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Responsibilities of Evacuation Coordinators

Although emergency situations cannot be predicted, they can be effectively managed through planning and organization. Most schools, businesses, hospitals and government institutions create emergency evacuation procedures to maximize safety and minimize injury. An important component of an evacuation plan is the institution of an evacuation coordinator. Evacuation coordinators fulfill numerous responsibilities to ensure the well-being of everyone in an emergency situation.

  1. Post and Circulate Evacuation Plan

    • Evacuation coordinators should post and circulate the evacuation plan so that all staff and personnel is familiar with all aspects of the plan. The plan should also be reviewed and updated at regular intervals to maintain maximum effectiveness.

    Delegate Responsibility

    • Evacuation coordinators are responsible for informing personnel of all emergency evacuation procedures so that, in the event of an emergency, each person knows where to exit, exactly what their individual responsibilities are and who they're accountable for.

    Designate Meeting Site

    • Evacuation coordinators are responsible for informing all staff and personnel of the designated meeting site. They should also provide staff with a list of personnel in their area of responsibility, so the staff can perform a head count at the designated meeting site to ensure that everyone is present.

    Verify Evacuation

    • In the event of an evacuation, coordinators are responsible for ensuring that the plan has been followed and that all staff and personnel have been safely evacuated from the building. Coordinators also have to make sure that the staff has led their charges to their designated areas.

    Communicate with First Responders

    • It is the evacuation coordinator's responsibility to communicate with the responding emergency personnel. When policemen, firemen or other emergency professionals arrive, the evacuation coordinator must tell them what emergency situation has occurred, who, if anyone is still inside, who is injured, disabled or needs special attention, and any other information pertinent to the emergency situation.

    Verify Re-Entry

    • When an emergency occurs, the evacuation coordinator is responsible for maintaining communication with emergency personnel to keep informed about when the building is safe for re-entry. When the evacuation coordinator has been told the building is safe, it is his or her responsibility to alert all staff and personnel to return to the building.

    Facilitate Drills

    • The key to a successful building evacuation is preparation. To this end, it is the evacuation coordinator's responsibility to facilitate regular evacuation drills to ensure everyone in the building is comfortable and familiar with the evacuation routine.

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