Emergency Evacuation Procedure Policy


Rationale

The Occupational Health and Safety Regulation requires the employer to have procedures in place in case of emergencies. An emergency evacuation plan minimises the threat to life and property. This policy has been developed to assist with the safe and orderly evacuation of children, staff and other persons from the premises.


Aim of Policy

The aim of this policy is to:

  • Establish procedures for staff to follow in an emergency
  • Inform staff of their responsibilities in an emergency situation
  • Ensure staff are trained in and participate in emergency evacuation practices
  • Ensure children are trained in evacuation procedures through regular practice drills
  • Establish a process for documenting emergency evacuation procedures and notifying members of the Management Committee and families of emergency evacuation situations

Implementation

AS SOON AS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WHICH WARRANTS EVACUATION IS NOTICED, ADVISE ALL STAFF TO START THE EVACUATION PROCEDURE, INFORM THE STAFF OF THE THREAT AND ITS LOCATION IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHICH EXIT TO USE. In the event of fire BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO PUT OUT NOTIFY STAFF OF ANY EMERGENCY

1. All children are to be taken to the appropriate evacuation area in case of an emergency (meeting sites should be at least 150 metres from the centre - this is a precaution in case of a fire or an explosion) Assembly point location is to be determined by the local staff

2. The staff present in each house (at the time of the emergency evacuation) must promptly assign responsibilities. These include:

   ¤  A staff member from each house will check all areas of the house for children that may be in the bathhouse, under beds etc.

   ¤   A staff member from each house collects their attendance/ or carry out a head count

   ¤   All the staff are to assist children to the emergency evacuation area

3. The Authorised Supervisor is to collect the staff sign in/out sheets if possible. If there is time, turn off the power at the main switchboard, close all windows and doors, take the first aid kit and mobile phone if available.

4. All staff must assemble in the evacuation area and remain there until instructed by the Emergency Services Staff or Authorised Supervisor to leave. At this time, the Authorised Supervisor will check that all staff are accounted for by marking the attendance roll. Staff members on duty at the time of the evacuation are responsible for checking that all their children are at the designated meeting site by taking a roll call. Any staff or children unaccounted for must be reported immediately to the Authorised Supervisor and the emergency services personnel.

5. Once everybody is assembled in the emergency evacuation area staff are not to attempt to re-enter the centre until the area is declared safe Emergency Services Staff.

Staff should:

  • REMEMBER THAT THE SAFETY OF STAFF AND CHILDREN IS PARAMOUNT
  • Only extinguish small fires if trained to use a fire extinguisher
  • Report all fires/emergencies to the Authorised Supervisor - even those that have been extinguished
  • Never enter a house that contains or is filled with smoke
  • Never enter a house if the door is warm to touch

Following the occurrence of a real emergency evacuation, the Authorised Supervisor must:

  • Document in detail the emergency evacuation 2. review and evaluate the measures taken
  • Report the event to the Management Committee as soon as possible
  • Manage any identified hazards or risks in order to prevent the emergency occurring again

Following an emergency evacuation practice, the Authorised Supervisor must document the following:

  • The date and time of the emergency evacuation practice
  • Staff present at the emergency evacuation practice
  • The time taken to evacuate the building
  • Whether the rolls agree with the children present
  • Whether anyone did not leave the building
  • Evaluation of the practice drill with staff input
  • Raise any concerns, or identified hazards and risks with the Management Committee if necessary, in order to eliminate or minimise those risks in a real emergency
  • Complete the evaluation form for an emergency evacuation practice (Appendix C)

Emergency evacuation procedures should:

  • Be practiced every three months by staff and children
  • Be discussed with children on a regular basis to ensure their understanding of and familiarity with evacuation procedures
  • Be discussed and reviewed at staff meetings, with appropriate changes implemented to ensure that it runs smoothly in the case of a real emergency
  • Be discussed and reviewed with the Possums' Corner Management Committee

Notification to Families

  • If the centre experiences a real emergency evacuation, families will be notified of the following
  • What kind of emergency occurred and the location of the emergency
  • Date and time of emergency
  • How the children responded in the situation, and what families can do to follow up the incident in order to support and reassure their child
  • What precautions or actions the centre will take to prevent this kind of an emergency occurring again or minimise the risk