Fire and Emergency Procedures - Kooyong

Emergency Wardens 2009

Emergency Warden

Role:

Coordinates the code on a departmental basis – organises the response

Communicate with the Chief Warden / Emergency Services

Informs Emergency Coordinator current status in department

Coordinates the Departmental Evacuations

2 Way communication

Allocate tasks to others while remaining aware of what’s going on.

Leadership behaviours that the Emergency Warden will need to display;

Clear & reassuring orders

Dealing with people's special needs

Keeping order, reducing and avoiding panic

Assessing the situation and providing an effective response

Understanding that stress can affect performance and the ability to act

Emergency WardenTake charge – you have the authority

Emergency Warden

If an occupant or employee refuses to comply with the directions given by a member of the Emergency Control Team:

1. Advise the person that they are required to evacuate the building/area because of an emergency situation that may be life threatening.

2. Notify the Chief Warden, who will advise the Officer-in-Charge of the attending Emergency Service.

3. Don’t waste time on them – you have many other people to worry about

Raising the Alarm

How do we raise the alarm?

Alarm – Alert Tone

Alert tone – Beep Beep – sounds like a truck reversing

Prepare for evacuation

Assemble all persons at internal assembly area

Check the area for signs of an emergency

Communicate with Chief warden

Note: The Fire Brigade wont be on their way until 000 is called or a break glass alarm activated

Alarm – Evacuation Tone

Evacuate tone – sounds like Woop Woop

Evacuate people from the building

Search the area to ensure everyone is out

Keep people together at the external assembly area

Kooyong – Fire bell at reception, Fire Brigade will arrive there

Affected AreaEnsure that the alarm has been raised

Organise staff to respond to the emergency, eg;

Evacuate anyone in immediate danger to safety

Close doors to stop fire / smoke spreading

Prepare to evacuate

Give the Chief Warden a report on the situation / request assistance

Proceed with evacuation if required

Search / Check that everyone is accounted for

Non Affected AreasEnsure all persons assemble at the internal

assembly point

Send a staff member to check all areas of the department and come back to report to you

Be prepared to send staff to assist at the affected area

Coordinate evacuation if required – report completion to Chief Warden

Conduct a thorough search of the area

Conduct roll call at other end of evacuation – report anyone missing to the coordinator

Chief Warden Role:

Is in charge during the emergency

Remains at the Emergency Control Centre throughout the duration of the emergency (unless instructed by the Emergency Services)

Communicates with all parties during a code via the phones / PA

Allocates resources

Liaises with the Emergency Services

Is the only person authorised to call an ALL CLEAR

Warden Equipment

Chief Warden - White Helmet

Emergency Wardens - Red Helmet

Telephones

Emergency Ready Reference Guide

Emergency Procedures manual

Exact location of the incident

Type of incident

Hazards present

Access to site

Number and type of casualties

Emergency services present and required

Request for assistance

2 Way communication – with staff – to Coordinator

Communication

Warden to advise the coordinator

Location and extent of emergency

The present situation

What actions have been taken

Any request for assistance

Other relevant information

What are our communication systems?

Communication

Phones

Emergency Ready Reference Guide has the phone numbers for the emergency phones

Including the number for the Emergency Control Centre (Fire panel in the Plaza)

Area having the emergency will make / receive the most contact with the chief warden

Others may just get the Alert or Evacuate tone

SearchingConduct a search of the department to locate source

of the emergency eg, smoke detector activated.

Conduct a search after evacuation to ensure everyone is out

Conduct a headcount before and after evacuation

Searching for a bomb

Supervisor’s search

General search

Searching

Searching

Workplace Induction

How do we induct new staff into the department?

Workplace Induction

Fire / Smoke -The Basics

Remove anyone from danger

Alarm – raise it

Close the doors

Evacuate

Fire prevention / preparedness?

Fire / Smoke -The Basics

Get people out of danger

Raise the alarm

Stop the fire from getting out of control

• Close doors

Follow Chief warden instructions

Fire Prevention

Electrical safety

Storage of flammable / combustible materials / chemicals

Training and Awareness

Safety Inspection Checklist

Fire escapes & corridors must be kept clear at all times, corridors kept as clear as possible

Controlling smoking

FLAMMABLEGAS

FLAMMABLE

LIQUID

WHAT ACTIONS DO PEOPLE TAKE DURING A FIRE?

Fires often result from ‘unremarkable’ events such as cooking; many fire victims are surprised and unprepared once a fire starts

People will often finish an activity prior to investigating a fire cue or evacuating

Less than half of the fire victims evacuated the premises immediately

Most fire victims use garden hoses rather than fire blankets and extinguishers during a fire

Few fire victims contact the MFB immediately

Fire victims often call the MFB once they are unable to control the fire

Most fire victims made on-the-spot decisions throughout their fire incidents rather than following a pre-plan

Fire victims who did follow a pre-plan mentioned that their decision was based on fire brigade education

People often underestimate the danger of fire, especially in their home

The main influence on behaviour during the fire situation was the protection of either the home or household members

People are more likely to respond to clear or easily identifiable fire cues such as flames, rather than smoke, smell or noise

The majority of fire victims made on-the-spot decisions influenced by the type of fire situation that unfolded or due to a lack of pre-planned decisions

Stress may impact on an individual’s ability to react appropriately to fire in some cases

Few fire victims felt confident throughout the entire fire incident

WHAT INFLUENCES PEOPLE’S BEHAVIOUR?

Before the Fire Brigade Gets Here

All people removed from immediate danger – ie evacuated and searched

Fire is contained – doors closed

Report made to Chief Warden about the situation

Housekeeping

Fire escapes clear

Corridors clear

Smoke / fire doors not obstructed

Extinguishers / hose reels not obstructed

Store the minimum amount of flammable and combustible materials

Decision to Evacuate

Where people’s safety is in danger – the warden is empowered to make the decision to evacuate – then tell the Chief Warden what you’re doing

If in doubt - evacuate

You may receive an instruction to evacuate from the coordinator, or the evacuation tone

Evacuation Options

1. Immediate area

2. Horizontal

3. Vertical

4. Outside

5. Protect in place

Evacuation

Fastest Way to Evacuate People

First – Ambulant (can walk unaided)

Second – Semi ambulant (need assistance to walk)

Third – Non ambulant (cant walk unaided)

A good idea to have one sighted person in front and one behind

Evacuation

Assembly Points

1st Glenferrie Rd – near car park

2nd Talbot Crescent

3rd Cricket Pavilion

Check that everyone is accounted for

Keep people’s spirits up - communicate

Fire Brigade Rescue Methods

Good Evacuation Ensured alarm was raised Evacuated people from the immediate area Attended phone Warden instructed / delegated to staff quickly and – didn’t get

too involved Evacuated ambulant, semi ambulant, non ambulant Closed doors Blocked off lift / corridors Staff reported what was going on back to the warden Put on hat Conducted comprehensive search once people evacuated

Initial action was standing around not doing anything

Didn’t raise the alarm

Didn’t pick up phone

Warden trying to do everything while other staff standing nearby

Wheelchair obstructing fire escape

Didn’t conduct search after evacuation

Forgot to put hat on

Didn’t report back to Chief Warden once evacuation complete

Not So Good Evacuation

A Good Evacuation

Orderly

Thorough search carried out to ensure all persons evacuated

Any required actions taken eg close doors

Report made to Chief Warden

Internal Emergency

Examples of internal emergencies:

failure of water flood

electricity illegal occupancy

medical gases person trapped in lift

communication hazardous substances spill

ventilation systems damage to internal structures

Is it an emergency or should you call Facilities?

Main Points

Remove people from danger

Raise the alarm

Reduce the impact

Stop more people coming involved

Communicate – get help to rectify

Get department back to normal

Internal Emergency - The Basics

Security / Intruder

Obey the offender’s instructions

Raise the alarm

Evacuate the immediate area

Keep additional people out of the area

Take note of the person’s appearance ie. height, weight, age, clothing, speech, accent, hair

Use “Offender Description” Form

Security / IntruderPut distance between yourself and the aggressor

Put yourself between exit and the aggressor

Remove yourself from the situation as soon as safely possible

Talk in a non threatening manner

Do only what is directed, nothing more

Raise the alarm

Good communication, acting politely and professionally and not over reacting has been shown to be the best course of action

Bomb Threat – The Basics

Have Bomb Threat Checklist filled in

Search for suspicious item

No one to touch suspicious items

Evacuate immediate area

Raise the alarm – tell Chief Warden

Leave doors open

Mobile phones

A suspect item will generally have two of the following recognition points, but may have one or none

Suspicious Packages

Excessive securing material

Xcessive weight

Protruding wires or foil

Lopsided or unevenly weighted

Oily stains or discolouration

Stiff or rigid envelope

Is the package expected

Visual distractions

Excessive Postage

Proper names and titles not used

Addresses handwritten or poorly typed

Restrictive markings “confidential”

Common words missspelt

Either unusual or foreign mail

Lacks address of sender

If you find or receive a suspicious item

DO

Isolate the article – stop people from entering the area

Evacuate the immediate area

Alert the Chief warden

Try to confirm origin

Do Not

Attempt to open

Immerse in water

Place in confined space

Transport through congested areas

Suspicious Packages

Bomb Threat Checklist

Bomb Threat

When is the bomb going to explode?

Where did you put the bomb?

When did you put it there?

What does the bomb look like?

What kind of bomb is it?

What will make the bomb explode?

Did you place the bomb?

Why did you place the bomb?

What is your name?

Where are you?

What is your address?

Medical Emergency

Check for danger

Raise the alarm, call reception or 000

Obtain first aid assistance

Direct ambulance officers to the scene

External Emergency

Notify Chief Warden

Advise staff of required actions

If required prepare to evacuate

Follow Chief Warden’s instructions

After the Emergency

Get department back to normal running as quickly as possible

Debriefing – our EAP provider, CRS can provide professional debriefing

The warden should ensure that staff who might need it are identified and included

After the EmergencyStress

In emergencies, people can use up more emotional energy than they realise.

Breaking the stress cycle

Step 1. Recognise you are stressed.

Step 2. Make a decision to break the stress cycle.

Step 3. Reduce stress activities.

Step 4. Increase relaxation and positive activities.

Breaking the Stress Cycle

Physical

Do regular rhythmic physical exercise such as walking, swimming, cycling.

Make an effort to reduce or at least not to increase your intake of stimulants such as alcohol, tobacco and sugar as they keep the stress cycle going.

Eat regular, well balanced meals even if they are small.

Relationships

Keep regular contact with people you like to be with.

Ask for help when you need it, many people enjoy giving help.

Make time to be with your family or friends.

Talk to people you trust about yourself and what is happening so you can get it into perspective.

Breaking the Stress Cycle

Relaxation

Do regular relaxation exercises such as deep breathing, listening to quiet music, meditation.

Do something about bodily tension such as massage or exercises.

Rest regularly, even if you can only do it for a short time.

Try to find something that will make you laugh sometimes.

Attitudes

Accept that it will take time to get out of the stress cycle and keep trying.

Be careful of accidents; concentration and judgement may be impaired under stress.

Try to be organised and efficient

Incident Report

An incident report should be filled in for all incidents and emergencies

This will help us to assess what happened and make recommendations to reduce the likelihood of reoccurrence

From Here

Maintain awareness of our procedures

Emergency Ready Reference Guide

Emergency Procedures Manual