Testing Your Evacuation Or Nurse Call System

Your Legal Responsibility

As part of our Terms of Use, we state that you must conduct your own regular tests of the hardware and subscription services and ensure that it is correctly functioning at all times. As per Safe Work Australia regulations, you should be testing regularly in accordance with your workplace emergency plan.

If you do not have an emergency plan, or you need to update it, you can access our template here or download resources from Safe Work Australia using the link above.

Proactive Safety

One of the foremost reasons for regular equipment testing is safety. Equipment, whether it's industrial machinery or medical devices, can pose significant risks if not maintained and tested regularly. Malfunctioning equipment can lead to accidents, injuries, or even fatalities. By conducting regular tests, potential issues can be identified and rectified before they escalate into serious problems. This proactive approach not only safeguards the well-being of employees and clients but also helps organisations comply with safety regulations and standards set by industry authorities.

Every Orisent evacuation and nurse call system is installed and used differently. You have the best understanding of how your business is using the system, which is why you need to determine your system testing plan. At a bare minimum you should be testing in accordance with what's set out in your workplace emergency plan. You should also test:

• When you connect new devices
• When you relocate devices
• When your site layout has changed significantly, which could impact the signal strength of your network
• When you have new workers on site
• When you introduce new processes or procedures

How To Test Your Orisent Evacuation System

It’s important to test the functionality of your evacuation system to ensure your workers can easily trigger and respond to an evacuation:

• Does the Evacuate button on each trigger work, either by setting off nearby sirens or creating an evacuation alert on the Touchscreen Control Unit (TCU) or smartphone app?
• Does the evacuation trigger work from your TCU?
• Does the evacuation trigger work from your smartphone app?
• Do all the evacuation sirens sound?
• Are the evacuation sirens easily heard from all areas of your work site?
• Does the evacuation siren pattern clearly communicate to workers that an evacuation is required?
• Does the evacuation siren sequence last for as long as you need it to?
• Do workers know what action they need to take during an evacuation event?
• Are workers following the correct evacuation procedures as dictated by your Emergency Plan?
• How is the evacuation ended?
• Are the evacuation triggers and sirens easily found and easily accessed by workers?

If your evacuation system isn't working the way that it should, here’s some troubleshooting tips:

1. Check the power delivery to each device whether this is mains power or battery power. You can do this by manually checking the device or reviewing the last power reading from the TCU, smartphone app, or web-based user portal.
2. Check the network connection between the device and the rest of the system. You can do this by reviewing the last connectivity reading from the TCU, smartphone app, or web-based user portal. On the user portal you can also view telemetry graphs. If installed temporarily - such as a mining camp evacuation systems - the network can change every day. For permanent installations - such as warehouse evacuation systems - the network is likely to remain the same.
3. If your evacuation triggers set off your evacuation sirens, but you are not seeing any activity on your smartphone app or web-based user portal, it’s likely that your TCU is not connected to the internet and our cloud server.
4. Likewise, if your smartphone app evacuation trigger is not pushing the alert to your TCU and evacuation sirens, it’s likely your TCU is not connected to the internet and our cloud server.

If you do need help with your evacuation system, please reach out to our customer service team by calling +61 2 9011 7171 or emailing us.

How To Test Your Orisent Nurse Call System

In a medical emergency, the ability to quickly raise an alert and coordinate a response is critical. So with your nurse call system it’s important to ensure that:

• The Call button on every nurse call trigger works
• Any other third party connected devices work (for example large push buttons)
• The emergency alert is received on the Touchscreen Control Unit (TCU) or smartphone app
• The emergency alert shares the correct level and location of the triggered Call button
• Your emergency response personnel list is up to date
• Your emergency response personnel are logged into the correct site on the app
• You have a minimum number of emergency response personnel on site (according to your workplace emergency plan)
• Emergency response personnel know what action to take once the alert is received
• Someone ends the event either from the triggering device, TCU, or smartphone app

If your nurse call system is not operating the way it should, here’s some troubleshooting tips:

1. Check the power delivery to each device whether this is mains power or battery power. You can do this by manually checking the device or reviewing the last power reading from the TCU, smartphone app, or web-based user portal.
2. Check the network connection between the device and the rest of the system. You can do this by reviewing the last connectivity reading from the TCU, smartphone app, or web-based user portal. On the user portal you can also view telemetry graphs. If installed temporarily - such as a construction nurse call systems - the network can change every day. For permanent installations - such as aged care nurse call systems - the network is likely to remain the same.
3. If the nurse call alert appears on the TCU but you are not seeing any activity on your smartphone app or web-based user portal, it’s likely that your TCU is not connected to the internet and our cloud server.
4. If emergency response personnel are not receiving the alert on their smartphones, check they are registered as a user and have logged into the app correctly.
5. If the nurse call trigger alert does not include the level and location, check the triggering device is named correctly via the TCU, smartphone app, or user portal (you can also edit it from these platforms).

If you do need help with your nurse call system, please reach out to our customer service team by calling +61 2 9011 7171 or emailing us.

There are many reasons for priorising your evacuation system or nurse call system testing.

Enhancing Performance and Efficiency

Regular testing ensures that equipment operates at peak performance levels. Over time, wear and tear can degrade the functionality of machinery. Through regular testing, any deviations from optimal performance can be detected early. This allows for timely maintenance and repairs, ensuring that the equipment continues to operate efficiently. Enhanced performance not only boosts productivity but also extends the lifespan of the equipment, providing better returns on investment.

Cost Savings

While some may view regular equipment testing as an added expense, it is, in reality, a cost-saving measure. Identifying and addressing issues before they become major problems can prevent costly breakdowns and downtime. Unplanned equipment failures can halt operations, resulting in significant financial losses.

Additionally, regular testing can help in optimising maintenance schedules. Instead of adhering to a rigid maintenance plan, testing allows for a more dynamic approach where maintenance is performed based on the actual condition of the equipment. This prevents unnecessary maintenance activities, saving both time and money.

Compliance with Regulations

Many industries are governed by strict regulations and standards that mandate regular testing and maintenance of equipment. This can be especially so in high risk industries such as construction, mining, demolition, and transport. Non-compliance can result in hefty fines, legal liabilities, and damage to your business’ reputation. If you're not sure what regulations apply to your industry you should speak to Safe Work Australia or the Safe Work office in your state or territory.

Regular testing helps your business to stay compliant with these regulations, avoiding potential legal issues and maintaining your standing in the industry. It also instils confidence in workers, clients and customers, knowing that your business adheres to high standards of safety and quality.

Early Detection of Wear and Tear

Equipment is subject to wear and tear over time, which can lead to unexpected failures if not monitored. Regular testing allows for the early detection of signs of wear and tear, such as unusual vibrations, noises, or reduced output. By identifying these issues early, corrective actions can be taken before they result in a complete breakdown.

This proactive approach to maintenance helps in planning and budgeting for repairs or replacements, ensuring that the organisation is not caught off guard by sudden equipment failures. It also minimises disruption to operations, maintaining a smooth workflow.

Boosting Employee Morale

Employees who operate and rely on equipment daily can be significantly affected by its performance and reliability. Regular equipment testing assures employees that the tools and machines they use are safe and reliable. This can boost morale and productivity, as employees are more likely to perform at their best when they have confidence in their equipment.

If you need assistance with testing your Orisent emergency alert system please get in touch. If your existing evacuation or nurse call system doesn’t meet your emergency plan needs, speak to one of our system designers today.