AS 3745 Planning for emergencies in facilities

Reproduced with permission from SAI Global under Licence 1011-C143

This Standard was prepared by the Standards Australia Committee FP-017, Emergency Management Procedures, to supersede AS 3745—2002, Emergency control organization and procedures for buildings, structures and workplaces.

The objective of this Standard is to enhance the safety of people in facilities, by providing a framework for emergency planning, utilizing the built facilities as appropriate.

The objective of this revision is to make a greater distinction between emergency plans and emergency/evacuation procedures. It also includes expanded and revised sections on—

(a) developing the emergency plan;
(b) the duties of the emergency planning committee and emergency control organization;
(c) provisions for occupants with a disability;
(d) education and training; and
(e) guidance on how to determine the size of the emergency control organization.

Where AS 4083—1997, Planning for emergencies—Healthcare facilities is used in conjunction with this Standard, it should be noted that the nomenclature of the emergency control organization (ECO) personnel is different for patient or resident occupied areas.

The term ‘informative’ has been used in this Standard to define the application of the appendix to which it applies. An ‘informative’ appendix is only for information and guidance.

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1.4.24 Occupant/visitor with a disability
A person who requires–
(a) more time or different forms of communication, compared with other occupants, to respond to an emergency; or
(b) assistance to respond to an emergency or evacuate from a facility.

NOTES:
1 The definition above is taken from the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA).
2 ‘Disability’ includes but is not limited to the meaning given in Section 4.(1), sub-sections (a) to (h) for ‘Disability’, within the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA).
3 ‘Occupant/visitor with a disability’ also includes an associate of a person with a disability as defined in the DDA, or a companion animal.

1.4.24 Personal emergency evacuation plan (PEEP)
An individualized emergency plan designed for an occupant with a disability who may need assistance during an emergency.

1.4.25 Refuge
An area on a floor or area that is specifically designed to protect people from heat, smoke and toxic gases and which provides direct access to an exit.

NOTES:
1 An area of refuge is intended to facilitate a safe delay in egress from the floor or area, thus constituting a space for people to await assistance for their evacuation.
2 Refuges are normally nominated by the relevant certifier.

4.2.6.2 Occupants and visitors with a disability
The evacuation arrangements for persons with a disability shall be considered in the development of the emergency response procedures.

4.2.17 Stairway evacuation device
Consideration should be given to the use and suitability and storage arrangements of stairway evacuation devices for people who use wheelchairs or who otherwise would need to be carried down the stairway.

NOTE: Any stairway evacuation device should be operated by a competent person.

4.2.11 Occupants and visitors with a disability
When developing emergency response procedures, consideration shall be given to occupants and visitors who for one reason or another are unlikely to be able to act optimally in an emergency. This would include but not be limited to occupants and visitors who –

(a) are accompanied by an assistant;
(b) have a guide or companion animal;
(c) use alternative forms of information and communication;
(d) have an ambulatory disability;
(e) use a wheeled mobility appliance, including wheelchair or scooter;
(f) are easily fatigued;
(g) easily experience acute anxiety in an emergency; or
(h) easily experience extreme confusion in an emergency.

A current list of the names, workplaces and other necessary information about occupants with a disability should be kept at the locations where the chief warden exercises control.

Suitable strategies in an emergency or evacuation should be discussed with those occupants from the facility who have a disability and a personal emergency evacuation plan (PEEP) developed for each of those persons.
Information on the PEEP shall be disseminated to all people responsible for its implementation.

6.1 GENERAL
Training shall be conducted—
(a) for at least one member of the EPC, to enable the EPC to competently execute their obligations;
(b) for the ECO, in accordance with Clauses 6.3 and 6.5; and
(c) for facility occupants, in accordance with Clauses 6.4 and 6.5.