WHO NEEDS THIS LETTER?

This letter is required for a person who has been appointed as the overall Emergency Evacuation Co-ordinator for emergency evacuation of the workplace. They will be responsible for assessing emergency situations, activating and overseeing emergency procedures, notifying and co-ordinating with outside emergency services and directing the shutdown of utilities or plant operations in the workplace.

WHAT IS THIS LETTER FOR?

This letter will apply to larger organisations where an overall responsible person is required to manage and co-ordinate emergency evacuation procedures when an emergency arises. The letter allows the person to act under the authority of the 16(2) in order to ensure all emergency evacuation procedures work correctly in order to efficiently evacuate the workplace in the event of an emergency.

WHY IS THIS LETTER IMPORTANT?

This letter shows that in larger organisations an overall responsible person has been appointed to manage and co-ordinate emergency evacuation procedures on a larger scale. This provides evidence to an inspector that a basic structure is in place to manage and co-ordinate emergency evacuation activities when an emergency arises. This letter is relevant under section 9(2) of the Environmental Regulations for Workplaces of the OHS Act, where these conditions apply and its availability shows that the employer is taking steps to comply with these Regulations in respects of ensuring that emergency measures are in place to deal with any evacuation emergencies which arise within larger workplaces. 

VALIDITY

This letter needs to be signed by the 16(2) (as the appointer) and by the appointee, dated and kept on record where it can be accessible to an inspector. Each appointee must be more senior and experienced and must undergo accredited emergency evacuation training in order to be competent to perform these duties.

HOW DOES THIS WORK AS A CONTROL MEASURE?

In the hierarchy of controls this letter forms part of the administrative control measures which should be in place to ensure that emergency measures are in place in the event of an emergency arising. This letter ensures that a responsible person is appointed to oversee emergency measures are in place to deal with any evacuation emergencies which arise within larger workplaces.