The following definitions appear in the University's Emergency Procedures.
Area
Area - refers to a faculty, school, section, centre or place where University employees work.
Fire alarm system
The fire alarm system is designed to provide automatic notification of the presence of fire by detecting heat or smoke. It is made up of fire detectors positioned throughout a building and wired to the fire indicator panel and fire bell.
When a detector is activated:
- its location is shown on the fire indicator panel
- the fire bell commences to ring continuously
- a signal is sent automatically to the fire brigade
- and the emergency warning system is started in the alert mode.
The fire alarm system can be manually activated using the break-glass switch adjacent to the fire indicator panel.
Emergency warning system
The Emergency warning system provides an audible signal throughout some buildings to warn occupants of a fire or other emergency situation. A two-stage system is used. The alert signal (repetitive 0.635 s-interrupted sound of 420 Hz frequency) is sounded automatically on actuation of the fire alarm or is manually activated in other emergency situations. The area warden manually activates the evacuation signal (repetitive signal of rising frequency 500 Hz to 1200 Hz) if required or, in the absence of manual override, the evacuation signal sounds automatically after a set time delay.
Emergency warning and intercommunication system (EWIS)
Emergency warning and intercommunication system (EWIS) for a large or multi-storied building also includes an intercommunication component that allows two-way conversation between the building warden at the master emergency control panel and Area Wardens in different parts of the building.
Emergency Control Organisation
The Emergency Control Organisation facilitates the safe and orderly implementation of the emergency procedures in a building, including the evacuation of the occupants from the building when appropriate. The Emergency Control Organisation is a structured organisation of people employed within a building who take command on the declaration of an emergency, pending the arrival of the fire brigade or other emergency service.
The Emergency Control Organisation comprises and outlines the duties of:
- Chief wardens
- Deputy Chief wardens
- Area warden
- First aid personnel
- Specialists - Chemists for example
- Visibility
- Indemnity
Management should encourage the implementation of an Emergency Control Organisation and emergency evacuation procedures within all workplaces at the University. It is their ultimate responsibility to ensure that:
- Members are appointed to the Emergency Control Organisation for the building
- Emergency Control Organisation members have training in emergency procedures
- Management support the Emergency Control Organisation with appropriate resources and authority.
Members of the Emergency Control Organisation should be mature, responsible, physically capable and have the confidence of building occupants.
During emergencies, instructions from UWA Emergency Control Organisation personnel and fire and rescue services personnel overrule the normal management structure.
For buildings with joint occupancy, all areas shall contribute members to the Emergency Control Organisation in proportions of equivalent full-time staff in occupancy.
University information
CRICOS Code: 00126G
