All workers in the State of Queensland must be formally inducted, by way of two prescribed training courses, referred to as “General Evacuation Instructions” and “First Response Evacuation Instructions” to ensure compliance with the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008 QLD. The Regulation prescribes the content, the timeframes for delivery and the people who must be trained.
There’s too much information to detail here, but the short version is that all occupants who work, reside or visit within a context for more than 10 hours per week (on average) must receive a general fire induction within 2 days of commencement, then at intervals not exceeding 1 year thereafter. They must then receive a more detailed induction within 30 days of commencement.
Let’s unpack “works, resides or visits”. The Building Fire Safety Regulation does not apply to houses (Class 1A), duplexes (Class 1B) or uninhabitable structures (class 10)…this means that all other environments not just listed fall under the purview of the law.
So what does that mean for different circumstances?
Do the residents in a unit block need to be inducted? Absolutely!…the Body Corporate has a responsibility to ensure anyone who works at, resides in, or visits the complex for an average of 10 hours per week must be appropriately trained in accordance with the Regulation. There are significant penalties placed upon the Body Corporate (The “Primary Occupier”) if this requirement isn’t complied with. The same would apply to volunteers at an op-shop, casual workers at the local take away and potentially even loved ones visiting relatives at an aged care facility.
The content is simple, but the requirements are complex and the penalties onerous.
