EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROCEDURE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOP) INTRODUCTION All organisations involved in the Venue Management industry must have policies and procedures that aim to protect the health and safety of all, including during the event of an emergency. These must be documented and available to all the parties involved in any one event. Positively Wellington Venues (PWV) has specific responsibilities for making such decisions and implementing such actions as may be necessary to provide for the health and safety of their own employees, contractors, clients, patrons, delegates and others in the working environment. All those working on a show or event must be given sufficient information to enable them to perform their job safely and cope with an emergency should it arise. The producing company and the venue must ensure that all persons are advised of the identity of the person to whom that responsibility has been delegated. Irrespective of the duration of their engagement period, all those working on a show or event must be given an induction at the work site. It must include an orientation and information relevant to the event or show. PURPOSE The purpose of this procedure is to: Communicate the acceptable and consistent response to differing emergency events that may occur in one or more venues at a time. In the event of an evacuation to provide the procedure that will ensure the systematic and orderly evacuation of all parts of the building by the nearest safe means of exit in the least possible time. To ensure that Safety Officers and Wardens are appointed, with appropriate training and that they are fully acquainted with their duties. SCOPE The following venues are in scope: Michael Fowler Centre (NZSO is not in scope) Wellington Town Hall (Mayors Office is not in scope) St James Theatre including Ticketek kiosk and Jimmy Cafe (NZ Ballet and Ticketek Office are not in scope) Opera House (Shand Shelton and Crumpet are not in scope) TSB Bank Arena; and Shed 6. All sub tenants not in scope will be notified of PWV emergency and evacuation procedures and plans.
PREREQUISITES Be familiar with the: Daily Evacuation Compliance Check (Appendix B) Command Centre in all venues Venue emergency and evacuation procedures and plans Fire alarm points Evacuation process for people with disabilities Radio and it s operation Exit routes Building assembly area Emergency and evacuation posters and maps located near each exit route Defibrillator, Evacuation Chair and their use and the First Aid kits and its contents. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Managers, with the support of the Health, Safety, Environment and Quality Coordinator (HSEQ) will be responsible for ensuring current staff in their team are fully conversant with this SOP Those personnel that have a primary responsibility role in this SOP are: Role Responsibility Chief Safety Warden Venue Supervisor Manager 1 st 2nd The most senior manager/supervisor in the venue at the time of an evacuation Safety Warden Operations and/or F&B Supervisors and team members Technical Ushers Security Guards Volunteers Announce evacuation instructions to occupants onstage when appropriate Backstage areas Pre Assigned areas Pre Assigned areas Pre Assigned areas Food and Beverage Staff (F&B) Turn off gas main Turn off Electricity Leave the building NZ Standard 9232:1991 Contains provisions in the form of a model bylaw for precautionary measures against fire and panic in buildings required to be licensed by the Local Government Act 1974. Sets requirements for qualified persons to take charge based on the number of persons occupying a licensed building. Up to 300 persons 2 Attendants 301 to 500 persons 3 Attendants 501 to 1000 persons 3 Persons plus 1 Safety Warden Over 1,000 persons The number of attendants required to properly evacuate the facility NOTE: All PWV front of house staff will be trained to be Safety Wardens
The following shows the lines of authority during an evacuation: Chief Safety Wardens are key decision makers Report to direct Report to Emergency Services Safety Wardens direct All Occupants On evacuation, assemble at Building assembly area Actions pre event/show Role Venue Supervisor / Manager (The most senior supervisor in the venue at the time.) Responsibilities PPE Safety bag is located at the Command Centre and will contain: Wind up torch Whistle Writing pad and pencil Emergency route for wardens Brief for disabled persons Allocated duties for each warden Small first aid kit. At start of shift complete Evacuation Compliance Check (Appendix B) Brief all staff in emergency procedures as per documentation in PPE Bag, including allocating duties to Safety Wardens (Sweepers and static ushers), 30 minutes prior to an event doors opening. Ensure radios are fully charged and on the correct channels. For events fluorescent vest to be provided to Safety Ushers (static) responsible for the area allocated to them. Safety Wardens Attend evacuation procedure briefing 30 minutes prior to an event. Take receipt of radio and know where designated fluorescent vests and safety helmets are located. Ushers/Volunteers Attend evacuation procedure briefing 30 minutes prior to doors opening. Know where designated fluorescent vests are located. Trained Arise volunteers (as named on the event sheet) must attend the evacuation briefings with the VS / Manager 30 minutes prior to doors opening.
DURING AN EMERGENCY Emergency Emergency Signal Chief Safety Warden Responsibilities Fire Fire alarm sounds Call the Fire Service in case the automatic connection to the Fire Service has failed. Radio wardens to meet at appropriate Command Centre. Start Emergency Evacuation Procedure. Earthquake No Signal When shaking stops: Safety Wardens to meet at Command Centre. Issue megaphones. Start emergency procedure by using whistle and megaphone advising people appropriate action Direct occupants to: Extinguish any open flame or cigarette. Bomb Threat No signal Dial 111 and take instruction from Police. Do not evacuate unless instructed to by Police. Do not activate fire alarm unless instructed to by Emergency Services. Gas or chemical Threat No signal Chief Safety Warden to implement WCC procedure through City Care 4444. Do not evacuate floor unless instructed to by Emergency Services. Do not activate fire alarm. Venue Supervisor will issue megaphones to wardens. Wardens direct occupants to: Not turn off electrical switches Extinguish any open flame or cigarette Tsunami Civil Defence Sirens Radio the wardens to meet at Command Centre. Start Emergency Announcement Procedure. Follow the WCC Staff phone text to give instructions to Wardens. Wardens to use megaphones or whistles to move all occupants to safer higher ground. Follow instructions from Civil Defence.
EVACUATION PROCEDURE In the event of a fire or the sounding of the fire alarm: Chief Safety Warden (CSW) Ensure Emergency Services have been notified. Dial 111 or delegate the task. Proceed to Command Centre. Put on the Chief Safety Warden red/yellow vest and safety helmet. Collect a PPE bag.. Advise wardens to direct radio communication to DM channel when an emergency occurs. Ensure all safety warden vests have been allocated. Proceed to evacuation board and receive reports from Safety Wardens that all occupants have vacated the building. Ensure people being evacuated congregate at the building assembly area. Liaise with the Fire Service on their arrival. After the building is evacuated ensure no one re enters the building by directing Safety Wardens and Usher Wardens to external doors as required until clearance is given by the Fire Service officer. Safety Warden Proceed to Command Centre. Put on fluorescent vest and safety helmet. Ensure radio is on DM Channel as directed by the Chief Safety Warden. Complete check of designated areas including toilets. Assist all occupants to leave via nearest safe exit. Assist people with disabilities to a place of safety & advise their location by radio to the Chief Safety Warden. Do not leave until all other occupants have been evacuated from your designated area. Evacuate building as directed by the Chief Safety Warden(CSW). Complete full sweep of your assigned area, radio information to CSW from your designated area and leave the building and assemble at designated building assembly area. Maintain radio communication with CSW until operation is complete. Monitor occupants in assembly areas, assisting where required. Communicate when it is safe to re enter the building upon clearance from CSW and or Fire Service Officer.
Post Evacuation Chief Safety Warden Hold a debrief meeting with key stakeholders after every evacuation as per APPENDIX A. Ensure feedback and recommendations from debriefs are fed back to safety wardens and the Leadership Team. Ensure the complete return of all safety equipment from the safety wardens.
REFERENCES New Zealand Fire Service Act 1975 The Building Act 2004 Building Regulations 1992 Fire Safety and Evacuation of Buildings Regulations 2006 The Health & Safety in Employment Act 1992 NZ Standard 9232:1991 DEFINITIONS ECC (Evacuation Compliance Check) APPENDIX B Daily check includes: Regress Exit doors are working Hazard check Command Centre complete Smoke detectors are on Fire Board (Light reads normal) SOP Standard Operating Procedure Emergency Management Evacuation Process What to do in an emergency WCC Wellington City Council Building Issues As building owners any gas leaks or Chemical threat must be notified through their contractors City Care. Command Centre Place where Chief Safety Warden distributes PPE PPE Personal Protective Equipment Vest Helmet Safety Bag containing Wind up Torch Whistle Writing pad and pencil Emergency route for wardens Brief for disabled persons Small first aid kit
EVACUATION DEBRIEF APPENDIX A 7 Date: Venue: Start time: Chief Safety Warden: Finish time: Yes/No Comments Has the Fire Alarm been reset? Were there any injuries during the evacuation? Were all Smoke & Fire Control Doors closed? Could the evacuation alarm be heard in all areas? Did all wardens know their role? Did all occupants evacuate safely, promptly and efficiently? Did person(s) with a disability understand their evacuation procedure? Are all Evacuation Procedure Notices in place? Are all exit ways clear and all doors able to be opened? Has fire fighting equipment been serviced in the last 12 months? Did the CFW advise the Fire Service using 111? Is a copy of the approved Fire Service Evacuation Scheme available? ATTENDEES NAMES and SIGNATURES Chief Safety Warden s Signature
Daily Evacuation Compliance Check APPENDIX B Version 1 8 DATE TIME CHECK EVAC COMMAND CENTRE CONTENTS STAFF BRIEF COMPLETE EXIT DOORS ARE CLEAR SMOKE DETECTORS ARE ON AISLES LOBBIES, ETC. ARE CLEAR OVER CROWDING EXIT LIGHTS ARE VISIBLE CHEECK SAFETY CURTAIN IS MOVING HT HT SAFETY COMPLIANCE CHECK REMARKS HOUSE TECH INITIALS VENUE SUPERVISOR SIGNATURE Note: This evacuation compliance check must be completed by Venue Supervisor at the beginning of your shift. House Tech: The Venue Supervisor must obtain signoff by House Tech when appropriate.