Guidance on determining emergency response team numbers A sufficient number of emergency response team members need to be appointed to ensure that whenever the facility is occupied, emergency response team members are available to respond to a facility emergency and to enable the facility to be assessed and if required, evacuated quickly and efficiently without compromising any and safety. occupants’ visitors’ The number of emergency response team members required for a facility will vary depending on the facility’s risk assessment which will consider all potential hazards and risks for each facility and include structural and occupant/visitor characteristics. Facility and occupant characteristics in determining emergency response team numbers Facility structural characteristics Occupant and visitor characteristics Occupancy, including: Number, gender, age, location and state (for example, awake or asleep, intoxicated or sober, facility classification unconscious or fully conscious). facility usage, particularly unusual Physical attributes (for example, mobility, speed of uses. travel). Location, including: Hearing ability. proximity to other facilities and Vision ability. boundaries Mental attributes. proximity to other hazards (for example, bushfire-prone area) Level of understanding. Size and shape, including: Potential emergency behaviour. number and size of Ability to interpret cues. floors/zones/areas Ability to take and implement decisions layout independently. egress. Level of assistance required (for example, requires full assistance, requires some assistance or does Structure, including: not require assistance). construction materials Level of assistance available. openings, shafts and ducts Shift schedules. ventilation and air movement. Staff, occupant and visitor numbers and type at any Unusual features. time in facility. Hazards to occupants and visitors. Emergency training for example trained or untrained. Fire safety measures. Occupant (group) roles (for example, parent or child, Management and use. teacher or student, nurse or patient, staff or Training of occupants. customer). Maintenance frequency and adequacy of Activity at the outbreak of fire (for example, asleep maintenance regimes. or awake). Firefighting concerns. Working in a noisy environment.
Guidance on determining emergency response team numbers A sufficient number of emergency response team members need to be appointed to ensure that whenever the facility is occupied, emergency response team members are available to respond to a facility emergency and to enable the facility to be assessed and if required, evacuated quickly and efficiently without compromising any occupants’ and visitors’ safety. The number of emergency response team members required for a facility will vary depending on the facility’s risk assessment which will consider all potential hazards and risks for each facility and include structural and occupant/visitor characteristics. Facility and occupant characteristics in determining emergency response team numbers Facility structural characteristics Occupant and visitor characteristics Occupancy, including: facility classification facility usage, particularly unusual uses. Location, including: proximity to other facilities and boundaries proximity to other hazards (for example, bushfire-prone area) Size and shape, including: number and size of floors/zones/areas layout egress. Structure, including: construction materials openings, shafts and ducts ventilation and air movement. Unusual features. Hazards to occupants and visitors. Fire safety measures. Management and use. Training of occupants. Maintenance frequency and adequacy of maintenance regimes. Firefighting concerns. Number, gender, age, location and state (for example, awake or asleep, intoxicated or sober, unconscious or fully conscious). Physical attributes (for example, mobility, speed of travel). Hearing ability. Vision ability. Mental attributes. Level of understanding. Potential emergency behaviour. Ability to interpret cues. Ability to take and implement decisions independently. Level of assistance required (for example, requires full assistance, requires some assistance or does not require assistance). Level of assistance available. Shift schedules. Staff, occupant and visitor numbers and type at any time in facility. Emergency training for example trained or untrained. Occupant (group) roles (for example, parent or child, teacher or student, nurse or patient, staff or customer). Activity at the outbreak of fire (for example, asleep or awake). Working in a noisy environment.
Fire%20and%20emergency%20preparedness%20and%20response%20procedures%20and%20training%20framework%202018.docx