Tag Archives: emergency management

Community Notices, Health and Safety

Do you know what to do in an emergency?

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As an emergency event has the potential to seriously affect the University, we aim to be as prepared as possible for all eventualities.

The University’s Emergency Management team is responsible for the creation and distribution of an Emergency Procedures flip chart, which you’ll find across all UC departments, service units and colleges, outlining what to do in various types of emergencies.

This is not a definitive list, but the chart is updated as and when required.

Emergency procedures flip chart

Following the events of March 15 for example, a new page was created to clarify the University’s ‘Lockdown’ procedure.

The three main priorities of a lockdown at UC are:

  1. Get notified
    • UC’s UCGo mobile app will send emergency push notifications letting you know what’s happened, and what to do next. Download it now>
    • Help Point towers across campus will be activated and instruct you where to go
  2. Get to a safe location
    • Remain inside and move to your building’s designated safe spot.

Security will be in touch with building occupants over the coming weeks to confirm the location of designated safe spots.

  • If you’re outside at the time, proceed to the nearest building and head to its designated safe spot
  1. Wait for more information
    • UC’s Emergency Personnel and Communications team will keep you up to date.

In the event of any lockdown situation, students will be instructed to follow staff.

For more information on the updated flip chart, which is being distributed across campus now,  click here or contact the Emergency Management team.

Health and Safety

Emergency Planning at UC

Did you know the University has a trained rescue squad on campus?

Do you want to learn skills to deal with emergency situations?

Do you want to gain additional N.Z.Q.A credits while
studying at University of Canterbury?

170831 - Emergency rescueYou can join our team and learn new skills and meet some new people with similar interests.

We meet on a weekly basis on a Tuesday night from 1600 until 1800.

As part of our team we run a structured training program that can lead to additional qualifications to boost your c.v.

Some of the training we provide can lead to:

  • U.S.A.R . Awareness Orange Card
  • Teamwork and communication skills
  • Co-ordinated Incident Management (C.I.M.s level 2 and 4)
  • New Zealand Certificate in Emergency Response (Level 2)

For further information:

For recruitment and general enquiries relating to University of Canterbury Community Rescue, contact:

Ken McEwen
Manger – UC Security
Rescue Manager

Email: ken.mcewen@canterbury.ac.nz

Announcements, Health and Safety

Support for those affected by Port Hills fires

A number of university staff families have been evacuated or self-evacuated and this is a difficult time for the individuals and families affected and for our city.

Any staff needing support should speak to their manager.  If you have been evacuated and have nowhere to go, there are a number of short term places available in Campus Living Villages.  Should you wish to discuss this, please contact Abi Spencer on 027 839 6309.

UC is communicating with students, parents and agents to provide information and reassurance to the extent we can.

Staff receiving questions from students can tell them:

“While the University is operating as normal, support is available to any student who has been personally affected.  If you’re already on campus, please contact Student Care on Level 2 of the Central Library in the Puaka-James Hight Building. Alternatively, you can telephone 03 369 3388 or email studentcare@canterbury.ac.nz with any concerns.

Other support is available from:

“Even if you don’t require support, please keep in touch with your parents, friends and family so they can be assured you are safe.”

UC will keep staff and students informed by email, and if necessary, by Twitter (@UCNZ) and the University of Canterbury Facebook page. While these social media channels are open and viewable by searching from any internet device, you can follow UC on both Twitter and Facebook to ensure you receive messages from the University as quickly as possible.

City Council updates are available at https://ccc.govt.nz/the-council/newsline/show/1406. Local radio and websites such as www.stuff.co.nz are also good sources for the latest information about the fire.

Announcements, Health and Safety

Communications following a significant incident

The 14 November North Canterbury earthquake has prompted a change to the way UC will communicate to staff, students and key stakeholders in the event of a major incident that may affect campus.

In the event of an incident, staff who are off campus should assume campus remains open unless they are told otherwise, or it is obvious from other sources such as media or Civil Defence that it will not be. If campus is open but staff are unable to get here, they need only let their manager know.

Following an earthquake of 5.5 or greater within 50 kilometres of Christchurch, UC buildings will typically be inspected. We may also do so for less severe events closer to Christchurch.

UC will endeavour to contact staff as soon as possible after an event, and after the outcome of any inspections are known. UC will endeavour to communicate by 6pm at the latest for events during the day, and by 7am for significant events occurring overnight. Staff starting work on campus very early in the morning should contact the UC Security office for an update prior to starting work.

UC will communicate to staff and students and key stakeholders by email. It will also post on the UC Facebook page and on Twitter. This is intended to compensate for  loss of internet access through powercuts or evacuation, by providing information searchable from a mobile device. Both UC’s Facebook page and Twitter accounts are public accounts not requiring membership to access. Searching for University of Canterbury in a search engine will locate the UC Facebook page. Likewise, searching @UCNZ will locate UC’s Twitter feed. (Scroll down to see visual instructions below on how to do this.)

UC will no longer post on the UC website as a matter of course, but may still do so if the event is significant and affects campus, or the Emergency Operations Centre is activated. Any website post is likely to be a delayed, more considered response for interested parties beyond the campus.

The Communications and Engagement team continues to investigate options for texting staff and students updates following a significant event. For an organisation the size of UC, this is not as simple as one might assume. This option, should it eventuate, will at best be an opt-in service requiring staff and students to keep their details updated in order to receive updates.

To view the images below at a large size hold down the Ctrl key and press the ‘+’ key. 

Step 1 Twitter Facebook

 

Step 2 Twitter FacebookStep 3 Twitter FacebookAs a final step, if you choose the ‘Join’ option on Twitter or ‘Like’ the Facebook page, then you will be alerted to new posts and won’t have to go looking for them.