Page 2618 - Week 07 - Thursday, 3 August 2017
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• 1 Code Purple
A Code Purple refers to a bomb threat or suspicious package. A bomb threat is a serious public nuisance of modern times. Each bomb threat could be a prank or a warning of an impending bomb detonation. Usually they are created by individuals seeking to cause a state of confusion or alarm. Bomb threats directed at the ACT Health facilities, or suspicious packages received in the mailroom, are handled in accordance with internationally recognised procedures. Response procedures have been developed on the assumption that all threats will be treated as genuine until an investigation proves otherwise.
• 0 Code Browns
A Code Brown is an emergency response code to deal with any external incident that threatens to overwhelm or disrupt hospital capabilities. An external incident is defined as one that originates outside an ACT Health facility. Canberra Hospital is recognised as a major receiving hospital for mass casualties in the ACT and south‐eastern region of New South Wales and, as such, has a major role to play in emergency responses.
ACT Government emergency arrangements are described in a variety of ACT legislation and plans, including the ACT Emergency Plan and ACT Health Emergency Plan. These plans provide an overarching governance structure for large emergencies.
• 20 Code Oranges
A Code Orange is an emergency response code to manage the evacuation of ACT Health facilities. Evacuation involves the movement of patients, staff, clients, carers and visitors away from areas at risk in a rapid, safe and coordinated manner. Evacuation of health care facilities is a high risk and complicated procedure and is most often precipitated by other events within the hospital. Evacuation of an area or building within Canberra Hospital may be prompted by a range of events, for example: storm damage, local flooding, fire, bomb threat, hostage situations, and any other event that presents an immediate risk to the health and safety of staff, patients and visitors.
As most of these code responses were minor, they did not require a formal debrief session and informal debriefs were carried out after the incidents. There were two significant incidents for this period of time that did require a debrief and these were undertaken.
(3) ACT Health and the Minister’s Office are developing revised protocols for appropriately advising the Minister of significant incidents.
Schools—safe schools program
(Question No 289)
Mr Wall asked the Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development, upon notice, on 12 May 2017:
(1) Which Government schools in the ACT have used the Safe Schools program between December 2014 to present.
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