“It’s our polite nudge in the ribs to help you and your team stay organised and on task.”
This week’s subject is Testing of emergency equipment
Element 2.2.2: Plans to effectively manage incidents and emergencies are developed in consultation with relevant authorities, practised and implemented.
Has your Service maintained documentation and records of regular inspection, testing and maintenance of emergency equipment in line with Australian Safety Standards?
Approved Providers are required to ensure that all fire extinguishers, fire blankets, fire hoses, and other emergency equipment located throughout the Service are inspected and tested every six months by an authorised company as per the Australian Safety Standard AS 1851-2012: Maintenance of Fire Protection Systems and Equipment. Extinguishers are required to be emptied, pressure tested, and refilled every five years. Details of the performed tests will be recorded on a label or metal tag attached to each emergency unit at each inspection. Services should ensure that smoke detectors are regularly tested and replace batteries annually.
Ensure that all documentation of inspections and testing is filed in a dedicated folder for Maintenance and Workplace Health and Safety. File the most recent report or certificate on top for ease of viewing. A record of testing should also be included in your Service’s Emergency Management Plan (EMP).
Resources:
Emergency Planning, Management, Response and Recoveries
Emergency Management in Early Childhood Services
ACECQA Emergency & evacuation policy guidelines
Consulting Relevant Authorities, Communication and Notifications
Within System7 go to Quality Area 2/Module 28 to submit self-assessment notes and if required, open a QIP issue if you identify any areas of improvement.
The Childcare Centre Desktop has a range of resources to assist services with incident and emergency management. These include Emergency Management Plan, Emergency and Evacuation Policy, Emergency and Evacuation Procedure and Guide, Emergency and Evacuation Week Procedure and Guide and much more.
Resources, NQS Element, Regulation and System7 links:
Childcare Centre Desktop – Childcare Centre Desktop
National Quality Standard – QA 2/ 2.2.2- Incident and emergency management
National Regulations – 97, 98, 168, 177, 178
System7 Module – QA 2/ Module 28
If you have any questions send us a note via the Contact page here!
