1. SCOPE

These procedures have been developed by The Australian National University to provide management, staff, students and visitors with guidance as to the appropriated action to take in the event of an emergency event occurring on campus.

Emergency events occurring in buildings are managed by the Emergency Control Organisation for that building, as described in the Procedures for Emergency Procedures in Buildings.

2. DEFINITIONS

2.1 Emergency.

Australian Standard AS 3745 focuses on emergency procedures for building occupants and defines an emergency as,

any event which arises internally or from external sources which may adversely affect the safety of persons in a building or the community generally and calls for immediate response by the occupants of a building, by bystanders, or involved parties.

The concept of an emergency needs to be broadened to include the University grounds as well as its buildings and would lead to a definition for an emergency as follows,

an event which could arise from material objects, natural phenomena or human behaviour and which calls for an immediate response to minimise the risk of adverse effect to a person or persons.

2.2 Civil, Natural, or Criminal Emergency.

Emergency events may be broadly classified as civil, natural or criminal.

Civil emergencies include such events as fire, gas leak, water leak, and laboratory accidents including spills of chemical, biological or radiation matter.

Natural emergencies include such events as a death from natural causes, a bushfire, storm, or earthquake.

Criminal emergencies include such events as bomb threat, civil disorder, illegal occupancy, hostage taking, terrorist activity, physical (including sexual) assault.

2.3 Emergency Control Organization, ECO, in a Building.

The emergency control organization, 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 organization of people employed within a building who take command on the declaration of an emergency in the building, pending the arrival of the fire brigade or other emergency service. The ECO comprises the Chief Warden, Deputy Chief Warden, Floor Wardens, Deputy Floor Wardens, and Wardens and may also include chemical, biological and radiation safety officers, technical officers, first aid attendants, security attendants, communications officer, etc. The term Warden is used to signify a member of the ECO.

Additional information on emergency control within buildings can be found at http://info.anu.edu.au/Policies/_DHR/Procedures/Emergency_Procedures_in_Buildings.asp

2.4 First Aid Attendants.

First aid attendants are available in each building under the control of Budget Unit management. These persons are able to assess injury and provide first aid to an injured person or persons.

2.5 Security Officers.

Security officers, employed by Facilities and Services Division, are available to provide advice and assistance to management on emergency actions to be taken in the event of a natural or criminal emergency. Security officers are trained in first aid.

2.6 Budget Unit.

Budget Unit refers to a School, Faculty, Department, Division, Cost Centre or Unit designated by the Vice-Chancellor as responsible for an activity of the University.

3. RANGE OF EMERGENCY EVENTS

The possibilities for emergency events although broad, may be generally contained within the following table.

• LOCATION
  • Buildings
  • University Grounds
• NUMBER OF PERSONS AT RISK
  • An individual
  • A group
• TYPE OF EMERGENCY
  • Civil
    • fire
    • gas\water leak
    • vehicle accident
    • chemical\radiation\biological spill
  • Natural
    • bushfire
    • storm
    • earthquake
  • Criminal
    • bomb threat
    • civil disorder\illegal occupancy
    • hostage\terrorist situation
    • physical (including sexual) assaults 

4. RESPONSIBILITY FOR EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

It is the policy of the University for executive authority for emergency action to rest with

• Director, Facilities and Services, for
  • all emergencies on University grounds,
  • natural and criminal emergencies in buildings

or

• Management of the Budget Unit in occupancy for
  • civil emergencies in buildings.

5. UNIVERSITY RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO ASSIST IN AN EMERGENCY EVENT

Emergency control organisation in each building under the control of Budget Unit management and able assess a civil emergency in the building and, if necessary, coordinate the evacuation of people from the building.

First aid attendants in each building under the control of Budget Unit management and able to assess injury and provide first aid to an injured person or persons.

Security officers employed by Facilities & Services Division and able to provide assistance and advice to management on emergency actions in the case of natural or criminal emergencies.

Each of the above groups is familiar with the processes required to call the state emergency authorities - fire brigade, ambulance, police, bomb squad, state emergency service, etc. - to campus, should it be necessary.

University Security has developed response procedures for the following emergency situations,

• grounds emergency,
• bomb threat,
• civil disorder or illegal occupancy,
• criminal hostage or terrorist situation,
• physical (including sexual) assault.

6. RECOMMENDED ACTION IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY

• immediate physical harm or threat to you call the Emergency Services on 0-000
• if you have the opportunity to make additional calls, please call ANU Security on 52249

6.1 Emergency on University Grounds.

• call ANU Security (University phone extension 52249).
• if a medical emergency, phone 0-000, then call ANU Security (University phone extension 52249).
• if the University phone system is out of order use a mobile phone to call 000, then call ANU Security on 6125 2249.

6.2 Civil Emergency in a University Building.

Activate the emergency control procedures for the building as given in the Procedures for Emergency Procedures in Buildings.

6.3 Natural Emergency in a University Building.

• call ANU Security phone 52249

6.4 Criminal Emergency in a University Building.

• call ANU Security phone 52249

6.5 Incident Notification

Students and visitors are encouraged to report incidents to ANU management through the nearest building, Supervisor or staff member.  The ANU Incident Notification system will also assist in the investigation and prevention strategies.

7. POST-INCIDENT STRESS COUNSELLING

Such counselling would normally be available through the University Counselling Centre.

8. HISTORY

These hazard management procedures for Emergency Procedures were drafted by a working party during September 1996 - February 1997, reviewed by the Director, Facilities and Services, reviewed by a representative of the Australian Federal Police, reviewed by a representative of the A.C.T. Ambulance Service, reviewed and ratified by the Occupational Health and Safety Policy Committee, and approved by Margaret Ford, University Secretary on 19 December 1997.   

These procedures should be read in conjunction with the University's Occupational Health and Safety Policy, Procedures for Emergency Procedures in Buildings and other relevant policies and procedures of the University. University OHS policies and procedures may be found at http://info.anu.edu.au/hr/ohs/   

First issued: January 1998

Update:  2005

Appendix A

Emergency Action

THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

EMERGENCY ACTION

If you find yourself in or encounter an EMERGENCY situation RING the number below.

Be ready to give all details -

• YOUR NAME,
• LOCATION,
• PHONE NUMBER and
• the PROBLEM.

ANU SECURITY 52249

AN OFFICER WILL ASSIST YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

OFF CAMPUS 24 HOUR EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

YOU MUST ATTEMPT TO STAY CALM.  

NOTE. Before an emergency arises or you find yourself in need of help please take the time to read the University Procedures for Emergency Procedures and the University Procedures for Emergency Procedures in Buildings.

Appendix B

Response by the University in the Event of a Death or a Serious Injury  

For students the Director, Student and Academic Services will:

• ensure that the next of kin are notified by the appropriate person * taking care to ensure only one notification occurs;
• consult the relevant Head of Hall or College if the student was a resident;
• notify the student's academic Budget Unit;
• notify the Dean of Students;
• for an international student, make appropriate arrangements through the International Education Office;
• for a graduate student, notify the Dean of the Graduate School;
• notify the Counselling Centre, University Health Service and University Chaplains;
• in the event of a death, to arrange for a letter of condolence to be sent to the next of kin;
• in the event of a death, to arrange for appropriate administrative action to be taken with the student's enrolment and ensure that no further mail is sent.

For staff the Director, Human Resources will:

• ensure that the next of kin are notified by the appropriate person * taking care to ensure only one notification occurs;
• notify the staff member's work Budget Unit;
• notify the Counselling Centre, University Health Service and University Chaplains;
• in the event of a death, to arrange for a letter of condolence to be sent to the next of kin;
• in the event of a death, to arrange for appropriate administrative action to be taken by the HR Division;
• notification to OHSIM via the online notification form found at http://info.anu.edu.au/policies/Procedures/Human_Resources/OHS/Incident_Reporting.asp

In addition the Counselling Centre will:

• arrange post-trauma support as required.

The University Health Service will:

• check whether the person was a patient of the practice;
• seek professional information from other services, if necessary.

The University Chaplains will:

• arrange post-trauma and spiritual support as required;
• arrange a memorial service as required.

The Marketing and Communications Division will:

• manage all outside enquiries about the incident, including those from the media.

* Where the police are involved, they will contact the next of kin.