Emergency Plan (short)

EMERGENCY PLAN

Rutland Street Church

Document Owner H&S Lead / Eldership of Rutland Street Church
Applies To All staff, volunteers, and attenders at Rutland Street Church
Adopted By [Elder names]
Date Adopted [DD Month YYYY]
Review Date [DD Month YYYY — annually or after any emergency]
Legal Basis Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA)

Print and display this plan

Post a copy in a clearly visible location in the church building. Ensure all staff and volunteer team leaders know where it is and what to do in each scenario.
Emergency Detail Information
Emergency services 111 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Church address [Full physical address including suburb]
H&S Lead / Emergency Contact [Name] — [phone]
Second Emergency Contact [Name] — [phone]
First Aid Kit [Location — e.g. 'kitchen cupboard, right of sink']
Trained First Aider [Name] — [phone]
Fire extinguisher(s) [Location(s)]
Fire alarm panel [Location]
Electricity mains switch [Location]
Water mains shut-off [Location]
Assembly Point [Location outside building — e.g. 'front car park near the gate']
AED/Defibrillator [Location — or 'Not available on site']

Fire or Immediate Evacuation

  1. Call 111 — or direct someone else to call immediately
  2. Activate the fire alarm if not already sounding
  3. Direct everyone to leave calmly via the nearest safe exit
  4. Do not stop for personal belongings
  5. Gather at the Assembly Point: [location]
  6. Account for all people — use any sign-in list if available
  7. Do not re-enter the building until the Fire Service confirms it is safe

Medical Emergency

  1. Call 111 — give the address clearly
  2. Send someone to the entrance to guide the ambulance
  3. If trained, begin CPR or first aid as appropriate — do not move anyone with a potential spinal injury
  4. Keep others calm and at a safe distance
  5. Notify the H&S Lead or an elder immediately
  6. Complete an Incident Report Form following the event

Earthquake

  1. DROP, COVER, HOLD — instruct everyone to get under a table or protect their head and neck
  2. Stay away from windows and exterior walls during shaking
  3. Do not try to exit during shaking
  4. When shaking stops — check for injuries, then evacuate carefully watching for aftershocks and debris
  5. Gather at the Assembly Point
  6. Call 111 if there are injuries
  7. Do not re-enter the building without a structural check

Missing Child

  1. Alert all leaders and helpers immediately and quietly — do not alarm other children
  2. Search the building and immediate grounds systematically
  3. Do not allow other children to leave while the child is missing
  4. If not found within 5 minutes, call 111 and notify the child's parents
  5. Notify the H&S Lead and an elder immediately
  6. Do not speak to media — refer all enquiries to the Senior Pastor or Chair of elders

Suspicious Person or Security Threat

  1. Do not confront the person directly
  2. Calmly alert an elder or H&S Lead
  3. If there is immediate threat of violence, call 111 and initiate evacuation
  4. Follow Police instructions

Review and Practice

This Emergency Plan is reviewed annually. A fire evacuation drill should be conducted at least once a year. All new staff and volunteers should be shown emergency exits and the first aid kit as part of their induction.

For the full Emergency Plan Template and Building Safety Checklist, see cccnzrl.org — Health and Safety section.

All policies