What is an Emergency Control Organisation?
The Emergency Control Organisation (ECO) is a structured organisation that assumes control and authority during an emergency (Standards Australia, 2010, p. 27). The ECO team is the frontline when an emergency arises and must rehearse and train for the possibility of an emergency in the facility.
ECO’s follow the below structure with each role having specific responsibilities.
For the duration of an emergency, the normal management structure will cease to exist, and the ECO will take over until the all-clear is given. The ECO will be activated from the time an emergency event impacts the facility until Emergency Services arrive and take control (typically between 5 -15minutes). During this time, the ECO is to make life safety decisions only!
FERST