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The University of New South Wales

Emergency Control Organization (ECO)

An Emergency Control Organization (ECO) is a structured organization of persons to organize and supervise the safe movement of occupants of a building or a group of buildings in an emergency.

At UNSW the ECO consists of the Emergency Manager (EM) who is assisted by a number of Chief Wardens appointed for each building or a group of buildings on campus. The Emergency Manager appoints Chief Wardens and their deputies following recommendations by Faculty/School/Divisional heads of other groups who occupy the various buildings. Chief Wardens report to the Emergency Manager (EM), in regards to the implementation of their building evacuation plan, coordination of building evacuations and the proper maintenance of building safety equipment.

Security Officers are available 24 hours a day to assist, advise and respond to crises and emergency situations on campus.

The Emergency Management Unit and Security will assist the ECO for the safe evacuation of your building during working hours. The standard working day at UNSW inclusive of lunch break, is eight hours. This is worked between 8.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m., Monday to Friday. Outside of this time, or when it may be reasonably assumed that the members of the ECO are not on campus, the Security personnel will assume the role and responsibilities of the ECO.

The UNSW Security Shift Supervisor will assume the role of Chief Warden, and the other remaining security personnel will assume the role of wardens/marshals and first aiders.