Evacuation

Evacuation in public areas is defined in the common alarm instructions, which are communicated in all teaching rooms and meeting rooms, on safety information boards and at all safety points.

The purpose of evacuation is to clear an area where there is a risk of a dangerous situation or such a situation has been identified. Evacuation must also ensure that evacuees are guided to a safer location.

Evacuation can take place on the instruction of university staff, emergency management such as the police or fire brigade, or anyone who has identified a hazardous situation.

Unless otherwise instructed, leave the area by the nearest safe escape route to the nearest safe assembly point. Escape routes and assembly points are indicated on maps at the safety points, in classrooms and in each unit’s local emergency procedure plans.

Evacuation in non-public areas is supported by the ‘vest model’, where people actively support the evacuation process on their own initiative. Non-public areas are divided into a number of evacuation zones with an associated evacuation rack.

When employees become aware of an incident that requires an evacuation to be initiated, the first volunteer goes to the evacuation rack and assumes the role of evacuation leader (yellow vest); a second volunteer goes to the evacuation rack and assumes the role of assembly point leader (orange vest):

• The evacuation leader (yellow vest) has the overall task of getting people to leave the area and for the area to be searched for any remaining people. The evacuation leader can delegate tasks to maintain an overview of the area. Status is given to the assembly point leader at the collection centre.
• The overall task of the assembly point leader (orange vest) is to establish an assembly point for evacuees, to communicate the results of the evacuation to the police/fire authorities and to report back to the evacuees.

Always ensure good communication so it’s possible to get an overview of whether everyone is out.