Emergencies
Emergencies are situations where there is an immediate threat to the safety of people and/or property.
For emergencies on campus, call 9999 from any internal phone or 9850 9999 from a mobile.
For emergencies off campus, call 000.
For travel emergencies please contact International SOS
What should I do in an emergency?
- Stay calm and keep yourself safe – avoid becoming part of the emergency!
- Try to keep yourself and others away from the danger area
- Alert people nearby and enlist their aid
- Seek help from Security on 9999 from any internal phone or 9850 9999 from a mobile - give your name and location. If inside, provide the building and room number
- Describe the nature of the emergency and provide any details that could help them with their response
If you are unable to get to a phone to contact security, you can use the fire emergency glass panels. Break the glass to access the button. Pushing the button will summon emergency services if there is no other option available.
By calling the campus emergency number you will be alerting security that an ambulance, fire or other emergency service may be required. Security will call the relevant emergency service for you and connect you to them for a 3 way phone conversation.
If you need first aid help, the University has trained first aid officers who can assist you with your general first aid needs. If they are unable to assist you they will call for support.
To find a first aid officer close to you, look for the emergency contacts information poster on your floor. The poster will list the names of first aid officers, mental health first aiders, building wardens and area wardens.
To find a first aid kit, look for the Emergency Evacuation Poster on your floor which will indicate the location if there is one on that floor. The Evacuation Poster can be found near main entrances, lifts or main floor landings.
Additionally, all security staff are trained in first aid, have access to mobile first aid kits and able to assist you.
What if I hear an alarm?
There are different alarm sounds used across the university. They may be a bell, hooter or siren depending on which building you are in. Most buildings on campus have a two-tone emergency alarm system.
The alert tone is a beep-beep and the alarm sound is a whoop whoop.
The two-tone alarm
There may be instances when the second alarm is sounded alone – in this instance, evacuate immediately.
When you hear an evacuation alarm, remember:
- Do not use lifts
- Follow the directions of emergency personnel
- Do not cluster around doorways
- Do not run down stairs – walk calmly and promptly
- Do not wait for your friends; you can catch up with them at the assembly point
- Do not hinder wardens or emergency services personnel
- Help people with disabilities or who have mobility issues if required. Please ask them if they need assistance first
- Do not attempt to re-enter the building until told to
Follow all directions issued by the emergency wardens or emergency services personnel.
Are fire stairs safe places to shelter?
A designated fire stair is designed and built to provide protection from fire and smoke for at least 2 hours. If there is a fire inside the building but the Fire Stair exit is unsafe to leave, then you can safely remain inside the fire stair until emergency services clear the exit.
Where smoke and or fire may impede access to the closest fire stair, it is OK to take a longer path to the alternate fire stair to exit the building.
Emergency wardens and how to recognise them
ECO ROLE | IDENTIFICATION |
|---|---|
Campus emergency coordinator and emergency response officer | White cap (if outside) and optional high visibility safety vest |
Building warden and Deputy Building Warden | Yellow cap and optional high visibility safety vest |
Area warden | Red cap and optional high visibility safety vest |
First aid officer | Green cap and optional high visibility safety vest |
Emergency Management Plan
Macquarie University implements a systematic approach to the management of emergencies and other incidents that seriously affect or may seriously affect the University’s people, operations, or reputation.
University priorities in an emergency are to:
1.Save lives and to prevent any further injury to any person involved in the situation.
2.Protect the University’s assets, operations, and reputation.
3.Return to ‘business as usual’ as soon as practical.
Macquarie University has developed an Emergency Management Plan (EMP) to provide guidance for the management of emergencies and to support the health, safety, and security of the University community. The plan is based on and compliant with the requirements of the Australian Standard ‘Planning for Emergencies in Facilities’ (AS 3745-2010).
A copy of the Emergency Management Plan can be accessed via this link.
Need to know more?
Further information on emergency management and security at Macquarie University can be found on the Workplace Health and Safety SharePoint hub via this link,
or by contacting Workplace Health and Safety at ohs@mq.edu.au