TO DEVELOP THE WORKPLACE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROCEDURES FOR YOUR SITE THE FOLLOWING NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED;
Visit the site.
When we visit the site we are ascertaining what the site consists of: how many buildings, how many floors, how many areas, number of staff, are any persons trained in emergency response, what equipment is available etc.
Risk Assessment.
We will conduct a risk assessment to ascertain what the site risks are and what the impact of an emergency involving the identified risk could be.
Develop the Procedures.
The procedures are then developed covering all aspects of the site.
The Workplace Emergency Response Manual is divided into easy to read, easy to understand and easy to find sections.
One of the sections is Emergency Control Organisation.
This section covers who are the members of the ECO (Wardens) and what are their responsibilities before, during and after an emergency occurs.
Once the procedures are developed a draft copy is sent to the person responsible for the procedures to ensure that they cover all aspects of the site and contain site specific details.
Tasmania Fire Service Specified Building.
If the building is classed as a “Specified Building” in accordance with the Tasmania Fire Service General Fire Regulations 2010 then the emergency procedures have to be submitted to the Fire Service for approval.
If the procedures are accepted by the Fire Service they are given in-principal approval.
A request is then sent to the Fire Service to observe a practice evacuation after giving 21 days notice.
If the practice evacuation is conducted successfully formal approval is then given by the Fire Service.
The procedures must then be reviewed annually and they must be re-submitted to the Tasmania Fire Service for re-approval every 5 years.
Printing & Binding.
With the procedures authorised by the responsible person and after receiving in-principal approval from the Fire Service we then print the manual in colour and place it into a binder.
Conduct training in the response procedures & present the procedures manual.
We then develop a training session and deliver it to the members of the ECO to ensure they understand their roles and responsibilities during an emergency.
It is at this stage that the ECO members are presented with the Workplace Emergency Response Manual.
Once the training has been completed a suitable time is mutually agreed upon to conduct an inhouse practice evacuation.
This is usually 1-2 weeks after the training to enable ECO staff to digest what was delivered in the training session and to familiarise themselves with what is required of them as an ECO member.
Notify staff of impending practice evacuation.
Management will inform all staff that a practice evacuation will take place shortly.
Best practice shows us that if you give staff a specific date & time of the practice it does not achieve the best result.
When giving staff a date & time when the evacuation will occur it is best to state that it will occur sometime between Monday and Friday of the week the practice evacuation is to be held.
This will give the staff adequate time to familiarise themselves with their roles and responsibilities.
Conduct a practice evacuation.
When we receive confirmation from the Fire Service that a practice evacuation has been be scheduled we will arrange with Management to have access to an area or room where a smoke machine may be set up.
This smoke machine produces a synthetic smoke which is not harmful and will activate the alarm system to give a more realistic fire scenario.
Representatives from Complete Fire Safety and the Tasmania Fire Service will observe the practice evacuation.
Debrief.
When the evacuation is completed we will conduct a debrief with all staff involved in the evacuation.
Report to Management.
A detailed report will then be forwarded to management with any recommendations required.
CONTACT STEPHEN FOR MORE INFORMATION:
PHONE: 0403 108 591
