EMERGENCY SITUATION RISK ASSESSMENT When working in children s services the health, safety, and wellbeing of each child is pivotal. Since an emergency can rarely be foreseen, it is imperative that every centre has a well- rehearsed procedure to cater for any likely incident. This document is a tool to assist you in identifying emergency events that may impact your centre, and therefore allow you to minimise or eliminate any risks where possible, and to be adequately prepared for any possible emergency situations. Remember that different emergency events may be more likely to happen in some geographical areas than others. The table below will help you to identify risks specific to your centre. However, there may be other risks not covered here that you will need to address with an appropriate policy and procedure. STEP 1: To begin the process it is important to be aware of past situations, both within the Service, and in the local area. If you are unsure you will probably find that Google can help! Simply search for the event and your suburb to see what you find. For example, a search for bushfire Emu Plains NSW will give you the results you need to accurately assess each event as per the likelihood table below. ASSESSING THE LIKELIHOOD Almost certain Likely Possible Remotely possible Practically impossible Has occurred on an annual basis (or more frequently) in the past Has occurred in the past few years Has occurred at least once in the history of the centre Has never occurred within the centre but has been known to infrequently occur in similar centres in the local geographic area It is not known to have occurred in any similar centres within the local geographic area Childcare Centre Desktop - Emergency Situation Risk Assessment / Compliance / Quality Area 2 1
STEP 2: You can then move on to consider the consequences of any possible emergency event by using the table below. ASSESSING THE CONSEQUENCES TO LIFE AND PREMISES Level 1 Disaster Level 2 Very serious Level 3 Serious Level 4 Substantial Level 5 Minor Death or permanent injury Loss of, or uninhabitable premises Long term injury or illness Major damage to premises Medical attention required and several days off due to injury Damage to premises First aid required Minor damage to premises Injury extremely unlikely Damage to premises unlikely Childcare Centre Desktop - Emergency Situation Risk Assessment / Compliance / Quality Area 2 2
STEP 3: The next step is to consider your Service s physical attributes and preparedness (policies and procedures) that may also affect the outcome of any given situation. When assessing risks, it is imperative to think about all possible consequences of an event. For example, a severe storm may leave the Service without power, which will have different circumstances for different Services. If the Service relies on electricity to power pumps to obtain water, the consequence will be more serious than if it s on a town water supply and therefore still maintains mains pressure water. You may therefore decide to increase the consequence level in the final Risk Rating Calculator. For example, you may have decided that a particular event has a consequence of level 4. However, when also considering that if you lose power you do not have access to running water or a telephone, you may choose to change this to a consequence level 3 or even 2 until you address the issue, depending upon the exact nature of the emergency. In the following table, answer yes or no to each question. For any question you answer no to, consider if anything can be done to minimise or eliminate the risk. For example, if you do not have a secondary exit point from your backyard or playground you may not be able to make any modifications to change this situation. However if you answer no to the question about whether or not you have an Emergency Management Team, this is something that can be implemented. Continued on next page: Step 3 Childcare Centre Desktop - Emergency Situation Risk Assessment / Compliance / Quality Area 2 3
Answer the following questions to assist you in determining the severity of the consequences of any unplanned event: (X = expectation) Emergency event/s most likely affected by question answers Guiding questions Yes No Severe storm Bushfire Internal fire/smoke Flood/flash flood Dangerous animal or insects Gas leak / atmospheric Chemical or substance spill Bomb threat Siege/hostage situation Intruder / unwanted / uninvited visitor Act of terrorism Medical emergency of staff, child, or visitor Fatality of staff, child, or visitor Is a telephone available that does not require an electric power source? If using a mobile phone, is there reliable phone reception? Is there a mobile satellite phone or UHF radio within the centre (remote area centres)? Is your street number and the name of the centre prominently displayed on the street? Is an ambulance service available within 15 minutes of the centre? If not, is other transportation available? Do you have access to running water if you lose power? X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Continued on next page: Step 3 Childcare Centre Desktop - Emergency Situation Risk Assessment / Compliance / Quality Area 2 4
Emergency event/s most likely affected by question answers Guiding questions Yes No Severe storm Bushfire Internal fire/smoke Flood/flash flood Dangerous animal or insects Gas leak / atmospheric Chemical or substance spill Bomb threat Siege/hostage situation Intruder / unwanted / uninvited visitor Act of terrorism Medical emergency of staff, child, or visitor Fatality of staff, child, or visitor Do you have sufficient bottled emergency water available at all times for drinking, flushing toilets, nappy changes, and hand washing? Do you have sufficient emergency supplies of packaged and tinned food to last until all children are collected? Do you have sufficient blankets, medications, and toileting supplies to last until all children are collected? Is the building located substantially above ground OR have a second storey/level? Does all staff know how and where to shut off electricity, gas, and the water service? Does all staff know how and where to turn off heating, cooling, fans, and/or ventilation systems? X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Continued on next page: Step 3 Childcare Centre Desktop - Emergency Situation Risk Assessment / Compliance / Quality Area 2 5
Emergency Situation Risk Assessment Fatality of staff, child, or visitor X X X X X Can blinds or curtains be closed on all windows and glass doors? X X X Has an appropriate response strategy been planned to assist in a decision to stay or evacuate? X X X X X X Is the main entrance the only entry point? X X X Is there a secondary exit point from the backyard/playground? X X X X X X X X Are all visitors identified and signed in before entry? X X X Bomb threat X Gas leak / atmospheric substance Chemical or substance spill Medical emergency of staff, child, or visitor Dangerous animal or insects Act of terrorism Are towels available to wet to block any crevices (e.g. Under doors)? Flood/flash flood Internal fire/smoke Intruder / unwanted / uninvited visitor Is there an all clear signal that all staff know in order to unlock doors? Siege/hostage situation Is there a plan for securing windows and air intake points? Bushfire Guiding questions Yes No Severe storm Emergency event/s most likely affected by question answers www.childcarecentredesktop.com Compliance: Quality Area 2 Continued on next page: Step 3 Childcare Centre Desktop - Emergency Situation Risk Assessment / Compliance / Quality Area 2 6
Emergency event/s most likely affected by question answers Guiding questions Yes No Severe storm Bushfire Internal fire/smoke Flood/flash flood Dangerous animal or insects Gas leak / atmospheric Chemical or substance spill Bomb threat Siege/hostage situation Intruder / unwanted / uninvited visitor Act of terrorism Medical emergency of staff, child, or visitor Fatality of staff, child, or visitor Are volunteers and students aware that they must not allow entry by visitors or strangers? Is there an area or areas inside the building that are sheltered from possible window/glass door breakage? Do you have two designated assembly areas for evacuation? Are evacuations and lock- down drills performed regularly using alternate exit routes and assembly points? Is the first aid kit always fully stocked with supplies within their use- by date? X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Is the first aid kit located in a prominent position and all staff aware of its location? X X X X X X X Continued on next page: Step 3 Childcare Centre Desktop - Emergency Situation Risk Assessment / Compliance / Quality Area 2 7
Emergency event/s most likely affected by question answers Guiding questions Yes No Severe storm Bushfire Internal fire/smoke Flood/flash flood Dangerous animal or insects Gas leak / atmospheric Chemical or substance spill Bomb threat Siege/hostage situation Intruder / unwanted / uninvited visitor Act of terrorism Medical emergency of staff, child, or visitor Fatality of staff, child, or visitor Do you have a list of all potentially required emergency and support services next to each phone? Do you have a Bomb Threat Checklist next to each phone? Do you have a fully stocked Emergency Kit available? Are all staff members aware of the location of the Emergency Kit? Do you have an Emergency Management Team? Are all members of the Emergency Management Team aware of their roles and responsibilities? X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Note: You can self- assess your Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) rating online from http://www.balreport.com.au A bushfire Emergency Management and Evacuation Plan is also available from http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/ data/assets/pdf_file/0003/29271/bush- Fire- Emergency- Management- and- Evacuation- Plan.pdf A Bushfire Survival Plan can be downloaded from http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/ data/assets/pdf_file/0017/2933/bushfiresurvivalplan.pdf Childcare Centre Desktop - Emergency Situation Risk Assessment / Compliance / Quality Area 2 8
STEP 4: Risk rating calculator The following table shows you the risk rating when you combine the likelihood of an event happening with the potential consequences. Remember that you may have altered the consequences due to answers given above. However these can be reviewed and amended if changes are consequently made to the premises or procedures of the centre that will minimise or eliminate a particular risk. Almost certain Likely Possible Remotely possible Practically impossible Level 1 1 1 2 2 3 Level 2 1 2 2 3 4 Level 3 2 2 3 4 4 Level 4 3 3 4 4 5 Level 5 4 4 4 5 5 Use the table on the next page to record the potential risk for the following occurrences. You can then use the table to prioritise policies and procedures that may need updating or reviewing. For example, if procedures are not currently in place for an item with a risk rating of 1, this would be a matter that requires urgent attention. At the other end of the scale, you may not need a policy or procedure for an item with a risk rating of 5, unless required by Regulations. Continued on next page: Step 4 Childcare Centre Desktop - Emergency Situation Risk Assessment / Compliance / Quality Area 2 9
Potential risk Consequence Likelihood Risk rating Severe storm Bushfire Internal fire/smoke Flood/flash flood Dangerous animal or insects Gas leak / atmospheric substance Chemical or substance spill Bomb threat Siege/hostage situation Intruder/unwanted or uninvited visitor Act of terrorism Medical emergency of staff, child, or visitor Fatality of staff, child, or visitor Childcare Centre Desktop - Emergency Situation Risk Assessment / Compliance / Quality Area 2 10