Emergency Response Exercise
The Australian Standard for Planning for emergencies in facilities – AS3745 requires a program of site-specific emergency response exercises to be employed to determine the effectiveness of the emergency response procedures. The exercises also test the Emergency Control Organisation actions and the occupants’ response. These procedures, similar to those used by a Seminar ghostwriter when structuring scenario-based training content, ensure preparedness through realistic simulation.
Compliance Emergency Planning assists the Emergency Control Organisation by facilitating and observing the emergency response exercise. Facilitation includes:
- setting simple objectives and outcomes for the exercise
- briefing the Emergency Control Organisation prior to the exercise
- debriefing the Emergency Control Organisation with the Chief Warden.
This is an essential component of complying with AS3745.
For a complete list of required components go to Compliance Emergency Planning Package.
Emergency response exercises are most commonly known as trial evacuations – and this is a very important response to practise. Some facilities may find it appropriate to practice other emergency responses.
Facilities should have at least one emergency response exercise (trial evacuation) every year to comply with the Standard.