H/3.5 Emergency management

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3.5.1 Weapons on campus
3.5.2 Emergency Response Procedures (fire, bomb threat etc)
3.5.3 Emergency call points
3.5.4 Emergency SMS text message system
3.5.5 Counter Disaster Plan
Modification History

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, DIAL 3138 8888 IN A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, CALL 000 FIRST FOR AMBULANCE, THEN CALL SECURITY

3.5.1 Weapons on campus

QUT will not tolerate weapons on campus unless possession and use of a weapon for University purposes has been authorised by the head of the relevant organisational unit. Any item that falls within the definition of a weapon under Section 5 of the Weapons Act 1990 (Qld) shall be deemed to be a weapon. Possession of any unauthorised weapon on campus will be dealt with as a breach of discipline for staff and an act of misconduct by a student.

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3.5.2 Emergency Response Procedures (fire, bomb threat etc)

Emergency Response Procedures have been developed by the Security Section and are provided to heads of organisational units and members of each building’s Emergency Control Organisation (A/9.1.9). The procedures are also available on the Facilities Management website.

Staff in charge of a class are responsible for the evacuation of that class in an emergency.

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3.5.3 Emergency call points

Some areas of the University are equipped with emergency call points placed at strategic locations to enhance personal safety. Inappropriate use of these public safety devices may attract severe penalties. Further details are available on the Facilities Management website.

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3.5.4 Emergency SMS text message system

QUT has an emergency SMS text message system designed to warn the University community of life threatening emergency situations on campus.  It must be noted however that if the assessed risk warrants it, the police may switch off the Brisbane-wide mobile phone / SMS network without notice.

Any decision to make such a broadcast message will be made by the Registrar. In the absence of the Registrar, the Director, Facilities Management and the Security Manager have authority to broadcast an emergency SMS text message.

Emergency SMS text messages will only be used in the case of a sudden disastrous event that presents the real or reasonable expectation of serious injury to members of the University community.  In such circumstances, the need for a rapid response may preclude a full clinical assessment of the situation and the decision will be based on the best information available at the time of the event.

Further details are available on the Facilities Management website and in the Emergency Procedures Manual.

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3.5.5 Counter Disaster Plan

QUT has a Counter Disaster Plan for each campus to provide direction to persons who have a responsibility to respond to or undertake a role relating to any disaster or critical incident that may occur on the campus.

The University controller for any counter disaster response is the relevant Campus Security Superintendent or their nominated deputy, who is responsible for the direction and coordination of all activities and decisions pertaining to each incident. Responsibility for the management of a disaster or critical incident will be transferred to the relevant Emergency Service after consultation with the controller.

Procedures relating to notification and reporting of an incident, and evacuation, assessment and training are available on the Facilities Management website and in the Emergency Procedures Manual.

When a disaster or critical incident occurs, many people internally and externally, including the media, seek timely information and an official QUT response. Information on media communication is contained in F/3.4.6.

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Modification History

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