INTRODUCTION

 

Warrandyte Neighbourhood House (WNH) is located in an area of high bushfire risk. In addition to this Bushfire Safety Policy and Procedures document, the Neighbourhood House has a Bushfire Emergency Procedures document, which is attached to this document and stored in the fire kit.

 

 

PURPOSE

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The Bushfire Safety Policy and Procedures Document is intended to facilitate the management of Bushfire Risk within WNH, to minimise risks to people and property, to protect the reputation of WNH, and to implement recovery procedures.

 

 

POLICY

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WNH will work cooperatively with the local CFA to ensure policy and procedures meet with their recommendations, as per their website. Fire warnings and fire ratings impact upon our business and will be clearly outlined in our procedures.

 

Contact with the local CFA will occur annually prior to the Fire Danger Period.

 

WNH is a responsive community facility and seeks to be fully informed of local conditions and environmental risks. WNH has a responsibility to support the health and safety of its staff, volunteers, contractors and clients.

 

Personal responsiveness extends to all individuals using the house and we encourage all staff, contractors, clients and volunteers to be proactive in ensuring their own personal safety. 

 

WNH will be closed on Extreme and Catastrophic days. No person will be in the Centre on these days. The centre will also close if the CFA or Manningham Council advises us to do so or at the discretionary decision of the manager. 

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

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Instructors:

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All Instructors will ensure that they have read and understood the Bushfire Safety policy and Procedures document and the current Bushfire Emergency Procedures document. They must ensure that they know where the first aid kits and fire kit is located prior to their class commencing.

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All Instructors will be responsible for ensuring the attendance roll is completed at each session.

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During the Fire danger period (usually November through to April) instructors will be required to monitor relevant CFA advice throughout the day and check that their class is still going ahead.

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​Volunteers:

 

All volunteers must ensure that they have read and understood the Bushfire Safety Policy and Bush Emergency Procedures document. No volunteer is expected to put their own safety at risk and should consider the conditions before commencing their shift. 

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Clients:

 

Due to the rapidly changing conditions in a bush fire emergency, we may not be able to give advance warning that we are closing the centre. We encourage all participants of the House to monitor fire ratings and warnings during the high fire danger period and take responsibility for their own safety.

 

Clients will be informed of our closure policies and where possible:

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• SMS, emails and phone calls, where possible

• Our Facebook and webpages

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Please ensure you stay abreast of fire danger ratings by either downloading or checking the Vic Emergency website. https://www.emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/

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