IM3 - Incident Site Safety

Purpose

To outline the roles and responsibilities that should be used for an Incident Management Team in an emergency at an Aquatic Facility.

Description

The Emergency Planning Committee of an Aquatic Facility should ensure that within the Emergency Plan they consider procedures for site safety and scene preservation. This should include but is not limited to:

Securing the Scene

1. Removing all non-emergency personnel / staff from the scene or area
2. Isolating the scene from people and possible further impacts from the emergency
3. Clearing the way for emergency services and first responders
4. Maintaining crowd control

Site Safety

1. Ensuring there is no danger to staff or emergency services in attending the emergency
2. Ensuring personal protective equipment is available and worn
3. Evacuating swimming pools and areas that require supervision
4. Dealing with relatives or friends of casualties

Scene Preservation

The owner or operator of an aquatic facility at which a notifiable incident has occurred must ensure so far as is reasonably practicable, that the site where the incident occurred is not disturbed until an inspector arrives at the site or any earlier time that an inspector directs.

If, after arriving at the incident site an inspector considers that it should remain undisturbed in order to facilitate investigation of the incident, he or she may issue a non-disturbance notice. This notice must specify the period for which the notice is to apply (no more than 7 days).

The site of a notifiable incident may only be disturbed before an inspector arrives or before an inspector issues a direction in order to:

• protect the health and safety of a person; or
• provide aid to an injured person involved in the incident; or
• take essential action to make the site safe or to prevent a further incident.

The incident site is the area at the aquatic facility where the incident occurred.

It includes any plant involved in the incident and extends to any area within the workplace where:

• any substances have escaped, spilled or leaked; and
• any debris, including plant debris, or objects that have fallen as a result of the incident.

Directions on Site Preservation

If you require advice on site preservation or wish to request directions on what to do, ask to speak to an inspector when you notify your state/territory regulator (i.e. WorkSafe) of the incident.

An inspector may consider requests for a site to be disturbed for reasons other than those referred to above. The inspector may or may not issue a direction for a site to be disturbed taking into account the facts and circumstances surrounding the particular incident. There are a number of matters which may be considered by an inspector in deciding whether or not to issue a direction allowing the site to be disturbed. These matters include:

• Whether the incident is in fact a ‘notifiable’ incident according to your relevant state/territory WH&S legislation / regulation
• the seriousness of the incident;
• whether disturbance of the incident site would hinder investigation into the cause of the incident;
• whether the incident is alleged to have been caused or in part caused by plant, substances or a process which, if disturbed, may continue to expose persons to hazards and risks to their health and safety;
• whether the incident is likely to be subject to a comprehensive investigation;
• whether preservation is likely to cause significant disruption to public infrastructure and essential services; and
• whether the incident is in a public place or at a public event where it may not be practicable to secure the incident site at the time of notification

The above matters are not exhaustive of those which may be considered by an inspector in deciding whether or not to issue a direction.

References

• Safe Work Australia – www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au
• Work Safe Victoria – Guide to Incident Notification