Ever wondered what happens during an emergency evacuation? Well, it changes from case to case and depends on the type of building and what it is being used for.

At Jim’s Fire Safety, we help businesses all around Australia make sure they are compliant with workplace safety standards. In Australia, there are standards for businesses to adhere to when it comes to your emergency evacuation procedure – check out the rest of our blog to find out more.

AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS FOR EMERGENCY EVACUATION PLANS

In Australia, there is a safety standard for all businesses to adhere to whilst planning for emergencies. It is called the AS 3745:2010 standard for planning for emergencies in facilities. This standard outlines “the minimum requirements for the establishment, validation and implementation of an emergency plan for a facility to provide for the safety of occupants of that facility and its visitors leading up to, and during an evacuation.” To purchase this standard, go to the SAI Global website.

According to this standard, an emergency evacuation drill is required in every department at least once every 12 months. This will help your staff members familiarise themselves with your evacua-tion plan and remain calm if an emergency situation does occur.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING AN EMERGENCY EVACUATION?

If an emergency plan has been constructed in accordance with Australian standards, it will follow a similar format to most other businesses. If you want to know the exact process to follow in your building, please talk to your boss or safety officer immediately. You should always be briefed for emergency situations during induction and WHS training.

Most evacuations will follow this structure:

1. An emergency alarm sounds – please note that most organisations have distinct alarms for different threats. You need to be aware of what each alarm means to respond accordingly.

2. Don’t panic – prepare to leave the building when you hear the alarm

3. If the power has been interrupted, emergency lights will kick in. You can follow these lights and exit signs through the building as long as your path is unobstructed. If the safety warden is with you, follow their instructions. Depending on the building, there may be evacuation maps available on the walls – follow them if they are available.

4. Leave personal items in the building – your priority is to move to the safe area

5. Gather at the emergency evacuation point and participate in a roll call to ensure everyone has exited the building – wait for the emergency services to arrive and contain the threat

This basic overview of an emergency evacuation will be clarified during your induction into a work-place. If you are a guest in a building, find a member of staff (if possible) who can help to guide you through the space.

EMERGENCY LIGHT TESTING

Now that you have an idea of what happens during an emergency evacuation, you need to make sure your business is prepared. At Jim’s Fire Safety, we offer emergency and exit light testing ser-vices to businesses across Australia. We aim to ensure every member of your organisation has a safe path to an exit during an emergency.

We test and inspect lighting systems according to the AS 2293.2 standard. This standard dictates that all emergency luminaries need to be tested at least once every 6 months. We can perform a battery discharge test every 6 months and further inspections at 12 monthly intervals.

For more information about our emergency and exit light testing services, please get in touch with us on 131 546 for a free quote. We have a lot of information available on our service pages so make sure you browse through the rest of our website.

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