Emergencies Accidents and Threats

Accident procedure

• DO NOT PANIC
• Send for the First Aid Officer, OR call “000” – Make sure medical help is on the way.
• Assess the danger to yourself and others; do not rush in if another life is threatened.
• DO NOT move the injured person unless a life-threatening situation exists.  Look for a response – Check circulation and pulse – if conscious, reassure the injured person.
• Ensure their airway passage is clear and if necessary, administer mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and send urgently for help if you are unable to do emergency first aid.
• Reassure the injured person and make them comfortable while help arrives.
• Follow this procedure if you are trained in first aid:

• If You Are Not Trained In First Aid:  
• Reassure
• Get help quickly

• Report all injuries, illness and adverse health and safety occurrences to your supervisor as soon as possible.

Emergency evacuation

• DON’T PANIC.
• Exit the premises by the route practiced in the fire and emergency evacuation drills.
• Assemble at the designated evacuation assembly area so as you can be accounted for.

Damage to property or equipment

Report any damage to your supervisor so that other workers will not be injured, particularly when they try to operate damaged equipment.

Fire

• Prompt action by you can save lives and property
• Preventing fires is the first and best course of action
• Always report faulty electrical switches or exposed wiring
• Do not block electrical motors in electrical equipment
• Do not use faulty electrical appliances
• Be alert for cigarette butts dropped into flammable materials; especially pot plants and waste bins
• Know the quickest and safest exit route and where any fire fighting equipment is located

Burglary

If you suspect a burglary:

• [IMMEDIATE ACTION EG DIAL 99 ON SECURITY PAD]
• Do not touch anything – do not add your fingerprints
• Call your supervisor or Management
• Do not go into dark areas or closed rooms; the offender may still be on the premises.  If you are at all concerned, leave the premises immediately and wait for help to arrive.

Hold-ups

In the case of hold ups:

• Do not be a hero. Protect yourself at all costs
• Do not argue with the offender. Give them what they ask for
• Try to remember points about them without being obvious about doing so:
• Gender
• Height
• Weight
• Colouring
• Accent
• Features
• Odors
• Do not make too much eye contact as this may cause antagonism
• Move calmly and slowly when requested.

Bomb threats

Regardless of our industry or location, bomb threats may be experienced.  A bomb threat may take one of the following forms:

• Written threat such as a Facsimile, hand or typewritten note
• Oral threat over the telephone, face to face, electronic recording or relayed verbal message
• By mail as a letter or suspicious article.

If the threat is written:

• Place the document into a transparent folder or envelope to preserve its condition and prevent contamination
• Restrict access to the document as it is physical evidence and will be surrendered to the police

If the threat is received by telephone:

• Remain calm and attempt to extract as much information as possible
• Do not hang up as it may be possible to trace the call
• Write down as much information as possible regarding the details of the bomb
• Try to find out:
• Where is the bomb
• What time will it go off
• What does it look like
• What kind of bomb is it
• Why are you doing this
• Try to attract the attention of another person to listen in; it may assist with critical information later
• Try to assess:
• The caller – gender
• Speech – educated, rambling, rational, accented, impediments
• Distractions to the caller – public or private phone
• Background noises

Suspicious articles

If you find a suspicious article:

• Do not touch it
• Clear people from the surrounding area
• Secure the area
• Inform your manager or supervisor
• Inform police

Threats

• Take threats seriously until they are proven otherwise
• If a threat is received, evacuate the area until advice is received from emergency response personnel that it is safe to return.