📒Emergency Evacuation Policy (QA2) (video needed)

National Quality Standard (NQS) - Quality Area 2: Children's Health and Safety

Implementation

Woodlands defines an emergency as an unplanned, sudden or unexpected event or situation that requires immediate action to prevent harm, injury, or illness to persons or damage to the Service's environment. It is a risk to an individual's health and safety. It is important that Services define emergencies that are specific to their environment.

Woodlands have a duty of care to provide all persons with a safe and healthy environment. The National Quality Standard, Element 2.2.2 encourages Services to effectively manage incidents and emergencies in consultation with relevant authorities, and practiced and implemented to ensure best practice and the safety of children.

To ensure compliance with National Regulations, the emergency and evacuation procedure must set out:

• Instructions for what must be done in the event of an emergency
• An emergency evacuation floor plan
•  Emergency evacuation plans should be practiced and reviewed frequently. Evacuation plans must be displayed in prominent positions near each exit and in the children's environment with a compliant floor plan for ease of reference. The Approved Provider will ensure a risk assessment is conducted to identify potential emergencies that are relevant to the service when preparing the emergency and evacuation procedure

 Circumstances under which evacuation will occur are as follows: 

• Fire within the building or playground
• Fire in the surrounding area where the Service is in danger (If you are unsure how close the fire is call Sunbury CFA on 9262 8444.
• Flood call State Emergency Service on 132 500
• Terrorist threat
• Others may include: gas explosion, traffic accident or event which could render the building unsafe

Emergency and Evacuation Drills

 The Nominated Supervisor will:

• Maintain an up-to-date register of emergency telephone numbers that must be taken in an emergency or evacuation. Place in the emergency evacuation bag.
• Emergency telephone numbers will be displayed prominently throughout the Service in the kitchen, office, staff room, and each child care room.
• National Regulations state that Evacuation rehearsals are to be practiced every 3 months by staff members, volunteers, and children present at the service on the day. To ensure best practice our Service will conduct emergency evacuation drills in a weekly block once a term so that all children and staff have experienced an evacuation.
• A record will be kept to ensure that all children participate in the emergency evacuation rehearsal at least 4 times per year.
• Each Educator will have a turn at finding the emergency and initiating the evacuation.
• The evacuation is to be timed during rehearsal
• Ensure a Fire Warden is stationed at the top of the driveway to ensure children do not leave, and to prevent cars from entering the premises during this period.
• Notes on any areas that need improving or revising are to be documented in the Emergency Evacuation Rehearsal Record. Educators will discuss and implement strategies to improve these areas, which will be documented in the Service's Staff Meeting minutes and Quality Improvement Plan.
• In the event of limited Educators i.e. early morning or late afternoon, staff members are to work together to perform the duties above (the roster should support one Certified Supervisor being on premises at all times to take responsibility and delegating duties). This scenario will be discussed and documented in the Service's Staff Meeting Minutes (WHS).
• In the event of an evacuation causing an inability to use Service phones, e.g. damaged phone lines, a communication plan will see a staff member seek assistance from neighboring residents or businesses and/ or use the mobile phone taken by a staff member as per our Emergency Evacuation Plan.
• Management will seek training opportunities for staff to participate in emergency evacuations.
• Inspecting, testing, and servicing fire extinguishers, blankets, and other emergency equipment thoroughly is imperative to safety, and compliance to Australian regulations. The maintenance regime for the inspection and testing of fire extinguisher & hydrants is specified in the Australia Standard AS 1851Maintenance of Fire Protection Systems and Equipment.
• All extinguishers have to be inspected at six-monthly intervals and if they don't have a pressure gauge, they may need to be weighed to check they are still full.  Some extinguisher types may require additional tasks to be carried out annually. Extinguishers need to be emptied, pressure tested, and refilled every five years.  There may be other servicing requirements at 3, 5 or 6 years
• The tests and intervals are to be recorded on a label or metal tag attached to the unit.
• The Nominated Supervisor is responsible for ensuring all educators, including relief educators and staff members, are responsive to our Emergency Evacuation Policy and procedure.

Important: The notification of a serious incident to a regulatory authority (within 24 hours) is needed where emergency services attended an education and care service in response to an emergency, rather than as a precaution or for any other reason.

Jurisdiction specifications VIC

• Community Child Care Association - www.pscvic.org.au  
• Country Fire Authority Victoria - www.cfa.vic.gov.au/ 
• Department of Education and Early Childhood Development - www.education.vic.gov.au/licensedchildservices/
• Department of Health - www.health.vic.gov.au/
• Department of Human Services - www.dhs.vic.gov.au/
• WorkSafe Victoria - www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/  
• Victoria Police - www.police.vic.gov.au/
• Victoria State Emergency Service - www.ses.vic.gov.au/