Emergency Response Manual

The Emergency Response Manual is the first of four components within the University of South Australia's Emergency Response Plan. The other components of the plan are:

• Section 2 - Evacuation Procedures
• Section 3 - Disaster Recovery Procedures
• Section 4 - Training and Testing
• Appendix 1 - Checklist for use by Campus Response Teams
• Appendix 2 - Roles and responsibilities for Incident Controllers

Definition of an Emergency

For the purpose of this manual, an emergency is defined as any event which could:

• jeopardise the safety of persons on or near the campus(es);
• result in significant damage to property or equipment contained on-campus; and/or
• significantly disrupt or demise campus operations.

Your First Action

In all instances when on campus the first call needs to be made to Security on x88888. If you are calling from any other location, please call 1800 500 911. When calling security ensure you clearly describe where you are and the details of the incident. If you feel that your life, or the life of any other person, is seriously threatened, dial Emergency Services on 000 (or 112 from a mobile). Always contact Security immediately after contacting Emergency Services.

Types of emergencies and their response guides

• Code 1: Natural element disasters
  • Includes disease, earthquake, flood, bushfire, hail storm, high winds, insects, landslide and uncontrolled animals
• Code 2: Civil disorder
  • Includes arson, demonstration, criminal assault, bomb threat, explosives, hostage, vandalism, sniper, suicide
• Code 3: Structural
  • Includes building collapse, building fire, explosion, elevator emergency, steam tunnel fire
• Code 4: Utility
  • Includes loss of communication, loss of gas supply, loss of electrical supply, loss of water, major computer failure, natural gas leak, water contamination
• Code 5: Transportation
  • Includes aircraft crash, bus crash, multi vehicle crash
• Code 6: Chemical
  • Includes chemical spill, food contamination, poison, radiation release, toxic material

Distribution and Maintenance

The Facilities Management Unit will maintain and update this manual. Consultation for the review and update of the manual will occur via the Campus Advisory Groups and Campus Management Groups.

Standard response procedures

Each entry in this manual is based on a standard response procedure, which has three components:

1. Actions to be taken by the first person on the scene of an emergency. The focus of activity at this stage is to assess the nature of the emergency situation where possible, and notify University Security staff.
2. Actions to be taken by the designated Campus Response team. An Incident Controller is identified for each emergency situation. The person is the relevant Campus Facilities Manager or their delegate. The Incident Controller will determine the location of the Incident Control Centre for each emergency situation, and bring together a Campus Response team which will mobilise resources and determine the most appropriate response strategies.
3. Actions to be taken by other staff

Actions identified here are normally to be undertaken by University Security staff in association with those of the relevant response team.

Line of command and control

The designated Incident Controller, assisted by their Campus Response Team, will direct all emergency response activities, including liaison with external authorities, until relieved of this duty by the Strategic Crisis Management Team.

In emergency situations not covered by this manual, the relevant Campus Facilities Manager will convene an appropriately constituted Campus Response Team and direct emergency response activities until relieved of this duty by the Strategic Crisis Management team.

Regional campuses

For all emergencies on a regional campus, the Regional Manager will be the Campus Response Team Leader with the Campus Facilities Manager assuming the role of Incident Controller until delegated to an appropriate local resource.