and floor plans in prominent and necessary positions.

Involve relevant personnel in the planning process Evacuation and Emergency Management Plans (EMPs): • Require proper planning • Must address a variety of possible threats faced by the venue.

Involve relevant personnel in the planning process In relation to EMPs: • An evacuation plan is an EMP • Not all emergencies will require an evacuation • The purpose of an evacuation plan is to remove people from danger to a safe location • ‘Relevant people’ should be involved in identifying the need for EMPs and in developing them.

Involve relevant personnel in the planning process The following should be involved in identifying threats and developing appropriate EMPs: • People with assigned emergency and evacuation responsibilities – Chief warden, area wardens, first aiders, communications officer • Security staff (Continued)

Involve relevant personnel in the planning process • Building or centre management • Maintenance department • Fire services (Continued)

Involve relevant personnel in the planning process • Ambulance • Supplementary emergency services – Civil Defence • Police (Continued)

Involve relevant personnel in the planning process • Army bomb disposal units • Anyone who could be expected to deal with an emergency – with a focus on night-time workers • The Emergency Management Committee (EMC).

Identify the legal implications in relation to planning for an evacuation Legal implications include • Common law ‘duty of care’ requirements: • To prevent ‘foreseeable’ harm • All people in the property must have their safety and welfare protected • Anyone injured may sue the property under ‘negligence’.

Identify the legal implications in relation to planning for an evacuation The legal system is divided into: • Civil proceedings: • Person sues a person or business • Case decided ‘on the balance of probabilities’ • Criminal proceedings: • Government against person or business • Decided on basis of ‘beyond all reasonable doubt’.

Identify the legal implications in relation to planning for an evacuation Civil outcomes may include one or more of the following: • Business must pay ‘damages’ • Must make an apology • Must do a nominated act • Must refrain from doing a specified activity.

Identify the legal implications in relation to planning for an evacuation If a person or business is found guilty of a crime, results may include: • Warning • Fine • Gaol.

Identify the legal implications in relation to planning for an evacuation OHS considerations: • Provide specific safety and duty of care obligations on employers and venue • Failure to comply can lead to criminal charges.

Identify potential threats and risks facing the establishment A ‘risk’ or ‘threat’: • Is anything with the potential to adversely impact on the safety of the people in the building • The terms ‘risk’ and ‘threat’ can be seen to mean the same thing.

Identify potential threats and risks facing the establishment You must take into account the following when identifying and determining risks/threats facing a business: • Physical or geographical location • Adjoining properties and businesses • Local events (Continued)

Identify potential threats and risks facing the establishment • Size of the venue • Activities taking place on the premises • Number of people on-site • Advice from authorities • Legal liabilities.

Identify potential threats and risks facing the establishment Risk analysis: • Vital in risk identification • Is the process of examining identified risk in order understand the totality of each risk in order to use this knowledge as the basis for calculating the risk level each risk presents to the business • Is undertaken by the EMC • Must be a thorough process • Gives rise to disagreement over relevant and important issues.

Identify potential threats and risks facing the establishment ‘Consequences’ and ‘likelihood’: • Risk analysis combines: • Likelihood of a risk occurring, with • Consequences of the risk occurring • The result: • Classifies the risk • Indicates action to be taken.

Identify potential threats and risks facing the establishment Likelihood may be described as (for example): • Almost certain • Likely • Possible • Unlikely • Rare.

Identify potential threats and risks facing the establishment Classification must be done on the basis of: • Information about ‘context’ of each risk • Personal and venue experience with each risk • Previous history relating to the risk • Occurrences in similar businesses • Anticipated frequency of the ‘risk’.

Identify potential threats and risks facing the establishment ‘Consequences’ of a risk may be labelled: • Insignificant • Minor • Moderate • Major • Catastrophic.

Identify potential threats and risks facing the establishment Risk assessment matrix: • Used to calculate and display ‘severity of consequences’ • Shows rating for each risk in a standard form across the venue: • Numerical form (1 – 10) • Colours (Red = high risk level: Green = low risk level) • Word/letter form (L = Low risk; E = Extreme risk) • Highest rated risks must be addressed first.

Identify potential threats and risks facing the establishment EMPs should be prepared for: • Fire • Gas leak • Bomb threat • Suspicious package • Robbery or armed hold-up • Other?

Develop written evacuation and Emergency Management Plans EMPs: • Are the basis for practice and responses to emergencies • Must be workplace based – for individual venues • Must reflect planning that has been done • Must be in writing.

Develop written evacuation and Emergency Management Plans An emergency is: • Unforeseen • A threat • Something demanding immediate attention.

Develop written evacuation and Emergency Management Plans Standard, non-negotiable requirements when an emergency arrives: • Follow and implement workplace EMPs • Saving people takes priority over saving property • Never put yourself in harm’s way • Get assistance; notify others immediately.

Develop written evacuation and Emergency Management Plans Roles of EMPs: • Guide action to be taken • Indicate sequence of actions • Allocate roles and responsibilities to staff • Provide contact details of key personnel and agencies • Identify evacuation routes and assembly areas. All EMPs should be evaluated against these criteria.

Develop written evacuation and Emergency Management Plans There are several topics to address to customise EMPs to the needs of individual workplaces – these include: • Preparing site plans – a detailed and grid-referenced site plans showing layout of rooms and location of emergency equipment and support infrastructure • Preparing floor plans – showing access points and differentiating between various access options (Continued)

Develop written evacuation and Emergency Management Plans • Allocating positions, roles and responsibilities to individual staff for each EMP • How people (‘head’) counts will be undertaken at evacuation assembly points to identify whether or not people are missing • Providing for guest welfare in the immediate short-term (Continued)

Develop written evacuation and Emergency Management Plans • Oraganising media liaison – to enable control of information being given out to the media • Preparing flip cards – to optimise compliance with requirements of plans • Determining special needs assistance and how it will be provided (Continued)

Develop written evacuation and Emergency Management Plans • Obtaining MSDS for all on-site chemicals • Preparing a ‘Bomb Threat’ checklist • Developing ‘appropriate’ plans: • Addressing identified threats and risks • Allowing flexibility • Incorporating training & drills (Continued)

Develop written evacuation and Emergency Management Plans • Creating warning and information protocols • Audible alarms • Public broadcast messages: • Code red= Fire • Code orange = Evacuation • Code yellow= Explosion, person trapped, toxic emission • Code purple = Bomb threat • Code green= All clear. (Continued)

Develop written evacuation and Emergency Management Plans • Creating emergency communications • Identifying necessary staff training (Continued)

Develop written evacuation and Emergency Management Plans • Planning for evacuations: • Immediate evacuations • Pre-warned evacuations • Obtaining feedback from authorities on plans.

Develop written evacuation and Emergency Management Plans EMP – Responding to terrorist attack: • Notify security • Evacuate • Shut down power and equipment • Notify adjacent properties • Maintain communication • Allow professionals to do their job.

Develop written evacuation and Emergency Management Plans EMP – Responding to an immediate threat: • Comply with what is being demanded • Notify security • Retreat • Try to end the situation • Note details of offender.

Develop written evacuation and Emergency Management Plans EMP – Responding to an assault emergency: • Call for internal assistance • Give basic first aid • Circulate description of attacker • Provide location of attacker • Implement ‘Respond to medical emergency’ EMP requirements.

Develop written evacuation and Emergency Management Plans EMP – Responding to fire: • Call emergency services • Implement evacuation plan • Notify neighbouring businesses and properties • Close doors and windows • Turn off air conditioning • Fight fire – if safe & if trained.

Develop written evacuation and Emergency Management Plans EMP – Responding to a gas leak emergency: • Call emergency services • Turn off or remove ignition sources • Notify neighbours • Evacuate • Open windows & doors • Turn off gas – if safe to do so.

Develop written evacuation and Emergency Management Plans EMP – Responding to a medical emergency: • Call an ambulance • Never assume you know the cause • Do not move the patient • Do not ‘act in hope’ • Keep public away • Do not comment on the incident to anyone.

Develop written evacuation and Emergency Management Plans EMP – Responding to a bomb threat: • Stay calm • Listen for background noise and caller clues • Ask questions and record answers – see Bomb Threat Checklist • Do not hang up • Advise designated person quickly and quietly • Initiate evacuation – never assume it was a hoax.

Develop written evacuation and Emergency Management Plans EMP – Responding to a suspicious package: • Decide quickly if it is a ‘suspicious package’ situation • Do not touch it – leave it where it is • Telephone police • Move people away – initiate evacuation • Turn off possible triggers.

Develop written evacuation and Emergency Management Plans EMP – Responding to a hostage situation: • Secure the area • Notify designated workplace person • Communicate information about the situation • Implement evacuation • Do not try to rescue hostages • Never put yourself in danger.

Develop written evacuation and Emergency Management Plans EMP – Responding to a chemical spill: • Call emergency services and report the situation • Provide as much detail as possible • Implement evacuation • Open windows and doors • Prevent access to area • Obtain MSDS • Contain the spill – if possible, safe to do so.

Develop written evacuation/Emergency Management Plans EMP – Responding to a deranged customer emergency: • Attempt to control the situation yourself • Be prepared to contact & involve Supervisor &/or Security • Remove people to a safe area • Restrict access to the area • Protect property.

Develop written evacuation and Emergency Management Plans EMP – Responding to armed robbery: • Comply – do not stall; do not stare at offenders • Try to remember offender details • Call police as soon as safe and possible • Do not talk to anyone – record pertinent details • Gather witnesses • Close venue.

Develop written evacuation and Emergency Management Plans EMPs should identify ‘chain of command’ positions for: • Chief Warden • Deputy Chief Warden • Communications Officer • Floor or Area Wardens • Wardens • First Aid personnel • Security.

PLAN AND CONDUCT AN EVACUATION OF PREMISES