Scope

Scope This policy applies to all operations and facilities within the School, addressing the unique challenges of multi-storey buildings in childcare settings. It ensures a swift and safe response to emergencies, aligning with the Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations, including Section 167, which mandates the safety of children from harm. It recognises that multi-storey buildings pose additional risks and require detailed planning to ensure children's safety. This policy also aligns with the Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) Policy Framework, the Education and Care Regulatory Unit (ECRU) WA Guidelines, and the Australian Building Code.

Audience This policy covers all School staff, including educators, administration, management, external contractors, visitors, and emergency services personnel involved in planning or executing emergency procedures. It also applies to all children enrolled at the School and visitors to the premises.

Key Terms

• Multi-storey building: A structure with two or more levels, including mezzanines. For example, a centre-based service on the second storey of a building on sloping land may have direct ground-level access to outdoors leading to assembly areas without stairs.
• Direct egress: Safe, immediate access to assembly areas at the same level without stairs or hazards, providing the quickest evacuation route.

Emergency Procedures

• Immediate Action: Wall-mounted alarms on all floors provide quick activation. The Emergency Coordinator will be the acting Nominated Supervisor of the School, responsible for overseeing emergency responses and coordinating evacuation procedures. This person will work closely with the Floor Fire Warden and Studio Lead to coordinate evacuations and ensure all safety protocols are followed. Staff are trained to notify the emergency coordinator immediately, collect evacuation kits and attendance records, and initiate evacuation.
• Communication: A dedicated mobile phone ensures direct emergency communication. The School also uses intercom systems and text message alerts to communicate with staff and families during emergencies.
• Evacuation Drills: Conducted quarterly or as required by Building Management and the Chief Fire Warden. Drills include fire, gas leaks, intruder scenarios, and other emergencies.
• Assembly Points: Clearly marked zones with removable signage for easy identification. Staff use SmartCentral for attendance tracking, carrying copies electronically and on paper during evacuations.
• First Aid: All staff maintain current first aid certification, with fully stocked first aid and evacuation kits on each floor, including emergency medications.

Evacuation Procedures

• Drills incorporate feedback for continuous improvement. Staff review and update evacuation routes, ensuring alternative exits are known.
• Emergency lifts are prioritised for nursery-aged children and staff assisting them, followed by toddler and kindergarten-aged children. This prioritisation ensures the youngest and most vulnerable children are evacuated first.
• Kindergarten and toddler-aged children will practice using the stairs during drills to assess the feasibility of these age groups evacuating via stairwells in an emergency.
• Stairwells, hallways, and exits are checked daily to ensure they remain clear, and issues will be reported to building management.
• Staff assist all children, using mobile evacuation cots for non-ambulatory children and supporting children with special needs through individual evacuation plans. The main lift at reception (a safety lift that operates under emergency conditions) is to be used unless otherwise instructed. Alternatively, emergency cots may be moved down egress ramps if safely accessible (i.e., the car park ramp near the playscape). As a last resort, available staff will assist in carrying children to safety down stairwells.
• Fire safety equipment, including extinguishers and emergency lighting, is maintained as per building management.
• Additional Responsibilities During Evacuation 
  • All educators and staff are responsible for gathering children into designated safe spaces during an evacuation.
  • Administrative personnel, including the Office Coordinator, Experience Coordinator, School Specialist Teachers, and Chef, must ensure that individual work areas are secured before leaving. This includes turning off gas stoves, ovens, and other potential hazards to prevent additional risks during evacuation

Risk Assessment & Control Measures

• Daily hazard checks are performed in stairwells, lifts, hallways, classrooms, and exits, addressing identified hazards immediately.
• Emergency communication is maintained via mobile phones, with backup battery packs available.
• Digital headcounts are recorded using the SmartCentral app, accessible on iPads and school mobile phones. In addition, paper copies of the daily roll could be taken along with mobile phones to ensure accurate tracking of all children and staff during evacuations.
• Staff will receive regular training on emergency response, including handling hazardous materials and managing stress during evacuations, to be familiar with processes and procedures.
• The School will conduct regular risk assessments to preemptively identify and address potential hazards: Identification and Monitoring:We conduct routine inspections to identify risks within the building and its surrounding areas.
  • Risk Analysis: We evaluate the likelihood and impact of potential hazards to develop prioritised action plans.
  • Control Measures: We implement strategies such as structural adjustments, policy updates, and enhanced staff training to mitigate identified risks.
  • Ongoing Review: We review and update risk assessments regularly to ensure continuous safety improvements. Any identified risk to child movement or evacuation prompts an immediate update to our policy, documented and securely stored for three years.

Building Design Considerations

The School is also equipped with automatic fire doors to help contain and stop the spread of fire, ensuring safer evacuation pathways. In addition to adhering to all the applicable National Construction Code (NCC) requirements, the School has implemented the following safety measures to address the unique risks of operating in a multi-storey building:

• The School is equipped with automatic sprinkler systems (i.e. to support longer travel times from upper levels to exits), child-friendly handrails, smoke barriers and sensors, emergency lighting, and clearly marked exits, as required by the Australian Building Code.
• High-risk areas, such as kitchens, have fire suppression systems to prevent the spread of fire and smoke.
• Multiple evacuation routes are established, including stairwells, ground-level egress, emergency lift\, and secondary exits.

Compliance and Review

• Biannualual policy reviews include staff, family, and building management input, ensuring compliance with ACECQA, ECRU WA, and the Australian Building Code.
• A designated Fire Warden undergoes building management-required training, coordinating all drills and emergency responses.
• Daily safety inspections cover stairwells, lifts, exits, and emergency equipment.
• Monthly checks ensure fire extinguishers, first aid kits, and evacuation kits are fully stocked.
• Quarterly evacuation drills are conducted with debriefings to refine procedures.
• All incidents are reported to the regulatory authority within 24 hours, with incident reviews used to improve policies.
• This comprehensive policy ensures that the School provides a safe, responsive environment for all children, staff, and visitors, adhering to ACECQA regulations, ECRU WA guidelines, and the Australian Building Code.

Risk Assessment

• A comprehensive risk assessment for multi-storey building evacuation and emergency procedures, specific to the school building and layout to ensure all risks are identified, has been completed and is available in 1Place Childcare for reference by all staff. This assessment is reviewed regularly and updated to reflect any changes in building layout, occupancy, or identified risks, ensuring ongoing compliance with ACECQA, ECRU WA, and the Australian Building Code standards.

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