QBE House
Emergency Procedures - Area Warden Responsibilities

Area Warden

If fire breaks out or any other emergency is reported to you, you must immediately:
  1. Move to Warden Intercom Point and liaise with Floor Warden.
  2. Proceed to your area of responsibility when advised and take control.
  3. Investigate the report and ascertain the emergency status in your area. For example, whether or not a fire is burning.
    Assuming there is a Danger Present:
  4. Ensure the safety of personnel in your area by moving staff away from the immediate area to a safe location (preferably the nearest fire stair).
  5. If safe to do so, commence first aid fire fighting using fire equipment.
  6. If you are able to control and extinguish the fire, do so then wait for the Floor Warden and Fire Brigade to arrive.
  7. If the fire is beyond your control, inform Floor Warden and prepare to evacuate.

When You Hear the Alert Tone on Your Floor

  1. Search your area for a possible fire and report to the Floor Warden at the Warden Intercommunication Phone (WIP).
  2. When ordered to so do by the Floor Warden, instruct all personnel to assemble in an orderly line by the designated fire stairs or fire exit.
  3. Obtain assistance and ensure Mobility Impaired Persons are moved to the refuge area i.e: the nearest fire stair.

Decision to Evacuate

If the decision is made to evacuate or you hear the 'Evacuation' signal, carry out the following actions:
  1. Line personnel in your designated area at fire stairs.
  2. Maintain control of assembled personnel and try to encourage calmness.
  3. Admit personnel into the stairway when advise to by the floor warden.

    Personnel should move into the stairway in an orderly manner. Assist and direct persons entering the stairway.

    You should restrain running and pushing, instead encourage calmness and deliberate progress, but with safety first.
  4. Encourage persons with high-heeled shoes to remove them.
  5. Ensure toilets, kitchens, lunch rooms, etc. are cleared of all personnel.

    As you clear each area make sure that any doors are closed. This will minimise the spread of fire and smoke.
  6. Report to your Floor Warden when duties are completed and all personnel under your control have evacuated.
  7. Evacuate on advice from Floor Warden.
  8. Go to your assembly area and account for people under your control.
  9. Report to your Floor Warden any person not accounted for.
  10. Do not re-enter the building until the 'All Clear' is given by the Chief Warden or the Senior Officer of the responding Emergency Service.