The Glen Waverley Uniting Church PSALTERLink to > PeopleAndCultureCommittee > EventBookingInformation > EvacuationProcedures
Safety during events
We are committed to doing our best to ensure safety for all events. This is both a legal and moral imperative. The facilities that we provide and the steps that event organizers need to follow include the following:
Accountable person.
- Legally every event needs a defined "accountable person", usually defined as the person who would make the decision to cancel the event because of safety concerns.
Safety person.
- Each event should have a person delegated to watch for and minimise dangers.
- There are advantages to this person not being the organiser of the event. For events organised by Missional Groups, it is suggested that the Council representative on the group take this responsibility.
Duties include checking the proposed activities, being aware of fire extinguisher locations and EvacuationProcedures, watching for obstructions and other dangers.
First Aid
- A First Aid kit is available by the library in the foyer.
With this is an Automatic External Defibrillator for a collapse when a pulse cannot be found.
- This is easy to use; open the lid and follow the verbal instructions. The machine will not let you do the wrong thing.
- All events should endeavour to have a trained first aid person available, or at least someone delegated to act in case of a medical incident.
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY COLLAPSE
Delegate a responsible person to ring Ambulance (000)
Church address: Glen Waverley Uniting Church
Cr Bogong Avenue and Kingsway
GLEN WAVERLEY (Melway 71 C2.5)
DO NOT ADMINISTER FOOD OR DRINK
Transport person, if possible, and advised by emergency services, by wheelchair to Vestry (Wheelchair available in fire hose cupboard next to the office)
Lay the person down, head on low pillow, and legs raised on pillows
Blanket and pillows in bag at end of bed in Vestry.
PLEASE RETURN AFTER USE.
Cleaning.
- Spills on hard floors lead to slippery and/or sticky spots that can lead to falls.
- Spills should be cleaned up as soon as they are noticed, and certainly after each event where food and drink is handled on hard floors, including the hall and kitchen. Mops and buckets are in the cleaning cupboard backing on to the kitchen dishwasher.
- Paid cleaners are available through the office if participants in an event are unable or unwilling to clean the floors afterwards. This does need to be arranged when booking.
Electrical equipment.
- We are required to have all equipment used on the premises electrically "tested and tagged".
- Property Committee test church equipment, but private equipment used on Church premises needs to be privately tested.
Food safety
- Our kitchen is accredited by Monash City Council for food peparation and serving by GWUC groups.
- Outside hirers need to apply for their own permit with their appropriate city council.
Keeping that accreditation requires that we follow the procedures in FoodSafetyProgram, and posted around the kitchen.
If food is prepared outside the building for sale, then a "Statement of Trade", formerly a "Temporary Food Permit", is needed. For the process to get this, please see the wiki page FoodPreparationPermit or this web page.
GWUC Evacuation Procedures
Based on advice, Property Committee has reviewed GWUC procedures and has determined that the following procedures are to be mandatory at GWUC. Any departure from these procedures should not be sanctioned.
- GWUC emergency procedures as displayed in all rooms are to be followed at all times.
- The GWUC Evacuation Assembly point in the event of a major occurrence on the property (Fire or Building collapse) is the open forecourt area of the Library, or if the weather is detrimental, inside the entrance of the Novatel Hotel via the library forecourt. For less serious events, that only require the building to be emptied, the Assembly Point as identified, is the large gum tree on the eastern side at the front of the complex.
The Office Manager is deemed the "Building Manager" for evacuation purposes and directions given must be adhered to at all times, by all groups.
- The Building Manager must approve, in advance, all and any trial evacuations by any GWUC property users, either hirer or GWUC group. 48 hours notice to the Building Manager is required for any trial evacuation, to ensure whole complex safety.
- The Building Manager is responsible for all communications with attending emergency services.
The PropertyCommittee Chairperson is designated as "Building Owner" and must be advised of all such trial activities in advance and any live events immediately.
When the Office Manager is not present, the designated hirer - as per the lease, or the GWUC group coordinator at the time, is responsible to ensure the safe exit of all persons in their group. Each group leader is to ensure that all other groups are notified of an incident and between them agree that the property has been vacated safely. This includes checking all toilets and meeting rooms, even if not used by that group. They are also responsible to ensure that the attending emergency services persons have been advised of all evacuations. The use of attendance sheets or other forms of attendance material is optional, but recommended.
- The designated hirer or GWUC group coordinator is required to ensure that their guests are adequately protected when crossing Kingsway to the Evacuation Assembly.