Refusals to evacuate
No physical force
At no time are ECO members, occupants or persons other than Emergency Services personnel to use physical force to remove someone who refuses to evacuate. Touching, poking or slapping a person who seems to be in a state of extreme fear or shock may cause a violent reaction.
Procedure
ECO members who encounter a person refusing to leave shall:
- Verbally attempt to persuade the occupant to evacuate by using the words: ”An evacuation of the building is necessary. All occupants must leave the building by the nearest safe exit”. If the occupant does not respond, repeat the above phrase and add “For your own safety and the safety of others, please leave the building immediately.”
- Continue evacuating your Area of Responsibility (closing the door on the room where the occupant is located if possible).
- If time and safety allows, make a secondary sweep of the area and revisit the occupant repeating the above phrases.
- If the occupant still refuses, report the location of the person to the Warden, who will notify the Chief Warden.
- No personnel shall re-enter the building or cleared area to retrieve people who refuse to leave.