Emergency Management

UWS acknowledges its legal responsibility, under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, to show due diligence with respect to the health and safety of staff, students, visitors and contractors.

The University recognises that in an emergency, prompt and effective management will ensure that loss of life and property will be avoided, and business interruption will be minimised.

Whereas ultimate and overall responsibility for emergency planning lies with the Vice-Chancellor, at UWS all line managers are accountable to the Vice-Chancellor for ensuring that emergency management plans are developed and implemented in the workplaces under their control and that emergency controllers and wardens receive the necessary training and information to enable them to discharge their duties effectively.

The UWS Emergency Preparedness Program outlines a framework to enable line managers, in consultation with other stakeholders, to establish effective emergency management plans that are appropriate for their respective areas of responsibility.

Emergency Preparedness Program

Aim

The aim of the Emergency Preparedness Program is to enable management and staff to quickly and decisively respond to any emergency, which could:

  • Threaten the safety of persons, property or the environment.
  • Interrupt or significantly diminish the capability of the University to undertake its usual business operations.

Objectives

The objectives of the Emergency Preparedness Program are:

  • To facilitate a prompt, decisive and appropriate initial response to an emergency.
  • To provide a framework within which key people can develop the competencies required to effectively respond to an emergency.
  • To provide a mechanism for assuring the continued accuracy and relevance of these emergency procedures and the ongoing competency of key persons to effectively implement these procedures.

Emergency Defined

For the purposes of Emergency Planning, an 'Emergency' is defined as any event that could:

  • Jeopardise the safety of persons on or near a site owned or occupied by the University.
  • Result in significant damage to property or equipment owned by the University.
  • Significantly disrupt the normal business operations of the University or its contractors.
  • Result in death or catastrophic injury to a person/s on campus.

Types of Emergencies

Typical events which could impact the University include but may not be limited to:

  • air-conditioning contamination
  • animal hazard
  • armed hold-up
  • biological hazard
  • bomb threat
  • chemical spill
  • civil disorder
  • confined spaces emergency
  • cryogenic emergency
  • evacuation
  • explosion 
  • fire - building
  • fire - grass
  • flooding/water leakage
  • gas leak
  • lift emergency
  • medical emergency
  • motor vehicle accident
  • power failure
  • radiation hazard
  • release to atmosphere
  • seismic disturbance 
  • storm
  • suspicious packages and/or mail
  • violent/threatening person

Emergency Action Summary

On-campus emergencies may include fire, explosion, leakage of noxious gases/liquids, serious injury e.g., cardiac arrest, trapped or unconscious persons. In the event of such an emergency:

  1. REMAIN CALM.
  2. Quickly assess the extent of the emergency.
  3. Notify personnel in the immediate area.
  4. Do not attempt any action that would jeopardise your safety or the safety of any other person.
  5. Contact the University’s Emergency Services (Security personnel) on 2300 and provide the following information:
  • Who is calling and your present location.
  • The specific nature and location of the emergency.
  • The phone extension you are calling from.
  • If known, the nature and extent of any injuries to persons.

If it is safe to do so, and your assistance is not required at the emergency site, remain at the phone you are calling from until assistance arrives. When instructed to evacuate the area, proceed in a calm, orderly manner to the designated safe areas.
  • DO NOT assemble near any building or other structure.
  • Take your personal belongings eg coat, handbag, briefcase with you.
  • Don’t lock doors as you leave.
  • Under no circumstances re-enter the buildings until authorised to do so by the Emergency Controller or their representative.


In the interests of your own personal safety and the safety of others please ensure that you know the:

  • Emergency management plan for your local area.
  • Location of the building emergency exits.
  • Location of emergency equipment e.g. first aid kits, fire extinguishers etc as this knowledge may be critical in an emergency situation.

Please remain calm as assistance will be sent to your location.