Retired Living Fire Evacuation Awareness

RETIRED LIVING FACILITY STAFF AWARENESS TRAINING

 

EMERGENCY PLANS TO BE DEVELOPED
Retirement villages must have an emergency management plan developed outlining the emergency procedures for the site in line with Australian Standards 3745 – 2010. This plan needs to be tailored for the retired living environment and identify arrangements to assist residents with decreased cognitive ability, vision or mobility impairment.

REVIEWING EMERGENCY PLANS
The operator must review their emergency plan at least every 12 months.

AWARENESS
Village or Retired Living Staff should be adequately trained in the emergency procedures. To maintain awareness and ensure training is kept current, operators should consider providing:

• Emergency procedure training in induction courses for new workers.
• Refresher training for existing workers.

EVACUATION EXERCISES
Operators must hold an evacuation exercise for residents at least once each calendar year.

RESIDENTS' PARTICIPATION
The operator should identify residents needing assistance during an emergency due to physical or mental impairment. The operator should have this information readily accessible, including in the event that fire and rescue services are required.

RESIDENTS WHO NEED ASSISTANCE
Retirement villages are independent living facilities, and operators have no authority to require residents to participate in annual evacuation exercise. However, operators should seek to actively promote participation as the greater the participation, the more prepared the village will be in an emergency.

KEY SAFETY INFORMATION
Operators must provide all residents with the following key safety information for their residential premises:

• A map indicating the location of assembly areas, exits and fire extinguishers
• Any other emergency equipment
• Instructions for evacuating residents and staff in a fire or other emergency

This information must be clear and easily readable by the majority of residents.
The above information must also be tailored for, and clearly displayed in, all the communal areas of the village.

ARE YOU A RETIRED LIVING FACILITY? WE CAN HELP YOU!