Emergency Planning Committee (EPC)
The Emergency Planning Committee (EPC) comprises people who are responsible for the documentation and maintenance of the Emergency Plan, which covers:
- Scotch College Swanbourne campus
- Scotch College Boatshed
- Moray Outdoor Education Centre
Duties and responsibilities
The EPC, where necessary in collaboration with the facility owners, managers, occupiers and employers, shall be responsible for the development, documentation, implementation and maintenance of the Emergency Plan, Emergency Response Procedures and related training. This may be undertaken in conjunction with relevant external organisations.
The duties of the EPC include:
- Identifying events that could reasonably produce emergency
- Developing an Emergency Plan in accordance with Section 3 of AS3745 –
- Ensuring that resources are provided to enable the development and implementation of the Emergency NOTE: Resources include time, finance, equipment and personnel.
- Nominating the validity period for the Emergency Plan and the Evacuation NOTE: The validity period should not exceed 5 years but may be less than 5 yearly, depending on the requirements of a maintenance cycle, a major change to the facility or an accreditation regime.
- Ensuring that the Emergency Plan is readily identifiable and available to the appropriate
- Establishing an ECO to operate in accordance with the Emergency
- If deemed necessary, establishing a specialist Emergency Response Team (ERT).
- Authorising, or having authorised, the release and implementation of the Emergency Plan. Matters relevant to the implementation process are:
- Awareness of the Emergency Response Procedures: Information about the procedures shall be disseminated to occupants in a suitable format.
- Training: A formalised training schedule shall be developed to ensure that relevant training is provided to ECO members and facility occupants.
- Testing the Emergency Response Procedures: The Emergency Response Procedures shall be tested within the first 12 months and regularly thereafter.
- Review of Procedures: The effect of the procedures on the organisation shall be monitored at all stages of the implementation Amendments shall be made to rectify any deficiencies or inaccuracies that are identified in the procedures.
- Establishing arrangements to ensure the continuing operation of the ECO. For example, resignation, holidays, training of deputies.
- Establishing strategies to ensure visitors are made aware of Emergency Response Procedures.
- Ensuring that the Emergency Response Procedures remain viable and effective by reviewing and testing the Emergency Response Procedures at least annually.
- Ensuring that the Emergency Plan is reviewed at the end of the validity period, which shall not exceed 5 years, after an emergency, an exercise, or any changes that affect the Emergency Plan.
- Ensuring that a permanent record of events for each emergency is compiled and retained.
- Identifying and rectifying deficiencies and opportunities for improvement in the Emergency Plan and Emergency Response Procedures.
Membership
The EPC shall consist of not fewer than two people, who shall be representative of the stakeholders in the facilities, one of which shall be management.
At least one member of the EPC shall have acquired, through training, education, qualification, experience, or a combination of these, the knowledge and skill enabling him/her to correctly perform the required task.
Indemnity
EPC members are employees and/or a director or officer of the College and, as such, are insured persons under the College’s Educators Liability Insurance. Indemnity is provided according to the terms of that cover.