All premises must have at least one employee designated as the Fire Warden. In some cases, such as premises located in a multi-tenancy premise, there may be an overall Chief Fire Warden for the premises. 

Fire Wardens must know what is expected of them in an emergency.  It is their responsibility to:

Preparation for Emergencies 

• Ensure the ability to shut down power supplies to the building in the event of an emergency.
• Ensure maintenance is carried out on anything that may affect the fire safety and evacuation procedures of the building (e.g. faulty or missing fire-fighting equipment, blocked stairwells, exit doors, missing signage for hose-reels, extinguishers).
• Arrange evacuation procedure trials at least quarterly.

During an Emergency 

• Put on identification.
• Ensure their designated area is evacuated.
• Liaise with other Fire Wardens should anything arise that may affect the safety and evacuation of the building.
• Prevent any person from re-entering the building until the all-clear has been given. 

Click here for more details on: 

• Fire Warden’s Duties
• Building Evacuation Procedures
• Disability Registers

This role may be performed by the Manager or an employee with delegated authority.  The Casualty Person will:

• Establish a casualty area.
• Evacuate casualties to that area if practicable.
• Assist specialist services (Police, Fire and Ambulance) in the removal of casualties if required.
• Record details of casualties where possible.
• Provide as far as possible for the comfort and safety of casualties as they are removed from the scene.

This role may be performed by the Manager or an employee with delegated authority.  This role has general responsibility for: 

• The protection of property and buildings by restricting re-entry into the building and casualty area to authorised personnel only. 
• Securing important documents and equipment before leaving the building.  

Note: Invariably crowds of curious spectators will gather at the scene of any major incident.  It is often desirable and sometimes necessary to disperse these people but it is a task best left to the Police.

The Manager, or an employee with delegated authority, is responsible for carrying out the following duties:

Emergency occurring during working hours

• Following evacuation procedures.
• Ensuring all people are evacuated and accounted for.
• Assisting any visitors to evacuate the building.
• Assessing any injuries.
• Linking with appropriate authorities and following their instructions
• Assessing all safety aspects (fire risk, earthquake, etc.) and actioning accordingly.

Then after the emergency response is complete:

• Assessing the impact.
• Handling queries.
• Assisting with problems where possible.
• Evaluating individual and group needs.
• Planning strategies for recovery.

Emergency occurring outside working hours

• Attempting to establish contact with workers.
• Liaising with appropriate authorities.
  
  

The Manager must also conduct a thorough assessment of the workplace to establish if it is able to be used operationally.  If some or all facilities are unavailable, then advice will be sought from the local authorities and Senior Management.

If there is a total disaster then all workers will be advised to stay home until further advised.

Preservation of Records

As far as reasonably practicable the safety of vital records (client files, personnel records, financial records etc.) is to be secured.  However, personal risk is not to be taken in attempting to carry out this activity.

Communication

The Regional Manager must be advised in accordance with the established protocol.

Note: Under no circumstances must statements or comments be made to the media without the prior written approval of the Managing Director, or person with appropriate delegated authority.