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Emergency - Fire & Evacuation

Aim
1. To ensure, as far as practicable, that no person
suffers injury or illness as a result of a fire on
land or in a building that is owned or occupied by
the University of Western Australia.
Each workplace at the University is required to
have a fully implemented emergency evacuation
procedure (EEP).
The procedures that follow are designed to assist
in the organisation and implementation of
emergency evacuation procedures for workplaces
at the University of Western Australia.
For assistance in implementing an EEP in your
building/area, please contact the Safety and
Health on 6488 3938.

2. Contents
Aim
Emergency Evacuation Priorities
Responsibility for Developing and Implementing
Emergency Procedures
Implementation of Emergency Procedures

Training
Evacuation Drills
Emergency Evacuation Procedures in the Case of
Fire
Definitions

3. Emergency Evacuation Priorities

a. First Priority: Protection of Life
The first priority is to ensure that all
people who may be in danger are warned,
and that action is taken to guarantee their
safety, before any steps are taken to
prevent the spread of the hazard, to
secure assets, or to eliminate the hazard.

b. Second Priority: Prevent Spread

of Hazard
The second priority aims at controlling the
extent of the hazard within the building
and minimising its release into the
environment.

c. Third Priority: Save Assets in the

Affected Area
The third priority is to prevent personal
and University assets from being damaged
in the event of a fire.

d. Fourth Priority: Eliminate the

Hazard
The final priority is to eliminate the fire by
extinguishment.

4. Responsibility for Developing and

Implementing Emergency
Procedures

Management (Vice Chancellor, Deans, Heads of

School) is responsible for the development and
implementation of emergency procedures at the
University.

5. Implementation of Emergency
Procedures
The EEP for a building shall be implemented by
the building's emergency control organisation
under the direction of the Building Warden
(also referred to as Chief Fire Warden).

Emergency Control Organisation for a

building (ECO)
The emergency control organisation (ECO)
facilitates the safe and orderly implementation of
the emergency procedures in a building,
including the evacuation of the occupants from
the building when appropriate. The ECO is a
structured organisation of people employed
within a building who take command on the
declaration of an emergency, pending the arrival
of the fire brigade or other emergency service.
The ECO comprises: a. Building Warden
b. Deputy Building Warden
c. Area Warden
d. First Aid Personnel
e. Other Specialists (eg Chemist)
Management should encourage the
implementation of an emergency control
organisation and emergency evacuation
procedures within all workplaces at the
University. It is their ultimate responsibility to
ensure that:
f. members are appointed to the emergency

control organisation for the building;

g. such persons have training in emergency
procedures;
h. they support the ECO with appropriate
resources and authority.
Members of the ECO should be mature and
responsible who are physically capable and have
the confidence of building occupants.
For buildings with joint occupancy, all Areas shall
contribute members to the emergency control
organisation in proportion of number of
equivalent full-time staff in occupancy, or other
practicable arrangement.

Duties of Emergency Control

Organisation on Noticing or Becoming
Aware of an Emergency.
Building Warden :
On becoming aware of a potential emergency,
shall determine the nature of the emergency and
decide on the appropriate action. If an
emergency is declared, the Building Warden shall
initiate the emergency procedures which should
include the following actions:
i.

ensure that the appropriate emergency

service has been notified. This can be
achieved by contacting Security on 2222;

j. ensure that the Area Wardens are

advised of the situation;
k. initiate evacuation of the
building/workplace;
l.

brief emergency service personnel on their

arrival and thereafter act on the
instructions of the emergency service's
senior officer.

m. being available, or organising Area Warden

cover, at all times that the building is
normally occupied;
n. organising and distributing to all Wardens
and to all building occupants relevant
information for use in an emergency,
including details of the fire alarm system
, the emergency warning system and
the emergency procedures
o. prominently displaying evacuation
procedures and plans for areas.
Assistance can be obtained from Safety
and Health;
p. maintaining and distributing to all building
occupants a current list of all Area
Wardens and their Deputies (with phone
numbers and locations);
q. training, or organising the training of,
newly-appointed Area Wardens in ECO
operations.
r. It will be a matter of careful arrangement,
for which the Building Warden is
responsible; that all areas of the
workplace have wardens at all times
during normal working hours.

Deputy Building Warden is required to perform the duties of the Building

Warden if that person is unavailable during an
emergency

Area Wardens are responsible for individual workplaces or areas

of a workplace. An Area Warden, on becoming
aware of the emergency, should implement the
emergency procedures for their floor, which
should include the following actions:

s. Ascertain the extent of the emergency;

t. Assist people in immediate danger;
u. Raise alarm (break glass alarm, shout
FIRE, FIRE, FIRE);
v. Attempt to extinguish fire if safe to do so;
w. Implement evacuation of their workplace;
x. Perform methodical search of their area to
ensure that all persons have been notified
of emergency and have, or are, proceding
to the Building Assembly Area;
y. Assist mobility impaired persons;
z. Place a staff member at the entry points to
ensure that nobody can enter
the building pending permission to do so
from the Building Warden or a member of
the emergency services;
aa.Communicate with Building Warden;
For further details on the tasks involved with
evacuation please see evacuation procedures.
A Deputy Area Warden should be appointed for
each Area Warden so to assume the Warden's
responsibilities when absent, and otherwise
assist as required.
Area Wardens should be appointed for each
floor or zone of a building, to control the
emergency procedures for that area, generally as
directed by the Building Warden. However, Area
Wardens have the authority to evacuate their
area if there is any impending danger.
Area Wardens must be familiar with:
ab.the operation of the fire alarm system,
the emergency warning system and

any other equipment used to assist in the

operation of emergency procedures for the
building;
ac. the area (floor or zone) they represent,
including;

all means of egress and alternative

escape routes;

the existence and position of rooms

leading off blind passages; doors
leading to dead-ends and any other
confined areas in which persons
could be located;

potentially hazardous materials or

operations undertaken in their zone;

the location and operation of fire

doors, smoke doors, fire blankets,
portable fire extinguishers and fire
hoses in their area;

the number and location of mobilityimpaired persons in their area;

ad.It is important that an Area Warden or a

Deputy Area Warden be available for each
area during periods of normal occupancy.
If possible, at least one Area Warden
should be appointed each twenty persons
employed in every area;
To assist building occupants and emergency
services personnel to identify ECO personnel
during an emergency the Building Warden and all
Area Wardens should wear red caps with
WARDEN written on. These caps can be obtained
from the Safety and Health on 6488 3938.
All University Building and Area Wardens are
protected under the terms of the University's
Public Liability and Professional Indemnity
Insurance policies whilst undertaking their

duties. These policies apply to all University staff

provided they act within the scope of their duties
and training and/or act in good faith. Protection
is not provided under these policies for non
University related activities.

First Aid Personnel On hearing the alarm will make contact with the
Building Warden and make his or her way to the
building Assembly Area with equipment to render
first aid as required.

Other SpecialistsDepending on the area (building or otherwise) a

specialist may be required in the case of special
hazards that may arise in the event of a fire in
the area. An example would be a chemist who
can assist on the assessment on the effects of
certain chemicals in a fire environment.

o Training
Training of Emergency Control
Organisation Members
Training available to Wardens include:
Warden Training Course provided by the ISER
Group (formerly CIMS) (3 hours)
Refresher Warden Training Course provided by
the ISER Group (formerly CIMS) (1 hour)
Fire Awareness and Extinguisher Training
provided by the Safety and Health (2 hours)
Fire Warden Training is also provided by Fire and
Emergency Services or Industrial Foundation for
Accident Prevention (1 day)
Contact the Safety and Health for more
information.

Evacuation Drills
Evacuation drills are a most important part of the
staff training associated with emergency
evacuation procedures. Drills, complete with local
alarms (activated by Central Plant Personnel)
should be carried out in all buildings at least
once a year.
It is the Building Warden's responsibility to
ensure that at least one evacuation drill is
conducted for their area every year.
The following points should be noted by the
Building Warden in planning and implementing
an evacuation drill:
a. if appropriate; coordinate the timing of the
drill with Director or Head of School;
Laboratory Manager of School ;
b. invite the Safety and Health to attend,
sound the alarm and assess the
evacuation;
c. make a special effort to organise the drill
when both the Head of School and other
senior management are present in the
building. The cooperation and active
participation of senior management is
essential to ensure the wholehearted
support of staff.
d. If desired, prior warning of the drill
(approximate date and time) can be sent
to all staff to assist their understanding
and cooperation;
e. Ensure that all staff recognise the ALERT
and EVACUATION signals and know the
relevant procedures, exit routes, and
assembly area;
f. The Building Warden should superintend
the drill, record the time required to
complete the evacuation, and note any

problems and deficiencies;

g. After each drill a meeting of Wardens, the
Safety and Health and senior management
(if available) should be held to evaluate
the success of the drill and to solve any
problems that may have arisen.

Evacuation of Lecture Theatres,

Libraries, Classrooms and Teaching
Laboratories
These areas require explicit organisation because
of the potential for large numbers of people to be
congregated in a small area. The person in
charge of the class shall act as the Warden and is
responsible for evacuating his/her area.

Upon Hearing the Alert or When Notified of

an Emergency
The person in charge of the class should direct
students to:
h. Stand fast and push chairs, large bags,
etc. under desks or benches.
i.

Turn off electrical devices and laboratory

operations that are not safe to be left
unattended.

j. In controlled sequence, move along

gangways to main aisles and exit in an
orderly manner through the nearest
appropriate exit.
k. Move to the Building Assembly Area.
These procedures need to be orderly to minimise
crowding in aisles and doorways.

o Emergency Evacuation
Procedures in Case of Fire

You discover a fire:

a. Help people in immediate danger
b. Warn others by shouting "Fire, Fire,
Fire", raise the alarm if not already
sounding and telephone 2222.
c. Decide if you can put the fire out. If
you are not sure, do not attempt to.
d. Don't attempt to use a fire extinguisher if
you have never been instructed on how to
use one.
e. If you can put out the fire then do so, if
not proceed to evacuate the building.

You hear the fire alarm ringing; you

must prepare to evacuate the building:
f. Switch off all computers, printers and
electrical appliances.
g. Close all windows and doors.
h. Gather your personal belongings in
preparation to immediately evacuate the
building.
i.

Organise/help other people in the room.

Evacuate the building and proceed to

your Building Assembly Area:
j. Move at a quick walk, do not run.
k. If you have to move through a closed door
that you cannot see through:

Feel the door to see if it is hot;

Look for smoke coming under the

door;

Open the door slowly and look

around it to see if there is a fire
behind it;

If there is no fire on the other side,

proceed through and close the door
behind you;

2. Move to the Building Assembly Area

as quickly as possible;
3. Report to your Warden that you/your
group is there and if you know of anyone
trapped in the building;
4. Remain in the Assembly Area until you are
informed that you may leave by either the
Building Warden or a member of the
emergency services

You notice someone on the verge of

panic:
5. Give them a task or responsibility;
6. The person will still require constant
monitoring;
7. Do not hit them;
8. Take hold of one of their hands and guide
them out of the building to the Assembly
Area;
9. If they will not cooperate or start to grab
hold of things. Leave them where they
are;
10.

Evacuate yourself and inform your

Warden, the Building Warden, one of the
security personnel, or the police or Fire
and Rescue Services immediately.

Mobility impaired people

If you encounter a person with some form of

physical disability that restricts their mobility.
You may be required to assist them from the
building. If you are unable to remove them from
the building many stairwells have respite areas
for mobility impaired persons. They can be left
here, where they are shielded from the fire, and
a person should wait with them until retrieved by
emergency personnel on arrival. It is important
to inform the emergency personnel or Building
Warden of their location so that they can be
retrieved as soon as possible.

If you are trapped in a room:

11.

Exit through a window if you are on

the ground floor;

12.

If you are not on the ground floor:

13.

Close the door;

14.

Go to the window;

15.

If there is smoke in the room open

the window a little so you can breathe
fresh air. If not, do not open the window.
This can assist in the spread of fire into
your area from lower floors;

16.

Attract people's attention to your

plight. This can be achieved by writing on
a paper and sticking it to the window or
calling out the window. If you open the
window remember to close it again as this
can be an entry point for fire. Do not open
the window up fully;

17.

If the room is filling with smoke,

stay close to the ground. The air is cooler
and oxygen is more plentiful in this region;

18.

Wait for the Fire and Rescue Service

to rescue you.

REMEMBER
19.

Fires spread rapidly;

20.

Fires produce thick black smoke

that is difficult to see through and causes
suffocation;

21.

The freshest air will always be near

the floor;

22.

Move quickly. Do not run;

23.

Be decisive;

24.

Make a decision and follow that

decision.

2. Definitions
Area - refers to a Faculty, School, Section,
Centre or place where University employees
work.
Fire alarm system - The fire alarm system is
designed to provide automatic notification of the
presence of fire (by detecting heat or smoke) in
the building. It is made up of fire detectors
positioned throughout the building and wired to
the fire indicator panel and fire bell. When a
detector is activated, its location is shown on the
fire indicator panel, the fire bell commences to
ring continuously, a signal is sent automatically
to the fire brigade, and the emergency warning
system is started in the ALERT mode.
The fire alarm system can be manually
activated using the break-glass switch adjacent
to the fire indicator panel.
Emergency warning system - provides an
audible signal throughout some buildings to warn
occupants of a fire or other emergency situation.
A two-stage system is used. The ALERT signal
(repetitive 0.635 s-interrupted sound of 420 Hz

frequency) is sounded automatically on actuation

of the fire alarm or is manually activated in other
emergency situations. The Area Warden
manually activates the EVACUATION signal
(repetitive signal of rising frequency 500 Hz to
1200 Hz) if required or, in the absence of manual
override, the EVACUATION signal sounds
automatically after a set time delay.
Emergency warning and
intercommunication system (EWIS) for a
large or multi-storied building also includes an
intercommunication component that allows twoway conversation between the Building Warden
at the master emergency control panel and Area
Wardens in different parts of the building.
Emergency control organisation (ECO) facilitates the safe and orderly implementation of
the emergency procedures in a building,
including the evacuation of the occupants from
the building when appropriate. The ECO is a
structured organisation of people employed
within a building, which takes command in the
declaration of an emergency in the building,
pending the arrival of the fire brigade or other
emergency service. The ECO comprises the
Building Warden, Area Wardens, Deputy
Wardens, and may also include chemical,
biological and radiation safety officers,
technical officers, first aid attendants,
security attendants, communications
officers, etc. The term Warden is used to signify
a member of the ECO.
Last Edits:

August 2010

Safety and
Responsible: Health
Adviser

Previous
August 2009
Edits:
Approved
S&H Manager
by:

Date for
Review:

March 2011 File Ref:

Previous
Titles:

n/a

F4193

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Last updated: Tuesday, 16 August, 2011 at 3:47 PM
Location: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/page/8727
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