Published: 17 March 2007.

As more Australians move into tall apartment blocks, the issue of safety has become paramount. Many people are unprepared for an emergency situation created by fire, gas leak, storm damage or damage from a terrorist attack. Emergency management plans, such as the appointment of fire wardens and designated emergency assembly points, have long been part of the management of commercial buildings but not residential. However, growth in the number of people living in high-density dwellings means it's likely to become increasingly significant. While standard building codes already require the installation of such features as smoke alarms, wired-in alarms, sprinkler systems, smoke doors and enclosed fire escapes, engineering solutions are not the sole answer. There are issues such as tracking who is in a building at a given time and whether any of them have specific needs in time of emergency arising from disability or age.

What do you do??

Establish an information booklet informing residents on what actions to take in case of fire. These should include evacuation plans, and the names, location and contact details for residents
conduct regular building inspections to identify possible safety hazards and ensure that the evacuation plans and fire orders are relevant.
establish a notice board for communicating safety related information to residents.
ensure emergency response plans are prepared in co-ordination with the occupants of nearby buildings, whether residential or commercial, to ensure a cohesive approach to any emergency.

Terri Scheer Insurance Brokers

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