7.2 EMERGENCY EVACUATION, LOCKDOWN AND DRILLS

Policy Statement The Service recognises the timely and controlled response to emergency events, such as a fire, bomb threat or lockdown contributes significantly to upholding the safety and wellbeing of children, staff and any other relevant individuals onsite. The service is committed to ensuring safety of all relevant persons through sound preparation, rehearsal, evaluations and the actual undertaking of an emergency response.

The Approved Provider also recognises their duties to comply with Education and Care Service Regulations 2011 (regulations 97 and 168 (2)(e)).

The scope of this policy and procedure applies to both the: • the response to emergency events while on the school premises • the ongoing review, preparation and development of risk-assessed responses to emergency events

Related Policies • 6.3 – Workplace Health and Safety • 8.10 – Employee Orientation and Induction

Auxiliary Plans and Templates • 7.2.1 - Emergency Evacuation Plan • 7.2.3 - Bomb Threat Checklist • 7.2.2 - Lockdown Plan • 7.2.4 – Emergency Drill Evaluation Template

Roles and Responsibilities Approved Provider • Ensuring policy and procedure provide all staff are instructed and trained in the emergency evacuation and lockdown plans. • Ensure emergency evacuation action plans have been developed through risk-assessment practices that identify potential emergencies. • Ensuring plans are displayed in a prominent location near entry and exit points. • Ensure emergency and evacuations plans are rehearsed and documented. • Ensure processes are developed to monitor the function and working order of fire equipment. Nominated Supervisor • Support the Approved Provider in facilitating the collaborative ongoing review and development of emergency and evacuation plans. • Instruct all new staff and/or volunteers of the emergency and evacuation plans. • Ensure the relevant drills are undertaken in accordance with the Service’s procedures. • Communicate emergency drill evaluations and any identified concerns to the Approved Provider. • Ensure the Service environment is maintained to support the safe response to emergency events (doorway are kept clear, workplace health and safety items addressed) and that plans and resources are maintained and displayed as outlined in the procedure. • Monitor and regularly coordinate the maintenance of fire safety equipment. Responsible Person in • Initiate and lead the emergency evacuation or lockdown response Charge including undertake drills as required. • Provide feedback and guidance to staff and children of their response to emergency and evacuation drills.

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All Staff • Respond to hazards or potential signals or an emergency event • Immediately alert other staff of the emergency situation. • Support children and other individuals onsite to follow the emergency and evacuation plans. • Understand your role and responsibilities in an emergency or evacuation response. • Participate in planning and review of emergency plans and drills.

Procedures Development of Emergency Plans • The Service will have the following plans prepared for the event of an emergency: o Emergency Evacuation Plan (7.2.1) o Lockdown Plan (7.2.2) o Bomb-Threat Response (below) • All plans will be based on an assessment of hazards and the types of emergency situation that may arise, including the possible consequences and controls to manage the identified risks. • Plans will outline: • Allocation of roles and responsibilities • Lines of communication to coordinate the emergency response • Activation of alarms and/or communication channels for staff • Floor/site plans with clear identification of a safe route to assembly point • Storage and access to role and emergency contact information • Instructions on responding to hazard (i.e. use of fire equipment) • All staff are encouraged to inform the development of these plans. Consultation and feedback with educators will sourced following each drill • The ongoing review, management and display/communication of these plans will be outlined the procedure below

Emergency Evacuation For emergency where the source of the hazard in located inside or onsite (e.g. a fire, chemical spill, gas leak etc.) the Emergency Evacuation Plan will be initiated.

Emergency Evacuation Plans will be clearly displayed near the entrance of each room at the Service. Evacuation plans written and displayed to be accessible by child. In addition, a list of emergency telephone numbers will be clearly displayed within the Service.

Educators must ensure that all exits are kept clear and unlocked to enable a quick departure. This will be included on the daily safety checklists and will be marked each day if compliant. Any comments or issues relating to these preventative measures will be noted on the checklist and bought to the attention of the Nominated Supervisor.

In an emergency situation, the educator who first discovers the emergency will raise the alarm using the service’s emergency equipment. Attempts to extinguish fires will occur only if the fire is very small, and the person has been trained in using the fire equipment. As outlined in the evacuation plan, the priority is to evacuate.

The Nominated Supervisor, or in her/his absence the Responsible Person in Charge will lead the response.

No one will re-enter, nor be permitted to re-enter, a building in which there is or has been a fire, under any circumstances, unless and until the emergency service advises that it is safe to do so.

The Regularity Authority will be notified, through the 10.33 Managing Notifications policy, of any events in which an emergency evacuation was undertaken.

Lockdown A lockdown emergency response is initiated where the threat or hazard is in the external environment (a harassing parent/adult, dangerous person on/near premises) the Nominated Supervisor/Responsible Person in Charge will

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initiate the lockdown procedure. Unlike the emergency evacuation plan, the lockdown plan due to the discreet intention is not displayed, therefore rehearsal is an essential activity to ensure effective preparation.

At no time will any staff member try to physically remove an unwanted or harassing individual.

All threatening situations will be evaluated as soon as possible after the event and any necessary modifications or enhancements to these procedures made accordingly.

The Regularity Authority will be notified, through the 10.33 Managing Notifications policy, of any events in which an emergency evacuation was undertaken.

Bomb Threat A copy of the bomb threat checklist (7.2.3) will be kept in an accessible location in the OHSC office.

In the event of a bomb threat, the following information will be recorded by the person who answers the call, on the ‘bomb threat checklist’: a) Time and date of the call. b) the wording of the threat; c) Other specific details.

The staff member should NOT hang up the phone. Without alerting the caller indicate for another person implement an emergency evacuation of the building according to the services’ emergency evacuation procedure.

A staff member can then use a separate phone to call 000 (police) to report the threat.

The Regularity Authority will be notified, through the 10.33 Managing Notifications policy, of any events in which an emergency evacuation was undertaken.

Emergency Drills • Emergency evacuation and lockdown procedures will be carried out at least once a term. • In order to maximise the exposure to the widest range of children, families and staff in attendance, a drill will occur on different days of the week. • Feedback and guidance will be provided to the children at the conclusion of each drill. • Each practiced drill will be documented and recorded by the Nominated Supervisor or Responsible Person in Charge (see 7.2.4 – Emergency Drill Evaluation Template). Each record will include an evaluation of the drill against the service’s plans and responses by staff and children. Any concerns will be communicated to the Approved Provider along with the Nominated Supervisors plans to address these concerns.

Relevant Laws and Provisions • Education and Care Services National Law Act, 2010 and Regulations 2011 • Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and Regulations 2011 • Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008 • Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice 2011 • National Quality Standard, Quality Area 2 – Children’s health and safety; Quality Area 7 – Governance and leadership

ECEC Regulation Compliance • Education and Care Services National Regulations 97 and 168(2)(e)

Policy Controls Date of Development JAN 2015 Date Ratified JUN 2015 Date of Review NOV 2019

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