Emergency Evacuation Plans: Why They’re So Important – Visitor Management System Australia (2024)

When an emergency strikes, it’s important that everyone knows what to do. That’s why emergency evacuation plans are so important.

Every business should have specific evacuation procedures in place for emergency situations that require them to evacuate visitors and staff. One of the best ways to get on top of your evacuation process is to implement a system to track visitor sign-in.

In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of emergency evacuation plans and what goes into creating one.

What are the requirements for emergency and evacuation procedures?

There are several things that should be included in an emergency evacuation plan. First, you will need to identify all of the exits in your building. It’s important to have multiple exits in case one is blocked by the emergency. You will also need to designate a meeting place for everyone to regroup after they have evacuated the building at the sound of the evacuation alarm.

Once you have identified the exits and assembly areas, you will need to create a evacuation route. The evacuation routes should be clearly marked and easy to follow. If possible, it should be posted in all of the rooms in your building.

It’s also important to understand who is responsible for notifying emergency services in emergency situations so that it isn’t reported multiple times.

In addition to the physical requirements for emergency evacuation process, you will also need to designate someone to be in charge of the evacuation. This person will be responsible for making sure that everyone evacuate safely. They will also need to have a copy of the evacuation route and the contact information for all of the emergency services.

What is an emergency evacuation plan and why do you need one?

An emergency evacuation plan is a document that outlines the steps that need to be taken in order to safely evacuate a building in the event of an emergency. Emergencies can include fires, gas leaks, or terrorist attacks.

Every business should have an emergency evacuation plan in place. The plan should identify all of the exits in the building and designate a meeting place for everyone to regroup after they have evacuated.

The evacuation route should be clearly marked and easy to follow. In addition to the physical requirements for an emergency evacuation plan, you will also need to designate someone to be in charge of the evacuation.

Having an emergency evacuation plan is important because it ensures that everyone knows what to do in the event of an emergency. In a panic situation, people are more likely to make mistakes or become injured. Having a plan in place can help to prevent injuries and save lives.

If you don’t have an evacuation plan in place for your business, now is the time to create one. Make sure that everyone in your organisation is familiar with the plan and knows what their role is.

How to create an emergency evacuation plan

Emergency evacuation plans are an important part of any organisation, whether it is a logistics warehouse, manufacturing plant or aged care facility. They help to ensure that everyone knows what to do in the event of an emergency.

You can find an example of a plan atSafe Work Australia‘s website.

Here are some steps to create an evacuation plan:

1 – Establish a team to create the plan. This should include representatives from different departments, such as security, human resources, facilities, and marketing.

2 – Assess the risks your organisation faces. This includes evaluating potential emergencies such as fires, floods, and power outages.

3 –Create a procedure for evacuating people. This should include instructions for evacuating visitors and staff, as well as how to account for everyone when they have evacuated.

4 –Test the plan regularly. This will help ensure that everyone is familiar with it and can carry out the necessary steps quickly and efficiently in an emergency.

Having an evacuation plan can help ensure the safety of your employees, visitors, and property in the event of an emergency.

It is important to work with different departments to create a plan that is tailored to your specific organisation’s needs. Be sure to test the plan regularly so that everyone is familiar with it and can carry it out quickly and efficiently in an emergency.

The importance of rehearsing your emergency evacuation plan

If you’re interested in using QR cEmergency evacuation plans are an important part of any organisation, whether it is a school, government officeor even a sports club. They help to ensure that everyone knows what to do in the event of an emergency.

But having a plan is not enough – you also need to rehearsal your plan regularly.

Rehearsing your emergency evacuation procedures is important because it helps ensure that everyone knows what to do in an emergency. In a panic situation, people are more likely to make mistakes or become injured. Rehearsing the plan can help to prevent injuries and save lives.

In addition, rehearsing the plan can help to ensure that everyone is familiar with the evacuation route and knows where to go once they have evacuated the building. This can help to reduce congestion and ensure that people are able to evacuate quickly and safely.

If you don’t have a regular rehearsal schedule for your emergency evacuation plan, now is the time to put one in place. Make sure that everyone in your organisation is familiar with the plan and knows their role in the event of an emergency.

Emergency Evacuation Plans: Why They’re So Important – Visitor Management System Australia (1)

Tips for implementing your emergency evacuation plan by using a visitor management system

When creating an evacuation plan, it is important to remember that no plan is perfect. There may be times when the plan needs to be adapted to suit the specific situation.

Make sure that you know exactly who is on site

By knowing who is onsite, you can then generate a checklist of people using your visitors log. This is the fastest and most efficient way of determining whether someone is in danger during an emergency situation. This can be much faster than using two-way radios between marshals to figure out who was on site.

The best way to achieve this is to implement a digital visitor management system that records visitors, contractors and employees as they enter and exit the site.

Select a visitor management system that can generate an online checklist

Not all visitor management systems are built the same and that’s why it’s important to compare the evacuation features.

AtVisitUs Receptionwe designed the system to ensure a safe evacuation by sending a unique evacuation checklist to all fire marshals for them to easily access. No special equipment is required as the checklist can be triggered from any web based device.

Emergency Evacuation Plans: Why They’re So Important – Visitor Management System Australia (2)

The checklist can be updated simultaneously by each fire marshal and includes the ability for employees and visitors to mark themselves as safe.

Check to see if your visitor management system can integrate with your access control system

If your visitor management system can integrate with with youraccess control systemthen there is the potential that it can capture employee sign-ins more easily. This will make your evacuation checklist more accurate and mean that employees may not have to manually sign in each day.

If you’re looking for a way to enhance safety at your location then check out VisitUs Reception.

Emergency Evacuation Plans: Why They’re So Important – Visitor Management System Australia (2024)

FAQs

Why is an emergency evacuation plan important? ›

The purpose of an emergency evacuation plan is to ensure the safety of employees and visitors during an emergency. Since the nature of an emergency can't be known beforehand, employers have to protect employees regardless of what may happen.

What is the Australian standard for emergency evacuation plan? ›

The Australian Standard AS3745: Planning for Emergencies in Facilities states these diagrams must: show the location of fire equipment, designated exit points, emergency assembly points and evacuation routes. be displayed in obvious positions along the evacuation route of the facility.

Why is it important to have emergency evacuation plans at your job? ›

Well developed emergency plans and proper employee training (such that employees understand their roles and responsibilities within the plan) will result in fewer and less severe employee injuries and less structural damage to the facility during emergencies.

What are the three 3 most important elements of an evacuation plan? ›

According to OSHA, an emergency evacuation plan must include an emergency evacuation procedure (step-by-step procedures for the rapid, efficient, and safe removal of individuals from the building during an emergency), type of evacuation, and exit routes (an evacuation floor plan is necessary).

Why are emergency preparedness plans important? ›

The actions taken in the initial minutes of an emergency are critical. Prompt action and warnings can save lives, minimize physical damage to structures and property, and allow for better resilience. Every business should develop and implement an emergency plan for protecting employees, contractors and visitors.

Why is emergency planning the most important? ›

Preparation Can Save Lives

Emergency preparedness can be a life-or-death matter. This is as true for your family as it is for businesses, cities, and nations. Predetermined escape and evacuation routes can ensure people aren't trapped in dangerous locations.

What is the emergency management system in Australia? ›

NEMA manages Australia's disaster and emergency management efforts by providing informed oversight and guidance. NEMA stays constantly connected with local communities, helping them respond and recover.

What is an emergency plan Australia? ›

An emergency plan is a written set of instructions that. outlines what workers and others at the workplace. should do in an emergency. An emergency plan must.

What is the emergency principle in Australia? ›

This exception developed in the common law, that is, law made by courts, and has been called the 'emergency princi- ple'. 2 This exception derives from the legal doctrine of necessity, the principle under which people are not liable for actions taken that are necessary in the circ*mstances.

Why do we need personal emergency evacuation plan? ›

A PEEP is a plan for a person who may need assistance, for instance, a person with impaired mobility, to evacuate a building or reach a place of safety in the event of an emergency.

Why is it important to have an escape plan? ›

Escape plans help families evacuate the home quickly and safely through routes that they have previously discussed and practiced. It is recommended that families not only have a fire escape plan in place, but that they have multiple escape plans in place from each room.

What are the benefits of an emergency action plan? ›

The benefits of having an emergency action plan include:
  • Helping employees and customers stay safe in the event of an emergency.
  • Providing an outline for quick response to emergencies.
  • Helping your company recover more quickly from emergencies.
  • Providing peace of mind.
  • Allowing people to feel confident during an emergency.

Why is an evacuation plan important? ›

The short answer is it saves people's lives. Many people simple do not know what to do during an emergency, so having a clear evacuation strategy means that people are more prepared. In the event of a fire or other emergency, your evacuation strategy helps you gain some control of the situation.

What is the most critical part of every evacuation plan? ›

Posting evacuation plans on each floor, identifying and training personnel on each floor who will be responsible for getting people out, and making sure everyone is accounted for, are chief among those responsibilities.

Why is it important to maintain clear evacuation routes at all times? ›

In the event of a fire, it is important to evacuate people as quickly as possible from the premises. Escape routes in a building should be designed so that people can escape quickly enough to ensure they are not placed in any danger from fire.

What is the importance of having an emergency care plan? ›

It's a good idea to put in place an emergency care plan, in case you're not around when something happens or in the event of an emergency. The plan should be easily accessible, and have clear instructions to make sure the person you care for is still receiving the support they need, even if you're not there.

Why is it important to have an emergency action plan? ›

The main reason to have an emergency action plan is to do as much as possible to keep your employees safe in case of disaster. The confusion of an emergency can make a bad situation worse and put lives at risk.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Annamae Dooley

Last Updated:

Views: 5525

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (45 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Annamae Dooley

Birthday: 2001-07-26

Address: 9687 Tambra Meadow, Bradleyhaven, TN 53219

Phone: +9316045904039

Job: Future Coordinator

Hobby: Archery, Couponing, Poi, Kite flying, Knitting, Rappelling, Baseball

Introduction: My name is Annamae Dooley, I am a witty, quaint, lovely, clever, rich, sparkling, powerful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.