Description

This unit covers the competency required to implement the emergency response specified in the workplace emergency procedures or specified by a person at a higher level in the emergency control organisation.

People who undertake this work will be working within the command, control and coordinate structure of the emergency control organisation.

This unit:

• has been developed to cover the broad range of emergencies and workplaces as considered in Australian Standard 3745—2002
• is part of a suite of eleven workplace emergency response units of competency that has three streams

Unit Sector

Workplace Evacuation

Pre-Requisites

Nil

Performance Criteria

1. Respond to emergency reports, signals and warnings
1.1 Emergency reports, signals and warnings are identified and appropriate action is taken
1.2 Emergency situations and possible further development are assessed and relevant action is taken according to workplace emergency procedures
1.3 Arrangements are made for people who may require assistance
1.4 Emergency stations are attended and operated according to workplace emergency procedures
1.5 Suitable identification is worn according to workplace emergency procedures and relevant standards

2. Initiate and control initial emergency response
2.1 Initial emergency response is initiated and carried out according to the workplace emergency procedures or authorised instruction
2.2 Evacuated areas are checked according to workplace emergency procedures
2.3 Results of the evacuation of an area are reported to the relevant person according to the workplace emergency procedures
2.4 People are accounted for appropriately after the evacuation and the results are reported to the relevant person according to the workplace emergency procedures
2.5 Persons not accounted for are reported in accordance with workplace emergency procedures

3. Anticipate the further development of emergencies
3.1 Emergency responses are based on the emergency management plan, taking into account the current situation and possible further development
3.2 Possible further development of emergency situations is continually assessed, reported to the relevant person and acted on according to workplace emergency procedures

4. Assist with post initial response
4.1 Emergency evacuation or alternative action is completed before any post initial response activities are undertaken
4.2 Post initial response activities are conducted under the control of the relevant person and are consistent with the workplace emergency plan

Key Competencies

• Collect, Analyse & Organise Information
• Communicate Ideas & Information
• Plan & Organise Activities
• Work with Others & in Teams
• Use Mathematical Ideas & Techniques
• Solve Problems
• Use Technology

Range Statement

Emergencies must include those emergencies identified by the workplace hazard analysis, which may include:

• Animal or livestock emergencies
• Bomb threat
• Building invasion/armed invasion
• Chemical, biological and radiological
• Civil disorder
• Criminal acts
• Cyclones, including storm surge
• Deliberate self-harm
• Earthquake
• Failure of utilities
• Fire
• Flood
• Hazardous substances incidents
• Hostage situations
• Industrial accident
• Letter bomb
• Medical emergency
• Severe weather/storm damage
• Structural instability
• Terrorism
• Transport accident
• Toxic emission
• Veterinary emergencies
• Wildfire

Workplaces include:

Workplaces, buildings and structures as outlined in Australian Standard 3745—2002

Emergency reports, signals and warnings may include:

• Audible/visual alarms
• Audible or vibrating pagers
• Coded or uncoded public address announcements
• E-mail
• Screen alerts
• Stench alarms

Further development may include:

• Air contamination
• Danger of explosion
• Environmental impact
• Injury, loss of life or property
• Loss of communications
• Loss of containment
• Loss of emergency resources
• Reaction of people to the emergency
• Release of hazardous materials
• Risk of cross-infection or contamination
• Risk of increased threatening behaviour
• Spread of hazard/incident area
• Structural collapse
• Threat to adjoining/neighbouring areas
• Vapours, fumes, gases

People who may require assistance may include:

• Babies and children
• People with a mobility, intellectual, visual, auditory or sensory impairment, either temporary or permanent, who require assistance during an emergency response
• People from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds
• People who are injured
• People who are not able to comprehend the instructions given
• Pregnant women

Emergency stations may include:

• Assembly or marshalling points
• Designated telephone or intercom
• Designated muster points
• Emergency control point
• Master emergency control point
• Warden’s inter-communication point (WIP) phones

Identification may include:

• Armbands
• Helmets, caps, hats
• Uniforms
• Tabards, vests or other distinguishing/distinctive clothing

Relevant standards may include:

• Relevant Australian Standards such as Australian Standard 3745—2002

Initial emergency response may include:

• To evacuate
• Not to evacuate
• To partially evacuate
• Advice or requests for emergency services
• Alternative evacuation
• Any guidance from emergency response team
• Designated assembly area
• Evacuation routes and destination
• Not to re-enter the evacuated area until directed by emergency personnel
• Protection in place/lockdown
• Relocating or providing welfare services for evacuated persons
• Restricting entry to danger areas
• Searching floors or areas
• Supplying emergency equipment
• Use of response equipment

Relevant person may include:

• Emergency control organisation members
• Emergency services personnel
• People with overall evacuation control responsibility or a person delegated with this responsibility
• Police, fire and emergency services

Post initial response activities may include:

• Assisting with recovery activities
• Assisting with authorised restoration of normal activity
• Participating in debriefing
• Providing advice
• Requests for emergency services or specialist response team
• Relocating or providing welfare services for evacuated persons
• Restricting entry to danger areas
• Security
• Supplying emergency equipment

Evidence Guide

• Arrangements for evacuating people who need support 
• Assessing and anticipating the progress of emergencies that might reasonably be expected in the workplace 
• Command, control and coordinate function of the emergency control organisation
• Context of own role within the workplace emergency procedures
• Emergency assessment and reporting procedures
• Emergency reporting signals, alarms, warnings and procedures
• Emergency response and operating procedures
• Members of the emergency control organisation and their roles and responsibilities
• Evacuation priorities
• Hazard identification
• Precautions to be taken during emergencies and during an evacuation
• Methods of accounting for people during and after emergencies
• Need to keep the relevant person informed of the developing situation
• Post initial response emergency activities
• Responses to meet the various situations
• Workplace procedures

• Ability to relate to a range of people from a range of cultural, linguistic, social and ethnic backgrounds, and a range of physical and intellectual abilities
• Apply methods of accounting for people
• Assist people who need assistance
• Carry out a search pattern within an area
• Communicate clearly by the means specified in the workplace emergency procedures
• Contribute to emergency management planning
• Exercise leadership within a workplace emergency context
• Use equipment assigned to assist with implementing the workplace emergency procedures

Resource implications
Access to scenarios that reflect a range of emergency situations that may be expected in the workplace

Consistency in performance
Competency should be demonstrated over time with a range of emergencies that could be expected in the workplace

Context of assessment
Competency should be assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace