Emergency and Critical Incident Management Planning

Risk assessment

Schools must complete a risk assessment that clearly identifies the specific threats and hazards relevant to them.

A risk assessment enables schools to:

• identify the school’s unique threats and hazards
• assess and review any risk mitigation measures that are currently in place
• identify any further actions that can be taken to reduce the risk
• delegate roles and responsibilities to manage risks.

Factors such as the local natural and built environments are likely to be a source of risk. Schools also need to consider risks deriving from human behaviour such as arson, hostile intruders and cyber-attacks.

The department recommends schools consult local authorities to better understand their local hazards. Risk information about a range of hazards is available on the VicEmergency Prepare and get ready page or from your local council. Records of any consultations with emergency services about local risks should be recorded in the ‘Distribution and Consultation’ tab in the Online EMP Portal (staff login required).

Schools must include, at a minimum, the hazards applicable to their school as detailed below.

Mandatory – all schools

The following hazards and corresponding response procedures are mandatory for all schools:

• offsite emergencies (such as excursion or RTO activities), including risk of bushfire in the (excursion) activity locations
• building fire
• intruder – for more information refer to the Physical Security policy
• loss of essential services
• heat (extreme) – for more information refer to the Managing Extreme Heat policy
• child abuse – for more information refer to the Child Safe Standards policy
• information security – for more information refer to the Information Security policy
• medical emergency – for more information refer to the First Aid for Students and Staff and Health Care Needs policies
• mental stress – for more information refer to the Self-Harm and Attempted Suicide Response policy
• missing person – school or school camp/excursion
• traumatic death/serious injury
• violence, aggression and/or harassment – for more information refer to the Physical Security policy
• infectious diseases (including flu, COVID-19 and other communicable disease – for more information refer to the Infectious Diseases policy.

Mandatory – for specific schools

The following hazards and corresponding response procedures are required for specific schools:

• bushfire/grassfire – required for BARR and Category 4 schools (refer to the the Bushfire and Grassfire Preparedness policy); recommended for schools that reference bushfire preparedness requirements in their AIMS ESM maintenance schedule (staff login required)
• gas leak or major chemical spill (on-site) – required if at risk of gas leak or if chemical hazards are identified (for more information refer to the Workplace Safety Inspections and Chemical Management policies)
• minor chemical spill (on-site) – required if chemical hazards are identified (for more information refer to the Workplace Safety Inspections and Chemical Management policies)
• bus/vehicle emergencies during off-site activities – if undertaking off-site activities requiring transport
• School Bus Program (SBP) Emergencies – SBP Client Schools – required for client schools using the School Bus Program
• School Bus Program Emergencies – SBP Coordinating Schools and Student Disability Transport Program (SDTP) schools – required for coordinating schools using the School Bus Program or Students with Disabilities Transport Program
• disruption to international student homestay – required for ISP accredited schools (refer to International Student Program (ISP): 6. Supporting students – safety).

Recommended

The following hazards and corresponding response procedures are recommended:

• severe weather event – recommended for all schools
• major external emission/spills – if at risk due to school site location
• smoke – recommended for all schools (for further information refer to the Air Quality – Impact of Smoke on Health policy)
• flood – if at risk due to school site location
• snakes – if at risk due to school site location
• industrial fire/chemical emissions incident – if at risk due to school site location
• mosquito-borne disease – if at risk due to school site location.

For detailed guidance on completing the risk assessment table in the online EMP, refer to the Emergency and critical incident management planning guide for government schools (PDF).