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Danger at a high school

OH&S 7 Mins Read
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Danger at a high school- Jonar Nader
Jonar Nader
I went along to an exhibition for Oakhill College and I was disturbed by the disregard to the many dangers that lurked for the hundreds of young and old visitors and students. Often we hear about dozens of people dying in a fire. Last week, 110 perished in Russia inside a night club. Can you imagine the sickening feeling of having to deal with those disasters? Lives lost carelessly. Can you imagine how the parents and friends cope with the thought that their loved-ones died in horrific, senseless situations? In Australia, we have strict OH&S (Occupational Health and Safety) laws. The board of directors is responsible to ensure that a committee is in place to remove all known hazards. What would an insurance company do when it later finds out that the losses could have been avoided? It will go after the Directors of the Board and strip each of them of their assets (sadly, I suspect that the Directors of this College are volunteers who might not be fully aware of their duties or their legal exposure). If a court were to find Directors negligent, they could face criminal charges, prison sentences, and financial ruin. With these in mind, I was appalled at what I saw at this otherwise excellent high school that was established in 1936 and whose enrolments exceed 1400 students. Here is how the story unfolded, as told in a letter to the Principal.
Jonar Nader
Oakhill College Exhibition Hall- Jonar Nader
Jonar Nader

Dear Brother Ken

First I would like to congratulate you and your staff for preparing the Year 12 students in an admirable way. The exhibition held on Tuesday night was inspiring and enjoyable. Please thank the students, staff, and volunteers for their kind hospitality and delicious and generous snacks.

I write to you to highlight a few areas of OH&S that need some attention. I am always security- and safety-conscious. Upon entering the school grounds for the first time last night Tuesday 8 September, I noticed the metal fence along the perimeter. My first thought turned to how students might escape in case of an emergency. The sliding gates, in the dark of night, seemed to me to be a hazard for any form or egress. If the gates did have some non-electrical release mechanism, I failed to locate it in the dark.

Nonetheless, during the exhibition, I could smell something burning, perhaps a minor matter in the kitchen from the kind catering crew. I looked around to rehearse an escape and I was alarmed at what I noticed. I share some photos here with you for your reference.
Jonar Nader

If there were an emergency, the lights might go out. There might be smoke and panic. This exit sign was not illuminated. This was at the front of the hall.
If there were an emergency, the lights might go out. There might be smoke and panic. This exit sign was not illuminated. This was at the front of the hall.

Jonar Nader

One of the exits had this table in front of it. As you know, no exit should be obstructed. When I see one anomaly, I go in search of another.
One of the exits had this table in front of it. As you know, no exit should be obstructed. When I see one anomaly, I go in search of another.

Jonar Nader

Upon opening that door, I noticed that the passageway was dark. There was a brick right in front of me. Not to the side where the brick might sometimes be placed to hold the door open. The door has a hook and latch. Therefore, not only is the brick unnecessary, it is dangerous and illegal. The brick is only visible as a result of the camera flash. Otherwise, anyone could trip over it in the panic of an emergency exit. The photo on the left was taken without a flash. In a fire, with smoke and panic, people would not see the brick. Several hundreds people making a mad dash to the exits could hurt themselves in more ways than one. Otherwise, anyone could trip over it in the panic of an emergency exit.
Upon opening that door, I noticed that the passageway was dark. There was a brick right in front of me. Not to the side where the brick might sometimes be placed to hold the door open. The door has a hook and latch. Therefore, not only is the brick unnecessary, it is dangerous and illegal. The brick is only visible as a result of the camera flash. Otherwise, anyone could trip over it in the panic of an emergency exit. The photo on the left was taken without a flash. In a fire, with smoke and panic, people would not see the brick. Several hundreds of people making a mad dash to the exits could hurt themselves in more ways than one.

Jonar Nader

Beyond the brick was this garden hose. It was not visible in the dark. Here, it is visible due to the camera flash. This is completely against all fire-exit regulations. The hall was crowded with people, including from infants to frail senior citizens.
Beyond the brick was this garden hose. It was not visible in the dark. Here, it is visible due to the camera flash. This is completely against all fire-exit regulations. The hall was crowded with hundreds of people, ranging from infants to frail senior citizens.

Jonar Nader
Jonar Nader

There were three designated fire exits. Above I showed the first two. This is the third, being to the left of the stage. Again it was blocked. I did not have an opportunity to open this door to see what is behind it.
There were three designated fire exits. Above I showed the first two. This is the third, being to the left of the stage. Again it was blocked. I did not have an opportunity to open this door to see what is behind it.

Jonar Nader

Jonar Nader

The stage had a long, loose power cord. The stage was an exhibit area, showcasing dresses. Many people went up and down the stage. This cord was neither secured nor tapped down.
The stage had a long, loose power cord. The stage was an exhibit area, showcasing dresses. Many people went up and down the stage. This cord was neither secured nor taped down.

Jonar Nader

Cords were also loose near the doorway to the front part of the hall, just off the kitchen. This area was extensively used. The image on right shows part of a coffee table, designed by one of the students. The table contained a water feature (much like a fish tank). In all, not a good combination of glass, water, electricity, and an obstacle on a potentially slippery floor just near a kitchen, via a narrow doorway, in a crowded room.
Cords were also loose near the doorway to the front part of the hall, just off the kitchen. This area was extensively used. The image on right shows part of a coffee table, designed by one of the students. The table contained a water feature (much like a fish tank). In all, not a good combination of glass, water, electricity, and an obstacle on a potentially slippery floor just near a kitchen, via a narrow doorway, in a crowded room.

Jonar Nader

I had never been to your school prior to last night. I was not familiar with the lay of the land. Upon leaving, I could not find the exit point for pedestrians. The place was completely dark. I could see a multitude of vehicles departing. I wanted to stay off the road, as your signs had advised. However, there was no signage directing me, a newcomer, to the exit point. I made my way towards the main road, and noticed a gate. It was too dark to work out or understand how it opened. I finally noticed that it was locked with a padlock. It was completely dark. Keep in mind that even older folk would have found it darker. As you know, age diminishes luminosity. The photo on the left was how it appeared without a flash. The inset is of the heavy-duty lock. If there were any need for a mass evacuation, there would be no way that anyone could climb that fence.
I had never been to your school prior to last night. I was not familiar with the lay of the land. Upon leaving, I could not find the exit point for pedestrians. The place was completely dark. I could see a multitude of vehicles departing. I wanted to stay off the road, as your signs had advised. However, there was no signage directing me, a newcomer, to the exit point. I made my way towards the main road, and noticed a gate. It was too dark to work out or understand how it opened. I finally noticed that it was locked with a padlock. It was completely dark. Keep in mind that even older folk would have found it darker. As you know, age diminishes luminosity. The photo on the left was how it appeared without a flash. The inset is of the heavy-duty lock. If there were any need for a mass evacuation, there would be no way that anyone could climb that very tall fence/gate, which I assume was the intention: to prevent criminals and vandals from climbing in.

Jonar Nader

The letter to the Principal concluded thus:

If your school does not provide a safe exit, I fear that whoever installed these gates for you might have failed to comply with standard OH&S regulations.

Please do not allow a disaster to become the catalyst for a full review. As a person highly experienced in these matters, the scenarios in my head were causing me great distress, and I wondered if you and your parent-community were aware of the real dangers.

Occasionally we read about dozens becoming trampled or several killed when they could not escape from a venue. It is negligence of this nature that creates untold misery. And while, thank God, nothing has happened so far, people might snigger and mock and dismiss these observations. Such people ought to go and hold the burnt corpse of a child, while its mother is contorting with hysteria and disbelieve.

If you do not have advisers whom you trust, I would be happy to visit your fine school and carry out another informal inspection for your personal benefit.

I would welcome your call if you feel that I might be of service.

The Principal wrote, ‘…I have passed your document on to the OH&S committee for their consideration…’

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