BUSHFIRE RESPONSE PLAN February 2014
2 Document Control Revision: 1 Date: 4 February 2014 Status: Document change control: Approved by EPC Revision # Change Description Date Author 1 Initial document release as per draft 1.2 4/02/2014 Andrew Sargent approved by EPC Revision 1 Page 2 of 8
3 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION... 3 2. PURPOSE... 3 3. LEGAL REQUIREMENTS... 4 3.1 Statutory Requirements... 4 3.2 Standards, Codes, Guidelines and References... 4 4. FIRE EMERGENCY RESPONSE... 4 5. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES... 4 5.1 Emergency Response... 4 5.2 All Staff... 4 6. BUSHFIRE PREPARATION... 5 6.1 Prepare... 5 6.2 Act... 5 6.3 Survive... 7 7. MANAGEMENT OF FIRE SAFETY ISSUES / INCIDENTS... 8 7.1 Notification of Problems... 8 7.2 Incident Investigation or Identification of Fire Safety Risk... 8 1. INTRODUCTION The University of Newcastle (UoN) has a legal obligation under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 to ensure the health and safety of employees and visitor s to the University. This includes ensuring that bushfire response procedures are in place and maintained to ensure that bushfire risks are assessed and mitigated and that emergency procedures are implemented. Fire is identified as a considerable risk in any organisation that has a large building infrastructure. The Callaghan campus in particular is exposed to that risk due to its bushland setting. 2. PURPOSE This document was developed by Risk and Assurance Services in conjunction with Infrastructure and Facilities Services, Health and Safety and Security Services. The response plan is designed to provide information to the University Community on how the University manages bushfire risks. The is a sub plan to the University s Emergency Management Plan (EMP) which provides information for the controls to be implemented and steps that need to be undertaken to manage the University s emergency response. Revision 1 Page 3 of 8
4 3. LEGAL REQUIREMENTS 3.1 Statutory Requirements The following fire safety legislation is applicable to the UoN community: NSW Work Health and Safety Act and NSW Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 - Part 9 Fire Safety and Matters Concerning the Building Code of Australia The Building Code of Australia 3.2 Standards, Codes, Guidelines and References The following Australian Standards and Codes of Practice apply: AS 3745-2010 Planning for emergencies in facilities; Health & Safety procedures (refer UoN web site); University Emergency Management Plan (refer UoN web site). 4. FIRE EMERGENCY RESPONSE Automated fire alarm systems on University sites are monitored and responded to by the NSW Fire and Rescue Service and Security Services. In the event of a fire alarm, the Emergency Control Organisation members will evacuate the building as per the Emergency Management Plan. In the case of a fire where the alarm system has not been activated, Security Services are to be contacted on 4921 5888 with details of the location of the fire and details of any injuries and actions taken to evacuate the building. It should be noted that not all buildings are fitted with automated fire alarms. If a fire occurs in a building which is not fitted with a fire alarm, Emergency Wardens will need to raise the alarm verbally and ensure that all building occupants are notified. 5. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 5.1 Emergency Response Roles and responsibilities for persons involved in emergency response are detailed in the Emergency Management Plan (EMP). Please refer to the EMP. 5.2 All Staff Follow all instructions from the Emergency Control Organisation (Chief Warden and Emergency Wardens) in the event of an emergency. Know your evacuation routes! Remember the location of at least 2 exits and be familiar with building evacuation maps. Refer to the Emergency Management Plan (EMP) and associated emergency procedures guide for more information. Revision 1 Page 4 of 8
5 6. BUSHFIRE PREPARATION The University s Callaghan and Ourimbah campuses are situated in bushland settings. While this creates a pleasant environment in which to work and study, it also provides a level of bush fire risk particularly during the summer months. The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) advises that the majority of deaths during bush fires are people trying to flee the fire at the last moment. Leaving late places people at a much greater risk of getting caught in their cars and suffering from smoke inhalation or extreme heat. The RFS advises to: Prepare make important decisions before the fire season starts Act the higher the fire danger rating, the more dangerous the conditions Survive fire may threaten without warning so know what to do to survive. 6.1 Prepare Prepare Evacuation Plan Each building will have an evacuation plan which if needed to be activated, will be coordinated by the Emergency Control Organisation (ECO). If no ECO member is present, evacuation will be coordinated by the senior management person in attendance. If an evacuation order is given it is important that all persons leave the building in a calm orderly manner and follow the instructions of the ECO or Security Services. Depending on the seriousness of the bush fire threat, evacuation may be to a designated emergency assembly point or away from the campus entirely. Prepare Property The University maintains the campus environment with consideration given to fire hazard reduction. Excessive undergrowth will be monitored and reduced as appropriate and buildings maintained to ensure that no leaf matter accumulates on roofs. An assessment of the campus grounds will be coordinated by Infrastructure and Facilities Services (IFS) each year in August / September with a focus on hazard reduction. A report will be provided to the EPC along with recommendations and associated warnings from the Rural Fire Service and Bureau of Meteorology. The EPC will use this information to provide recommendations on actions to be taken to reduce the bushfire risk. IFS identifies and maintains Asset Protection Zones to assist in reducing the fuel load around the campus and to aid protection of buildings and campus grounds. Fire hazards are to be reported using the UoN hazard reporting system. Prepare Yourself On severe, extreme and catastrophic fire danger days, UoN will communicate the fire danger level via emergency alerts, internet, messaging etc. Know what the fire danger level is especially on hot, dry, windy days. Watch for and immediately report signs of fire, especially smoke or the smell of smoke. Know your evacuation route and follow the direction of the Emergency Control Organisation as required. DO NOT go towards a bush fire to collect personal belongings or a car. Bushfires can spread very quickly. 6.2 Act Once a fire has started, the Rural Fire Service (RFS) uses alert levels to provide an indication of the level of threat from a fire. There are 3 levels of bush fire alerts. Revision 1 Page 5 of 8
6 BUSH FIRE ALERTS ADVICE A fire has started. There is no immediate danger. Stay up to date in case the situation changes WATCH & ACT There is a heightened level of threat. Conditions are changing and you need to start taking action now. EMERGENCY WARNING Highest level of bushfire alert. You may be in danger and need to take action immediately. The RFS also uses a rating system to provide an indication of the consequences of a bush fire if one were to start. The rating is based on predicted conditions such as temperature, humidity, wind and dryness of the landscape. It provides information on how a bush fire may act and what impacts there might be on the community including when to implement an evacuation. CATASTROPHIC Fire Danger Rating For survival, leaving early is the only option. Leave bush fire prone areas the night before or early in the day do not just wait and see what happens. Make a decision about when you will leave, where you will go, how you will get there and when you will return. Homes are not designed to withstand fires in catastrophic conditions so you should leave early. Homes are not designed to withstand fires in catastrophic conditions so you should leave early. EXTREME Leaving early is the safest option for survival. If you are not prepared to the highest level, leave early in the day. Only consider staying if prepared to the highest level such as your home is specially designed, constructed or modified, and situated to withstand a fire, you are well prepared and can actively defend it if a fire starts. SEVERE Leaving early is the safest option for your survival. Well prepared homes that are actively defended can provide safety but only stay if you are physically and mentally prepared to defend in these conditions. If you re not prepared, leave early in the day. VERY HIGH HIGH LOW / MODERATE Review your Bush Fire Survival Plan with your family. Keep yourself informed and monitor conditions. Be ready to act if necessary. During bushfire season, Security Services will monitor these alerts at the start of each day to determine the risk of a bush fire on campus. Revision 1 Page 6 of 8
7 Once the alert reaches severe, extreme or catastrophic, Security Services will monitor alerts via the RFS web site and Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). When the danger rating reaches severe and total fire bans are in place, alerts will be communicated throughout UoN to raise awareness and assist ECO to plan and prepare for evacuation if required. Smoking will be banned near bushland areas and on paths leading through these areas. Security Services will conduct regular patrols of bushland areas to monitor conditions and identify any fire risks. If a bushfire is witnessed, Security Services are to be contacted on 4921 5888 with details of the location of the fire. Security Services will investigate and contact building ECO members (Emergency Wardens) to direct an evacuation in accordance with the Campus Evacuation Plan if required. It is the responsibility of all staff to follow the directions and instructions of Emergency Wardens. The Critical Incident Director (CID) will be advised of any building evacuation. Security Services will keep the CID advised of the status of the situation. In the event that the fire risk escalates, the CID has the authority to order a precinct or campus evacuation as per the Campus Evacuation Plan. The following will be used as a guide for action to be taken. Bush Fire Alerts Watch & Act There is a heightened level of threat. Conditions are changing and you need to start taking action now. Advice. A fire has started. There is no immediate danger. Stay up to date in case the situation changes. Emergency Warning Highest level of bushfire alert. You may be in danger and need to take action immediately. Fire Danger Rating Catastrophic (Smoking banned near bushland areas) Extreme Evacuate all buildings in the vicinity. Consider site wide evacuation. (Smoking banned near bushland areas) Severe (Smoking banned near bushland areas) Very High CID order site wide evacuation. Consider Shelter in Place based on weather conditions. CID order site wide evacuation where possible and Shelter in Place if evacuation not safe. High Assess the risk of nearby fires & recommend response. Low/Moderate NOTE: The fire danger rating is set by the RFS at a regional level. It may not take into account actual fire conditions at the campus. Factors that should be considered include but are not limited to temperature, wind direction and speed, humidity, fuel load etc. 6.3 Survive If there is a fire in an area of or area surrounding the University, the actions stated above must be set in motion. Hesitating or adopting a wait and see approach may have serious consequences particularly if the fire danger rating is above severe. Revision 1 Page 7 of 8
8 The higher the danger rating, the earlier a decision is required to evacuate. Leaving early means leaving before the fire becomes a direct threat to safety or buildings. When a decision is made to evacuate buildings or the entire campus, consideration has to be given to where evacuated persons will go. Consideration will be given to the evacuation route and whether vehicles can be used as this will create traffic chaos if vehicles are leaving at the same time. The Traffic Management Plan will be implemented when a site evacuation is required. The presence of fires in neighbouring suburbs will also be considered to ensure that people leaving campus are not heading into danger. If the fire is in an area surrounding the campus, an appropriate course of action may be to stay put until the danger passes. 7. MANAGEMENT OF FIRE SAFETY ISSUES / INCIDENTS This section defines the reporting line for bushfire issues and incidents to ensure timely management of the problem. 7.1 Notification of Problems Emergency Wardens and building occupants can assist the management of bushfire safety by reporting any issues or problems that they may identify. Generally, bushfire safety issues will be identified during routine inspections and by simply walking around the campus. Any bushfire issues and hazards that are otherwise identified may be reported via Maximo requests with follow up to the Infrastructure and Facilities Services Unit. 7.2 Incident Investigation or Identification of Fire Safety Risk In the event of an actual bushfire the issue will be fully investigated by one or more of the following: Jointly by Risk and Assurance Services and Health & Safety. The NSW Fire and Rescue Service Investigation Unit (serious fire) Other external assistance depending on the nature and extent of the problem. Insurance agency if a claim is lodged. The Complaint/Incident Investigation report will be reviewed by all relevant stakeholders to agree a timely action plan to assess and address any gaps or deficiencies in the controls/measures in place to mitigate future fire risks. Responsibility for resolution of issues and completion of associated actions will be assigned. Revision 1 Page 8 of 8