Emergency Procedures

Emergency and Evacuation

POLICY:

It is the policy of Sunshine Farm to protect persons served, staff members, visitors, and property in the event of an Emergency requiring evacuation. Evacuations can occur for a variety of reasons, including fire, violence or aggressive behavior, a utility emergency, such as a natural gas leak, or a natural disaster, such as an earthquake, that may leave the structure unsafe to inhabit.

PROCEDURES:

A. The Safety Officer is responsible for oversight of emergency disaster plans and drills and ensure that the facility is well prepared to respond effectively to any emergency. Emergency evacuation drills will be conducted on a semi-annual basis. The Safety Officer will be responsible for coordination of the drills and completing the Safety Drill Analysis. A copy of the form will be maintained in a safety binder in the Farm Office.

1.) In the event of the discovery of a threat (fire, bomb threat, violence, gas leak etc..), evacuate all individuals from the immediate area.

2.) Close all doors to contain the threat.

3.) If it is a small fire, Evacuation, attempt to contain it by using a fire extinguisher.

B. Evacuation Procedures: Evacuation of the facility shall occur should any of the following
events occur:

1.) Fires: If it is immediately determined that the extent of the fire cannot be contained with
quick and direct actions, the building will be evacuated.

2.) Violence and/or Aggression: If a crisis situation occurs that involves a direct threat to
any persons in the building, the building will be evacuated.

3.) Utility Disruption or Crisis: Situations that will necessitate evacuation in this area include gas
leaks and electrical malfunctions determined to present a health risk.

4.) Noxious Odors or Fumes: If it is determined that there are odors or fumes that are a health risk
due to eye, skin, or lung irritation, the building will be evacuated.

5.) Bomb Threat: In the event of a bomb threat made toward the organization, the building will be evacuated.

C. Evacuation

1.) In the event of an emergency that requires a facility to be evacuated, the following procedures will be as follows:

2.) Announce that there is a fire in the building and the need to immediately evacuate.

3.) The Safety Officer will inform all staff of the evacuation order through verbal instructions or use of the air horn alarm.

4.) All staff in service areas will assist the individuals in exiting the building through the exits according to the established evacuation route. Staff not in direct contact with the persons served will immediately exit the building according to the facility evacuation route. To expedite the evacuation process, all ambulatory persons served, and visitors are evacuated first, followed by staff members who will assist all others in evacuation.

5.) All staff and persons served will proceed to the designated muster point by the pine in front of the main resource building.

D. The Safety Officer will determine if all staff and persons served are present and accounted for and determine if all staff are also accounted for.

1.) Should it be determined that someone in the building is not present outside the building, the Safety Officer will determine if the nature of the emergency presents a threat to life and/or health to the degree that it would not be prudent to re-enter the building briefly to seek the location of the missing individual or individuals. If it is determined that the situation would allow a quick re-entry to locate the missing individual, the Safety Officer will briefly re-enter and call out the name of the individual. If there is not a response, the Safety Officer will exit the building and wait for emergency personnel to arrive and take control of the situation.

2.) The Safety Officer will exit the building with the safety binder, to access information on contacting emergency personnel. They will call 911 and report the fire, providing the name and address of the site.

3.) The safety officer will provide any special information to arriving emergency personnel such as size and location of fire and location of any flammable or explosive items and will relinquish control of the situation to the local authorities.

4.) Should the building not be suitable to be re-occupied to continue services, all individuals will be assisted in making arrangements to return to their homes.

E. The following emergency phone numbers are for use in the event of an evacuation and will be clearly visible inside the front cover of the Safety Binder.

(1) Gas company….1-866-436-7847
(2) Electric company….1-866-436-7847
(3) Ambulance…911
(4) City of Kelowna …250-469-8500
(5) Police…911
(6) CLBC…250-712-36-10
(7) Poison Control…1-800-567-8911

1.) Once an emergency evacuation has occurred, the building cannot be re-occupied until the responding emergency authority grants permission that the health and safety of staff and persons served is no longer compromised. Should an immediate re-occupation not be allowed by the authorities, occupation will be determined through the authority that is charged to bring the building back into compliance with health and safety standards (gas company, fire department, building inspector, etc.)

F. Documentation and Reporting.
1.) The Administrator will complete a Critical Incident Report within 48 hours of the evacuation. The report will be submitted to Community Living British Columbia and filed at the Farm to be included in the annual incident review.

Reviewed on November 12th, 2024
By Sharon Alcock.